NEW ZEALAND WOODS.

Evening Star, Issue 3038, 13 November 1872, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WOODS.

Raving been born and bred by parents both belonging to a long line of ancestry of timbermen, it was natural for me to follow their steps and occupations, and, being of a rather speculative character, I had during my stay at Home, and about 20 years of Colonial experience, tried to benefit myself and luture generations by several successful trials on b'ew Zealand trees and other products. Several years ago I built a wooden cottage on rimu or red pine piles, and being compelled to make an alteration four or five yea»-s afterwards, I found some of those piles as sound as when put in the ground, and others completely rotten ; and knowing that all the piles came from the same tree—cut near the cottage—l examined the piles more particularly, and ascertained the following fact That all the piles sunk into the ground in the way they were grown were rotten, and those that were turned upside down seasoned in the ground, and I have no doubt stand yet The same facts I found in other Jimds of wood fencing,' more partiptfi larly ih fciuri wood; 1 About fOO'miles from Auckland I had a saw-hull which was built about five years before 1 came into possession ; and, having to do some repairs in a dark and wet place close to the ground, I found on some kauri posts 12 inches square a lot of spongy growth, and on removing some of the sponge I roupd tbit I coi?ld put ?py walking-stick into them, taing cbmplbtbty pqttifin ; ! '4pd foy a careful examination X ascertained the samp results as I found ju the Middle Island, Therefore I camo to this conclusion, that the trees or logs, after being deprived of their roots, and put back in the same position in the ground, will feed through their natural resources, and this will make the wood rot mucker tha}) when put ups;de dpwn, New Zealand has only a short period far the proper season to fell timber op logs j for timber in the part where I came from we had three months, and here we have only six weeks. The best time to fell is June, but the last week in May and Ist in July will do. If this was properly acted upon, kauri and totara would be equal to, if not better than any European or American timber. 1 have found that trees cut doifai in June will not shrink in length or width as the wood will do at other months, and the worm will not destroy it. I have on several occasions cut out of a house or office a scantling on which I heard the worm working or eating, and found always that the tree was cut out of the proper season where the scantling did oomo from (that {iny experienced bushmajp cap tell by snieli or taste). _ I also fpuhd thas there was not the least sign or hole where the worm could have gone from the outside, but by dressing the four sides and cutting the two ends I did come to a hole, and worms like my little finger in size, so that the tree must have bred the worm through the untimely death of the tree. I have taken out of old deserted buildings timber in this country completely perforated by worms, and, by careful examination, I found that the worm had deserted or hied in it, g,nd t}je adjoining piece was good and sound. 1 believe that there is bmy ’4 certain time when the blood or sap of the unseasonable wo'd will give food for the worms, and, if the same piece is attached to a seasoned piece, the worms will not enter the good wood. It is different with the pot. or rust, in unseasonable wood ; although if will take a long time before the bad will affect the good wood, it will transplant from one piece to the other, and from house to house, and destroy whole towns if built of wood,* I also took notice that amongst the mill and bush bauds there was more sickness during the time we were compelled to work this unseasonable wood. This is a matter of great importance, and should he looked into by the proper authorities.— C.N. in Southern Cross.