The Timber Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 246, 16 November 1903, Page 2

The Timber Industry.

A substitute for kauri,. Mr Freyburg, formerly Government timber expert, has a letter in the New Zealand Times in which In davotes himself to proving that whit* pine, if properly handled, will take the place of kauri for building purposes. Giving an account of his investigations into the matter, be says "Almost invariably it was found that when the wood was towed through the sea from a distance to save the expense of carriage the timber was durable; for example the large hotel at Wrnhola, 'built over 40 years ago, and many houses, in the Sounds and elsewhere. While the submerged portion of the timber in bridges washed by tidal waters lasted capitally, the upper woodwork toad to be renewed three or four times. Briefly put the libre of the wood is filled with a saccharine matter that the worm feeds uponi and this: is present in greater quantities if the timber is felled when full of sap, but even then if the bark is m. moved and the wood is immersed in the sea or tidal water for three months, the saccharine matter is Zul hed ,? ut °* ,H)re and replaced with saline particles which the worm will not touch. The wood 'is bv these metujs tQughenpj}, strengthened and mad® less inflammable, while IS worms' natural food has been Z moved. If, therefore, the be*t white pine is properly immersed for thiee months in tidal ponds, we thall h«v« a wood that will be invaluable tf us in the near future, and also an asset tnat will bring a large return if exported. The very whitest \arieti.es, wer « '""eh admired by London su'it^H.« 1 T rCha l t ! S ' and J°i' Cft^ inet and pianoforts trades, but the durability of tha wood must be secured as suggwted lu r ou ' d P robaW y to® a good plan that the timber sKould be stamped ! the Government as having immersed in sea water as sumcinnt to ensure its dunMlitSe. One | o L'ii white pins that had evidently uJm m tl >° sea for a year or two was found to be absolutely fireproof, tutd tough beyond belief,"