TREES AND SHRUBS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20078, 26 October 1939, Page 13

TREES AND SHRUBS

NATIVE TIMBERS THEIR USES DESCRIBED A. & P. SHOW EXHIBITS By “Totara.” These notes in the uses of some of our principal timber trees may be. of use to the boys who are preparing exhibits fer the coining Show. Kauri. —This huge p'mc grows only in the Auckland district, where the old trees reach a very great size. The timber has peen used in joinery, furniture, house building, ship, yacht, and boat building, wharves, and bridgcs.lt is well adapted for highclasr, joinery, and internal fittings. To-day supplies are not so plentiful as they were. Several areas of Kauri have been made reserves in order to preserve some of the finest specimens of this tree. In the early days in New Zealand, Kauri spars were one of the things the traders looked for most.

Totara.—This tree grows throughout New Zealan 1, except in Nelson, but is found mainly in Wellington, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Westland provinces. It is very durable ind fairly light, and is used largely for bridges and wharves. As 1 it lasts well in the grout'd it is used as piles m buildings, for telegraph poles and for sleepers.

Rinui.—The Rirnu, or red nine, is the principal New Zealand forest tree, and is used extensively for building and joinery. It js often beautifully grained, so is a good timber for furni-ture-making.

Ivahikalea, also known as the White Pine.—This tree grows in low-lying or swampy ground. It is very liable to attack from the borer and dry rot, so is no good for building purposes. Because, however, of its colour and its lack of any smell, it has become very important in the making of butter boxes.

Matai. —This is another pine—the black pine, which produces a heavy but short-grain id timber. It. is. used for building purposes, especially for weather ooar.is and. fleering. It is inclined to be brittle, but is second only to Totara for durability.

I’uriri.—’This is one of our most handsome trees, producing a very hard tough timber, which makes excellent sleepers and posts. It is used for railway w irks, truck frames, and stringers on wooden bridges. Rata is used mainly for firewood. The timber is hard, heavy, tough and very strong, and has been used at times for making wheels and for the arms of telegraph poles

Show Exhibit of Timbers

Some notes in ihe timber collection appeared some time ago, but some confusion may have arisen over a mistake in one point m fhe Show schedule where it says ihe timber specimens are to be mounted on cardboard 'Oi.i x 12in. This should be on one large piece of cardboard or three-ply 2ft square, all six .specimens and six lots of notes being mounted on the one square. You may be able to gum the timbers on and then cack them from the hack to make sure. The notes could be pasted on underneath. Each timber specimen should be 6in. long, 2in. wide and lin. thick.

Remember, boys and girls, to gel your exhibits along to the secretary of the A. and P. Association, Childers road, Gisborne, in plenty of time.