Page 3 Advertisements Column 4

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 283, 21 July 1888, Page 3

The remaining

In a Repoib by Messrs Ransome and Co., on the Piacbical Tests o Colonial Tim bora in connection with the Colonial and Indian Exhibition ab Stanley Woiks, King's Road, Chelsea, October Bth, 1886, the following remarks appear : — "Kauri (Dammaia Australis). — Thin is undoubtedly the best of all sofj 1 woods. During the trials a door was constructed, casks made, straigh 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. Ib planes across the end of the grain quite as well and smoothly as with ib ; it 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 ; fche lasb cargo was sold lor fiom 3s to 3.s 6d per cubic foot. The tree, which is found in tho province of Auckland only, attains a height of 120 feet, with a maximum diameter of 15 ieet. The plank sent to be experimented on Avas 5 feet 6 inches wide, absolutely clear of knots and shakes, 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, prepaied for the New Zealand (Jovernment by Mr T. Kirk, F.L.S., ib is sbated with legaid to kauii :—: — "The kauri is Ihe finest tree in Now Zealand, and produces bhe most valuable timber. Ib is restricted to the northern part of the North Island, and does nob occur in any quantity south of a line drawn from Poit Waikato to Tauianga. although solitary ti ees or bmall groups are lound as far south as JMaketu on the east coast, and Kawhia on the we-t. It attains the height ot 120 to 160 feet and upwards; clean, syinmetucal 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 acquiied a reputation above all New Zealand kinds from its value ior masts, spars, and other purposes of natal aichitecture, which led to its being exported for use in the British dockyards about the commencement of the^iesent century. " Except for general building purposes, its use has been chiefly confined to the North Inland, -where thoie is abundant evidence of its durability for moie than thirty years in some of the old mission buildings ab the Bay of Islaud?, the weather- boarding of which exhibits no signs' of decay. The same mu«t be paid of some of the oldest houses of the City of Auckland, and in other pait? of the province, although 1 have been unable to obtain trustworthy evidence ot their existence tor more than twcnty-lluee or twenty-four years, as in all the town most of tho old buildings have been removed to make way for improvements. "Kami ha? been employed, in conjunction with totara, for the upper timbers of the Auckland wharf, the largest work of the kind in the colony, wibh the mo.-t satisfactory results. Braces, stiingers, and tie beams are in good condition after being eighteen ycai.s in use. The gieatcr portion of the old Wynyard pier was lecently removed in the formation of the Waikato railway, when many of the timbers were found sound, although others were much decayed, after fully twentythree years' service. " It has been extensively used for bridge timbers with tho best results, but lam not aware of any instance of older date than the Auckland w harf. " The superiority of kauri to Tasmanian blue gum, under h&t'vy wear and tear, has been demon&tiated by the use of both timbers on the Auckland wharf, when the former was lound to last twice as long as tho latter, under severe tests. •' At the Taupiri coal mines, slcepeis weie in good* condition after from* live to nine yeais' use. Ibrhas been used on the tramways of the Thames goldrield, where it is sound and good after being five years iv us<\ Mr. A. Sheath, Inspector of telegraph linos for the North Island, informs me that the kauri kerbiug opposite (iovernment House, Auck land, was taken up atter being laid eighteen years, and was then perfectly sound. " It has been employed for tramway i ails on the Thames goldiield, and was nearly every w heie found in excellent condition after live years' wear and tear. Ab the Waikato coal mines ib has been employed for the same purpose lor nine years', and is still serviceable, which is remarkable, as the rails -weio cut from small-sized trees growing in the neighbourhood. Totara and limu lails laid at the same time have perished, the former probably from having been also sawn out of young timber. " On the Thames goldlield it i& used for mine props, struts, and cap pieces, and maintains its character tor duiability, although for this purpose tanekaha and black birch are oiten used, on account ot their smaller cost."

" Docs he .strongly recommend the kauri also 7 — Yes. " As useful for ali purposes that soft wood is u&ed 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 best advantage, all the rolling stock required by the Victorian Railways 7 — 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 from the Scotch Supplement of the " Timber Trades Journal," of sth iiay, 1888, gives some idea of tho prospect of opening up a good trade with the H ome 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 iiibt., the catalogue also comprising a varied assortment oE of other woods, \i/. , Quebec pine deals and planks, pitch pine deals, parcels of N.iS. 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 com pany 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 fooL s. d. a. d. s. d. Kauri pine— Kauri pine— 12/15 U 27,54 x 9 2 9 12/21fl 38/49 x 4 2 8 12/23 ft 21/26 x 9 2 9 12/24fl ' ' 31/37 x 4 2 7 12/19ift 19,20 x 9 2 8 12/23 ft ' • -29/31 x 4 2 8 12/23t1, 18 x 9 2 7 12/24Jf L , • 25/28 x 4 2 8 12/23C1 16 x 9 2 6 13/24 ft 21/24 x 4 2 8 15&16 ft 15/16 x 9 2 6 12/24Vft 18/20 X 4 2 7 lli/23f t 14 x 9 2 8 10/30J[f t ' ' • 12/13 x 4 2 6 15/24 ft 17/38 x 8 2 8 10/3Qfb 8/10 x 4 2 6 13/23 ft 15/16 x 8 2 7 • 12/24 ft 21/26 X 3 2 8 lli/23ft 14 x 8 2 7 12/22fb 19/20 x 3 2 7 12/21 ft 15/18 x 7 2 8 7/23Jffc 18 x 3 2 6 12/23 ft 22/23 x 6 2,9 7/33Vf L 8 & 10 x 3 '25 11 /23 ft 19/20x6 2 7 20 logs Kauri pinell/22itfc 18/20 x 5 2 7 15/21\ft ' avg. 27in 2 2 to 2 9J 12/22 ft 15/16 x 5 2 ■ 5 avgJ about 2 5