THE VANISHING KAURI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 287, 3 April 1913, Page 4

THE VANISHING KAURI.

TIMBER IXUI'STKY DYING. Dargaville, Tuesday. It will not be many vears before'the kauri forests of the North are altogether depleted. Further and further back the axemen are-going. Xo trouble is spared to push the logs down to the nearest rail or waterway, and whore only two years ago in some instances stood giant kauri trees there are now primitive homesteads, with cattle on the hills round about. ■ Yesterday the Hon. W. Fraser and his party made a trip into the heart of the timber country in the Northern Wairoa districts, when it was seen that the clearance that is being made day by day will very soon leave the hill's barren and desolate. A visit was made to a liOacre cluster of kauri trees, known as Kauri Park, which formerly j belonged to Mr. S. Trounson, but which ! was handed over to the State recently. The quality of the kauri trees is disappointing. The ravages of' fire have left the clump scarred and patchv. but notwithstanding this the value of the timber is- estimated at £17.000. The Ministerial partv was within a mile today of the Waipoua State forest, but shortage of time prevented a visit being made, or even a glimpse of the big bush area being obtained. To show the present value of the kauri timber industry it is only necessary to mention that a log which was cut out of the bush in the viciniy of Donnelly's Crossing this week, measuring ftft. in diameter and 14ft. long, has an estimated value in the rough of £2O. Every week the price of kauri is increasing, hut every week the timber is becoming more scarce, and at the present rate the experts consider (hat five years will see the complete depletion of the trees, as far as their value for an industry is concerned.