Page 5 Advertisements Column 4

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 5

In a Report by Messrs Hansome and Co., on the Practical Tests of Colonial Timbers in connection with the Colonial and Indian Exhibition ab Stanley Woiks, King's Road, Chelsea, October Bth, 1886, the following remarkfc appear : — "Kauri (Dammara Australis).— This i& undoubtedly the best of all soft woods. During the trials a door was constructed, casks made, straight and circular mouldings struck, match -boarding prepared, and engineers' patterns built. For all the above purposes the practical men who witnessed the trials agreed that the wood was perfect. It planes across the end of the grain quite as well and smoothly as with it ; ifc stains well, takes a good polish, and would be valuable for bedroom furniture. This timber has been imported regularly into this country, though in rather small quantities, for several years past ; the last cargo was sold for from 3s to 3s 6d per cubic foot. The tree, which is found in the province of Auckland only, attains a height of 120 feet, with a maximum diameter of 15 feet. The plank sent to be experimented on was 5 feet 6 inches wide, absolutely clear of knots and fehakefc, and apparently as true as when h'rst sawn from the log. "

In a report on the durability of New Zealand timbers in constructive works, prepared for the New Zealand Government by Mr T. Kirk, F.L.S., it is stated Avith tegard to kauri : — "The kauri is the finest tree in New Zealand, and produces the most valuable timber. It ib lestricted to the northern part of the North Island, and does not occur in any quantity south ot a line di'awn from Port Waikato xo Tauranga. although solitary trees or small groups are found as far south as Maketu on the east coast, and Kawhia on the west. It attains the height of 120 to 160 feet and upwards ; clean, symmetrical trunks may be seen from 50 to 80 or even 100 feet in length, varying from 5 to 12 feet and upwards in diameter. The timber has acquired a reputation above all New Zealand kinds from its value for masts, «pars, and other purposes of naval architecture, which led to its being exported tor use in the British dockyards about the commencement ot the present century. " Except for general building purposes, its use has been chiefly confined to the North Island, where there is abundant evidence of its durability for more than thirty years in some of the old mission buildings ab the Bay of Island?, the weather-boarding of which exhibits no signs of decay. The same must be said of some of the oldest houses of the City ot Auckland, and in other parts of the province, although I have been unable to obtain trustworthy evidence of their existence for more than twenty-three or twenty-four years, as in all the town most of the old buildings have been removed to make way for improvements. " Kauri ha^ been emplnyed N in conjunction with tolara, for the upper timbers' of the Auckland whaif, the largest work of the kind in the colony, with the most satisfactory results. Brace?-, stringers, and tie-beams are in good condition after being 1 eighteen years in use. The greater portion of the old Wynyard pier was recently removed in the tormation of the Waikato railway, when many of the timbers were found pound, although others were much decayed, after fully twentythree years' service. " It has been extensively used for bridge timbers with the best results, but I am not aware of any instance of older date than the Auckland wharf. "The superiority of kauii to Tasmanian blue gum, under heavy wear and tear, has been demonstrated by the use of both timbers on the Auckland wharf, when the former wab tound to last twice as long as the latter, under severe tests. " At the Taupiri coal mines, -<leepeifc weie in good condition after from the to nine years' use. It has been used on the tramways of the Thames- goldfield, where it is sound and good after being five years in use. Mr. A. Sheath, Inspector of telegraph lines for the North Island, infoims me that the kauri kerbing opposite Government House, Auckland, was taken up after being laid eigateen years, and was then perfectly sound. " It has been employed for tramway rails on the Thames goldfield, and was nearly everywhere found in excellent condition after five years' wear and tear. At the Waikato coal mines it has been employed for the same purpose for nine years 1 , and is still serviceable, which is remarkable, as toe rails weie cut from small-sized trees growing in the neighbourhood. Totara and rimu rails laid at the same time have perished, the former probably from having been also sawn out of young timber. " On the Thames goldfield it is used for mine props, struts, and cap pieces, and maintains its character for durability, although for this purpose tanekaha and black birch are often used, on account ot thei> - smaller cost."

" Does he strongly recommend the kauri also ? — Yes. " As useful tor all purposes that soft wood is used for ?— For nearly every purpose that timber could be put to. " And you think that, with Victorian hardwood and New Zealand kauri, you could build, to the be&t advantage, all the rolling stock required by the Victorian Railways ? — Yes, I am certain that can be done, for I did it for ten years in New Zealand, so there is no question about it."

The following extract irom the Scotch Supplement of the " Timber Trades Journal," of sth May, 1888, gives some idea of the prospect of opening up a good trade with the Home Markets :—: — " The cargo of kauri pine recently landed here, ex Aurora, from Kaipara, New Zealand, was offered by Messrs Allison, Cousland, & Co., at their auction sale on 3rd inst., the catalogue also comprising a varied assortment of of other woods, viz., Quebec pine deals, and planks, pitch pine deals, parcels of N.S. black walnut logs, &c. As have been before noticed in your columns, the above arrival of kauri pine is the first full cargo of this wood imported into Clyde, and the result of the public sale has been awaited with considerable interest. " A large company assembled, and there was a fair amount of competition, the result being that the greater part of the cargo was disposed of, and at good prices, particulars of which are undernoted." Messrs Allison, Cousland, & Co.'s auction sale, 3rd May :— Per cubic foot. Per cubic foot s. d. s. d. 8. d. Kauri pine— Kauri pine— _ _ > 12/15 ft 27/54 x 9 2 9 12/21tfc 38/49 x 4 2 8 12/23 ft 21/26 x 9 2 9 12/24 ft 31/37 x 4 2 7 12/194C1 19/20 x 9 2 8 12/33 ft 29/31 x 4 2 8 12/23 ft 18 x 9 2 7 12/24* ft 25/28 x 4 2 8 12/23 ft 16 x 9 2 6' 13/24 ft 21/24 x 4 28 15&16 ft 15/16 x 9 2 6 12/24Jft 18/20 x 27 m/23ft 14 x 9 2 8 10/30! ft 12A3 x 4 2 6 15/24 ft 17/38 x 8 2 8 10/30 ft 8/10 x 4 2 6 13/23 a 15/16x8 2 7 12/24 ft , 21/26x3 2> 8 lli/23ft 14 x 8 2 7 12/22 ft 19/20 x 3 2 7 12/21fl 15/18 x 7 2 8 7/23 m 18 x 3 2 6^ .12/23tt 22/23 x 6 2 9 7/33} ft 8 & 10 X 3 2 5 11/23 ft 19/20x6 2 7 20 logs Kauri pine— 11/22 Aft 18/20 x 5 2 7 15/21-Vft avg. 27in 2 2 to 2 9£ 12/22 ft 15/16 x 5 2 5 avg. about 2 5