The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, PEB. 12, 1887. Where the Trees Go

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 93, 12 February 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, PEB. 12, 1887. Where the Trees Go

In the Government Gazette of January 28, a table is published showing the number of Sawmills and Sash and Door manufactories in operation in New Zealand in March, 1886, the power and hands employed, the quantity and value of the produce for the year 1885, and the approximate value of the land, machinery, and plant. There were 268 mills employing 5042 hands, of whom 11 were females. 236 mills were driven by steam, 24 by water, and 8 by gas or horse power. Tqtal amount of horse power 5556, The timber sawn was 206,452,885 feet, value £812,615. Under the heading of "Wrought Timber, 45,506,790 feet, value £235,673, were worked for flooring, lining, skirting, &c. Mouldings, 12,569,953 feet, value £43,511. Doors and sashes number 68,929, value £64,943. Posts and rails, value £20,971. Total value, £1,177,713. The approximate value of the land is £393,079, buildings £l 18,131, machinery and plant £452,886. The total value of manufactures for the year 1885 was £7,436,649, so that the timber industry heads the list with the proportion of nearly one seventh of the whole. While these figures point out the enormous amount of work done by the sawmillers, they also direct attention to the rapid destruction now going on of the New Zealand forests, and the consequent necessity, which is daily becoming more urgent, for the conservation of the forests yet untouched, as well as the planting of new trees to supply the places' •! those cut down.