RED BEECH TIMBER

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 62, 25 March 1953, Page 3

RED BEECH TIMBER

Demand is Growl ng A native timber of the Taupo Country, Red Beech or Nothofagus fusca, is being* increasingly used for many purposes and it is expected fchat in a very short time demand will exceed tbe supply. Although this timber has in the past not reeeived ihe attention it rnerited it has already been used widely for bridge deoking, railway sleepers, fencing posts, battens and generai building construetion. Many county eouncils and harbour boards are using red beech as a substitute for Australian hardwood in wharf and bridge decking\ It will probably replace some better known native timbers, fca* in fiight constructional work there are many uses for both the heart and sap wood in dressing and framing grades equivalent to the grades used in rimu. Narrow widths of flooring now find a ready market both fcr domestic and industrial uses. In heart wood its v good bending qualitaes', durability and strength commend it for framing* and wearing members in boat and shipbuilding*. What is known a s pinhole boring disngures some of the timber but as the insect responsible dies when the timber seasons the condition is significa^nt only when appearance is impctrtant. Heartwpod containing this pinhole fe considered by authorities as suitable for foundation timbers in housing construetion and similar purposes. $