AMERICAN v. NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 1 September 1880, Page 3

AMERICAN v. NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

TO THE KDITOB OP THE EHESS. I Sib,— From the tenor o£ the remarks made 1 on the subject of American and New Zealand woods by your correspondent, Mr A. GK How- ' land, one is almost led to think that there is not I such an expert in the country as he. His experience in the selection of timber appears to i have been both an .exclusive and unvaried one, and principally restricted to the woods 1 of his own country. Had his experience 1 been of a more general kind it is possible that ; he might have given more reflection] to the ] subject prior to “rushing into print” and i abusing his neighbours as he has done, Mr I Howland may be justly entitled to credit for the weight of his opinion as regards Ameri- i can woods, but, by his own admission, he evidently has yet to become acquainted with the admirable proper- 1 ties of manuka for wheel purposes. Mr ! Howland must be extremely prejudiced i in favor of the woods of America when he cannot relax his opinion in the face of the overwhelming and incontestible evidence which has been adduced in support of the now famous woods of our adopted country for coach-making requirements. The veriest tyro in the craft knows thoroughly well that which Mr Howland seems to be so singularly deficient in. It way be quite true that the coach-builders of America prefer to use American hickory in lieu of the time-honored, more durable and costly “heart of oak” of England; and, indeed, everybody now-a-doys knows why. Mr Howland is an avowed Protectionist ; but now, for the sake of being consistent, he ought obviously to join the ranks of the Free Traders. He may bo a good judge of American woods, but a bad hand at logic, for he has, perhaps, yet to learn that abuse is not argument, and it is a pity that in discussing this question he should have descended to such a step. Probably Messrs W. Moor, Henry Wagstaff, and Mr Jenkins, as respects the “ sawing of spokes,” could, if desirable, easily convince Mr Howland, in regard to manuka, why that course is resorted to instead of the “ splitting’’ process. Mr Howland’s somewhat acrimonious exhibition of feeling against Messrs Wagstaff and Moor is both discreditable and foolish. If Mr Howland will only make himself more conversant with the qualities of manuka he may find that one of its many excellent properties is that it will split as straight as matchwood when properly selected and carefully seasoned, and further, that the old fashioned custom of splitting spokes in th* rough, may bo profitably and safely departed from in the case of manuka, and the more modern and expeditious method of machine sawing safely adopted, without in any way being stability t of.the spoke so treated. Trusting that you will kindly insert this letter. Yours, &c., Obaetsman. Christchurch, 26th August. TO THK EDITOB OB THE PEESB. Sib, —Will you kindly allow me space in your valuable columns to apologise for under estimating Mr Moor’s experience in coach building, asllwas not aware of his having been in business in England ; for between eleven and twelve years ago Mr Moor worked in my factory for me ; leaving my place, ho went to Mr Wagstafi’s to work for him, and then left with two others of Mr Wagstaff’s men, and commenced business close to Mr W., and I am quite ignorant of his ever having been in business before. If I have unknowingly made a mistake in regard to Mr Moor’s length of experience in carriage building that does not justify “ Landau ” in rushing along, knocking me down, and running over me with all four wheels, and hurling me so much. I cannot milt explaining to you what a “landau’’ is. It is a four-wheel carriage with a hood that will open in fine weather, and is self-ventilating. In rough weather you can shut it up, and make it ft much more comfortable and pleasant vehicle. Now, Mr Editor, if you will kindly allow me to ride on the “ Landau ” for a short distance back to where it first hit me, I shall be very i much obliged. I will agree with “ Landau ” that I have apparently, as well so in reality, , taken a fatherly interest in the proceedings of • tho Local Industry Association. And why i not ? Am I not one of the fathers of the I institution ? And I have taken a groat interest ) in it, and especially in their annual meeting, ) I saw good reasons for it, as X thought there was one portion that had so much to do, and ) took so much credit to itself, that inflation ) set in, and matters began to look serious. I 3 did my utmost to relieve it by advocating a t paid secretary and an independent place of £ our own to meet in, and I am pleased to see it 9 has had the desired effect, as_ the swelling is § going down, and the Association is quite well - again, and I believe will do first-class. Al- , though I belong to the Association, and have

the honour of being one of the committee, I will not do as “ Landau” wishes mo to do—that is, advocate kowhai and manuka as suitable for carriage-wheel timber, when I feel convinced that they are not. I will not force New Zealand woods in the construction of my carriages on to my customers, because I am quite sure that they will not give the satisfaction that hickory does. lam not trying to argue against New Zealand woods, for I am certain that they are excellent woods for many purposes. I think that I wrote quite enough in my previous letter in praise of kauri, &0., for carriage panels and flooring, t 6 convince any ordinary person that I am not prejudiced, and should be very glad if there was any other New Zealand wood that I would bo justified in using for wheel purposes, for it would save me a great deal of trouble if I could procure all my materials here, and not have to send away for them. I can see quite as much advantage in keeping the money in the country as what “Landau ” does. In regard to my trying to lead the public to believe that I, and I only, am the most capable judge of Now Zealand and American woods, I am not such an idiot as to attempt to ram my opinions down the throats of others if I do not happen to jump into the popular van of “ Landau ” and a take a ride with him. I learn something every day about woods and other things pertaining to the carriage business, that 1 think will prove that I am not quite so conceited as “ Landau ” would try to make the public believe. I cannot understand why “Landau” takes up the cudgels and strikes out so for Mr Moor, for I think that this gentleman is quite able to fight his own battles without any outside assistance. And, in conclusion, sir, there will have to be more and better evidence brought forward in favor of Now Zealand woods for wheel timber before 1 shall be convinced enough to gracefully acknowledge, as “ Landau” would have me. And I think, sir, before

“ Landau ” tries to force his advice on others re personalities ho should commence at home by putting in practice what he preaches. Furthermore, as “ Landau ” has been so kind with his gratuitous advice, let me offer him a little, and that is, if he has tho courage to express his opinions in a newspaper lot him put his proper name to them, as he is tho first one ihat has entered into this discussion without doing so. Yours, &c., A. O. Howland. August 28th.