The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, NOV. 19th, 1923. WOOD PULP FROM WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, NOV. 19th, 1923. WOOD PULP FROM WESTLAND.

Thk importations of paper for New Zealand newspapers, made from wood pulp, are extremely large, and attention has for some years been directed to the possibility of utilising some of the forest resources of the Dominion for this purpose. Not only would there he a good market for the product in the country. but the process might generally reduce milling costs bv reducing the huge amount of waste wood available from milling and logging 01 er. ations. With this practical object in view the New Zealand State Forest service took tip flic, matter, and oonduc-

tod fnvestigstti on* under the direction of M.r A. R. Knti ■icaji. engineer in forest products. .Some results of tests as to the suitability of New Zealand timbers lor paper making purposes were published. and the matter has now been taken a further stage, as the results are to hand of very valuable tests made in co-operation with .Messrs Roving and Co., Ltd., of Louden to determine the pulping value of limit, white pine, red, black and silver beech, and lawn. 1 lie material for the tests was obtained by officers of the forest service and shipped in logs. Tito tawti canto from the Rototua conservation region, and other varieties from the AYestlaml area. The “sulphate” process was used in the tests, this consisting of boiling the chipped wood in a solution of caustic soda containing a small amount of Kidphal”. and sulphide of sola. A trial “cook" was made of a

mixture of limn and white pine, to see whether they could be treated together. or if it would be necessary to treat- them separately. The results showed that the two woods could he treated together, the resultant pulp being well and evenly cooked, and bleaeing with about 17 per cent of bl-aeliing powder. Itimu and white pine provided a fibre long, strong, and of excellent quality for making “Kraft” paper, or fur writing, and line punting when blenched. Bed. Mack and silver beech gave fihies short and dark in colour, and although capable of manufacture into pa|or without admixture, the lepol'i states that this lihie is really olds’ lit to he used as 'Tillers” when making paper of inferior quality from long-fibred pulp. Tawa gave an even shorter lilne than the beeches, and is dark in colour. The results indicate that while tl-m may lie made ol all limbers examined as m course ol wood pulp and paper prodm-ls, rimil and white pine are most valuable at present as paper-making materials. especially “Krai” qualities. The impe.i truce i f successful joint treatment ol white pine and ritnil lies in the fact that large quantities of waste from both speei ■ are available in various parts of the Domin.ie.-y A group of 53 sawmills ill Westland, lor instance, has a total possible waste of 151 cords per day hr disposal. ‘T’lovided the w'od can be obtained at a t easonahlo < ■>-Icon

eludes the leport. "and elmap liar,spoliation assured, there is no doubt that a pulp and paper mill, built on modern lines to exploit these timbers voidd he a profitable scheme.”