BORER IN POLES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4695, 7 May 1924, Page 3

BORER IN POLES.

AAALIST’S BEI’GBT. ACTION BY POWER BOARD. ,Villi reference to a sample of hardwood which was forwarded to ".he biology section of the Dep.utinenl ot Agriculture by the Thames \ alley Bower Board for analysis the following re x . ly was received ; — “The specimen is most interesting. Ju the first place, the wood been attacked by beetle grubs when the bark was on. The giuns weie no doubt of the Australian longhorn beetle (Pliarocvantha rectirva). w hen the giubs were fully developed the) diad bored through the sap into the heart wood, causing the large oval tunnels. There the grubs transformed into chrysalids, and the beetles on emerging worked their way through the tunnels to the surface. This beetle i.s one of the commonest introduced with Australian hardwoods, ami is likely to become destructive to living hardwoods in New Zealand. 1 shall be glad to receive, insect-infect-ed material from you at any time, no. only Australian woods, but also New Zealand."’ The chairman said that it was imperative that all poles should be stripped of bark before they reached New Zealand. Mr "Willy spoke of a pole that wa> aflected near Ngatea. Thixengineer stated that so far the heart wood of the poles aliected was not seriously damaged by the grubs. Mr Flatt said that it looked as il there was a probability of. the board being faced with a number of repl. i.cements. Mr Thomas favoured the board going into the matter further, with i view to considering the advisability of larriug the poles. Mr Willy considered that the Australian authorities should not be allowed to ship borer infected poles <o New Zealand.. •It. was decided to have the poles carefully inspected before erection, and that the Australian Forstry Department be written to requesting a careful examination, of. all poles be fore shipment to New Zealand. Mr McCormick said that he had nr ticed thousands of grubs and beetles lying in the holds of the steamer carrying poles, and it was decided to take steps to have all vermin exterminated in the holds of vessels carrying poles. A special committee was set up to go thoroughly into the matter and submit a report to the board.