THE TIMBER PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1920, Page 4

THE TIMBER PROBLEM

USE OF PINUS INSIGNIS.

The great extension of areas planted in fruit trees in tlije Auckland district during recent years naturally creates interest in the question of the provision of timber for the manufacture of fruir cases, when the orchards come mto lull bearing (says the “Star”). As the pinus insiguis is a hardy, quick-growing tree in the Auckland district, it is now being planted in order to ensure the supply of fruit eases in the years that are to come. Thirty or forty years ago pinus insignis was considered companu’tively useless as a timber, but those were the days when a 2001 b case for kauri gum could be bought for 3s. To-day gum cases made from pinus insignis sost 10s each. Evidently the high cost of other timbers has created a value on pine, which lias now proved to be quite suitable for fruit and other cases. Many a land oivner has made money of late years by selling plantations of pinus insignis, which, being aged, had become useless for shelter purposes, and also in many instances unsightly. Formerly such trees were cut down, and allowed to rot, or were burned out of the way, hut now almost any big tree has a mar- J kot value if fairly accessible. In some j instances small mills are set up to cut | pinus insignis plantations into sizes | suitable for fruit and other cases on | the ground wkhere the trees were grown, j At the present time workmen are fell- :j ing a plantation of tall pines at the 1

southern end of the racecourse at Ellerslie. It is quite probable that the timber is also being used for oth',er purposes than that of providing fruit eases. As a matter of fact, this week a section was fenced with palings of pinus insignis nailed on to 4 by 4 planks of the same timber. Good sized maerocarpa trees also find ready sale, many of them being cut on the ground, and sold for firewood, tlwugh the timber is worthy of a better use, as it makes good posts for fencing, lasting in some known instances over thirty years.