TIMBER INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 14

TIMBER INDUSTRY.

; 9 VALUABLE RESOURCES / UNTOUCHED. One of the resources of Poverty Bay which, as yet, is practically' untouched, is the timber industry. Although considerable forests exist, lack of railwayfacilities has made the timber nnavail-

'able,, apd; practically the whole of the .building material required lias been imported from other part's of the Dominion, principally Auckland. Tko railway line is now approaching the timber area, in the Rakauroa and Motu ' districts, and mills are being established which will 'eventually 6Upply the growing demands 'consequent upon the rapid settlement which is going on. in and around Gisborne. A certain amount of timber is at the present time being brought ill from tho mills which have commenced ; operations. These mills, however, ' are' in advance of tho railway, and as the timber hag to bo hauled lonp distances, the supply' is naturally limited, and does not amount to a tithe of the requirements of Gisborne alone. When it is stated that there are thirty building firms—largo and small—doing business in the' neighbourhood of Povorty Bay's chief town, a fair idea will be, conveyed of , tho rapid growth of the place, and the large quantities; of timber , required to meet tho expansion which is going on. It is expected: that tho railway will penotrate into_ the heart of the Motu timber area within three years. If these anticipations are realised, the local mills 6houla then supply tho whole of the demand for building purposes, and large sums of . money which are paid away each month—principally to . the Auckland kauri mills—will bo retained and circulated within tho district.

\ Estimates of the quantity of bush suitable and accessible for milling vary oonsiderably, but there are certainly soma thousands of aoros. With regard to tlio quality there is no variety of Opinion. The bush is. principally rfrau, and the trees, generally speaking:, liavo very large,' straight barrels. Tho timber is said to be beautifully grained, and not to be excelled for indoor finishing and for cabinet-work. There are also fair quantities of matai. birch, and white pine, and small patches of totara. When tho mills are fairly going, Auckland timber merchants will lose a good oustomer in Hoverty Bay.