NATIVE TIMBER.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1179, 26 May 1874, Page 2

NATIVE TIMBER.

The special correspondent of the Independent, who visited the Westcoast in tho Luna, says:— Hitherto the extensive forests on the shores of the Sounds have not been used as sources of timber supply, and the only trees felled have been for spars; or a small supply of sawn timber required for ships, small crafts, or boats that may have been there. Doubtless, when whalers and sealers were numerous on the South-coast, many a good stick was cut. It may be expected that in the future, timber from the Sounds will be an important export from this Colony. There are several kinds of trees in the forests, but the birch and black pine are the most valuable. Preservation and Chalky Inlets possesses the finest timber, the former having the best, and as it presents many facilities for carrying on the timber trade, it is likely that the first mills will be started there. Birch and black pine abound. The latter should be of especial value for export to Victoria au! other Australian colonies where softwood, so called to distinguish pine, &c, from native hardwood, always commands very high prices, as Victoria does not produce any, and the consumption is extremely largo. The wood of the black pine is of light color, especially the outer portion, and the name is taken from the appearance of the tree when growing. From what I have ascertained I have formed the opinion that a largo trade might at once be opened with Melbourne, and pine landed there at low rates—lower, indeed, than the price paid in Wellington. In Preservation Inlet the trees could bo felled close to the water's edge and towed on rafts to mills, that might be placed on some spot close to which ships of largo size could anchor. Vessels of any tonnage could trade to Preservation Inlet, which can easily be entered; but a small steamer used for towing the rafts would also bo availablo for taking vessels out in calms or when there was a light adverse wind, and in getting ships out of tho sheltered coves they might bo moored in. Something but slightly larger than a steam pinnace could do pll that work and would prevent all risk to vessels from being drifted on the rocks when there was a swell and no breeze. What makes timber so expensive at many parts of this Colony is the costly freight, for it has to be carried in small craft, and the less cargo carried the higher must be the charge per ton. Preservation Inlet could supply some 'New Zealand ports as well as those in other colonies cheaper than the ketches which now have to load in small rivers or shallow waters, or other places where vessels of greater tonnage cat-not go. The birch is a much heavier wood, and would not probably find so ready a market in. Australia, as the red gum answers admirably for piles, bridges sleepers, and frames of vessels. There is reason to suppose that the heart of birch would make excellent railway sleepers, and as they could be obtained in any number without expense of land carriage, probably an extensive trade might be done in them. This matter is well worth serious consideration at present, because Messrs Brogden and Sons have just sent an order to Pu'wet Sound for railway sleepers, and it is believed that the freight charges on them delivered in a first-class port will not be more than from the Bluff to this po-t. The reason js that large ships which can be employed will take a chartar at a rate much lower than small craft can. It would certainly be an extraordinary thing to find timber imported from Puget Sound when we have inexhaustible forests on the margin of excellent harbors.