PINUS INSIGNIS TIMBER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2344, 20 October 1921, Page 4

PINUS INSIGNIS TIMBER

Pinus insignis timber, in spile of the many criticisms made of it, has some strong supporters among members of the Christchurch committee of the New Zealand Forestry League. At a meeting of that body instances were quoted to show that pinus insignis was a valuable timber. Some which Had been grown at Pigeon Bay gave a return of £7OO per acre, less cost of milling and marketing. One member said lie had found the timber grown under proper conditions quite durable and satisfactory. Houses built in St. Leonard’s district 20 years ago were in better condition at present than buildings of the same age constructed of rimu.

In an interview at Christchurch, Mr G. Green, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Association of Nurserymen, gave some interesting information bearing on the durability of pinus insignis and its suitability for house-bulding purposes.

“There is no doubt about its suitability,” said Mr Green. “Where the timber has been sawn from trees grown under forest conditions, and at least 25 years old, it has outclassed other timbers possessing a fair reputation for building purposes. In fact, clean, well-season-ed pinus insignis timber, cut at the right time, and used on hardwood or brick foundations, will last indelinitely. I know a case where a four-roomed cottage built of this pine 30 years ago is still in excellent condition, and the borer nonexistent, while rimu and other timbers in the same locality and of the same age are riddled. It is evident Unit in Australia the value of pinus insignis is realised, as large quantities have been shipped from the mills as ordinary building timber.”