NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5736, 18 August 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TIMBER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. . Sir, —Our first colonists, landing in a country with the nature of whose productions they were wholly unacquainted, would naturally be first attracted by the most abundant, or most easily procurable, of those products in the vicinity of the various settlements. Thus we can understand how certain things got into use, and continued in use, to the exclusion of others far better fitted for the purposes to which they were applied. Round the shores of Blind Bay, for example, kahikatea and matai being everywhere on the low flat lauds the predominant tree, became there the chief timbers of commerce, receiving the local names of white and red pine. Accustomed to see these “ pines ” used for purposes both in and out of doors, the old Nelson settlers had for long a prejudice against the stronger and more durable birch and rimu woods ; regarding them as mere substitutes, they failed to do them justice. Birch and rimu being, however, the chief mountain trees, and the mountains far exceeding the flat land throughout the northern timbered districts of the Middle Island, there was little danger of their being, permanently neglected. In the vicinity of Nelson, which may be regarded as the starting point of the Middle Island timber trade, the supply from the low flat lands becoming exhausted, the weather-clad hillsides and the terraces at their base came into notice, and then it was discovered, though reluctantly admitted, that for bridge building, fencing, and the like purposes, birch was far superior to matai, and that rimu, though more difficult to work than the white pine, afforded a better building material.

But there were other members of the forest flora less fortunate in being rescued from obscurity; amongst these was the pukatea—never very plentiful on the Blind Bay coast. There were other circumstances which led to its disappearance from the neighborhood of Nelson before the time had arrived when its qualities might have been fairly tested. Growing only on the best and most valuable land, its whitish bark and shining laurel-like leaves, from which it derives its botanical name, Laurdia Nova Zealandia, were to the immigrants from a northern clime suggestive of an overgrown ornamental shrub, rather than utility. Even science could do little ; in the puriri, the botanist, recognising a member of the family that produced the well-known teak, the tree got the name of the New Zealand teak—no mean introduction to the world of trade ; but of the family (plume nutmegs) in] which the Laurelia had to be placed, only three genera, containing four species, were known, and none of these had at the time our plant was described, been turned to any useful account.

The wood of the pukatea has, however, certain qualities which should recommend it to our workers in timber. Unlike most of our New Zealand wood, it is, when seasoned, very light, and free from a tendency to split. In furniture-making and the manufacture of agricultural implements, where curved pieces of timber are often required, this latter character is of great importance ; but, besides a strong and safe material, the cabinet-maker would find in the pukatea a handsome, well-marked timber. When first felled the wood is white, but changes to a brown and brownish-yellow as it dries; the two shades of color, being intermingled, have a very pleasing effect, closely resembling figured walnut. Regarding the durability of the pukatea, there is much difference of opinion, probably arising from the conditions to which the wood has been exposed. A case lately brought under my notice where the timber- was used for the weather-boarding of a house and showed no signs of decay after thirteen years wear, goes far to prove that it is not, as often stated, very perishable. But itis hot as a building material that it claims our attention, but as a timber adapted for special purposes. In our matai,

rimu and kauri woods we have all that we require for ordinary house work, but unless in bulky or straight pieces these timbers, from their liability to split, are almost useless. It is here that the pukatea might do good service. We annually import large quantities of articles manufactured from foreign timber, and it is a common remark that with all her forests New Zealand cannot enable us to supply ourselves. But this, it may yet be found, is too hasty a conclusion.

Though, as stated, the pukatea is a scarce tree on the shores of Blind Bay, in the sheltered reaches of the Pelorus Sound it forms a considerable portion of the bush. Were it on being tested found that the opinion that the settlers have there formed of it is correct, and a demand in consequence to arise, large supplies might be depended on from that quarter alone for several years to come. Having their attention directed to it, it is to be hoped that some of our enterprising tradesmen will take the thing in hand and try whether some of the articles we now import might not from this timber be profitably made at home. —I am, &c., Joshua Rutland. Havelock, August 5, 1879.