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APPENDIX 111. — REPORT ON THE IS TIMBER INDUSTRY IN THE AUCKLAND AND MARLBOROUGH LAND DISTRICTS.

AUCKLAND. Throughout the past year the timber industry generally lias been exceptionally brisk, both in the production and sale of timber of all kinds. Kauri. —With regard to the kauri timber, I might state that a record number of logs were received at the several timber companies' booms, owing to the very heavy rains and freshes experienced. Notwithstanding the large log-supplies to hand, keen competition resulted for the purchase of the several kauri bushes offered by the Crown. Although this class of timber is getting somewhat remote, and consequently more expensive to work, the prices realized were satisfactory, ranging from 2s. per 100 superficial feel for small lots to .'js. lid. for larger lots. It may be of interest to note the high retail prices now ruling for sawn kauri timber as compared with the prices current as at July, 1899. * Ordinary Building-timber, undressed, up to ft. long, \i/n. to lin or mort in thickness, ami not exceeding 12 in. wide, at per 100 sup. ft. First Class. Medium. Second Class. July, 18'J'J ... ... ... ... 13/ 10/6 7/6 July, 1900 ... ... ... ... 14/ 11/6 8/6 June, 1901 ... ... ... ... 15/ 12/0 9/6 August, 1903 ... ... ... ... 16/6 13/6 10/6 September, 1906 ... ... ... ... 17/6 14/ 10/6 December, 1907 ... ... ... ... 20/ 17/ 12/ April, 1910 ... ... ... ... 22/ 17/6 12/ December, 1910 ... ... ... ... 24/ 18/6 12/ Upon reference to the table hereunder it will be seen that during the year large quantities of kauri timber have been disposed of, and as such large sales are rapidly diminishing the number of Crown forests, it seems expedient that the sales should gradually be lessened each year with the view to conserving the future supplies. The kauri-timber trade locally has been very brisk, especially in the joinery line, whilst the southern and coastwise trade has also been well maintained, the demand being principally for wide boards. Large shipments of kauri timber are still being exported to Australia, and a few shipments have been made direct to the United Kingdom during the yi Bimu. —The trade in this class of timber has greatly improved, and sawmillers within the Waikato district have found it very difficult to complete orders, and in many instances have been required to purchase rimu from sawmillers further south to cope with the demand. Kahikatea. —The prices obtained for sawn white-pine timber throughout the year have greatly exceeded those of past years. Owing to the prosperous agricultural season in Australia and throughout the Dominion the output for this kind of timber for butter-boxes has been greatly augmented, and the heavy stocks held during the previous years by sawmillers have been considerably decreased. Totara and Matai. —These timbers find a ready sale, and high royalties are paid for the standing timber. Tanekaha. —In the Waikato district there is a fair demand for this timber for flooring-boards, and very satisfactory sales have been effected. The following table shows the various kinds of timber disposed of during the year:— <

Export of Timber from Ist April, 1910, to 31st March, 1911. —From Auckland and other ports: Kauri 19,262,002 sup. ft., value £134,395; kahikatea, 1:5,008,415 sup. ft., value £53,365; other kinds 291,528 sup. ft., value .£1,557: total 32,561,945 sup. ft., value £189,317. From Kaipara : Kauri 10,775,246 sup. ft., value £64,233; kahikatea 21,199,148 sup. ft., value

Kauri. Eimu. Kahikatea. Totara. Matai. j^l^g Total. Amount realised. irown lands and lands for settlement itate forests Sup. ft. 15,328,288 21,617,774 Sup. ft. 5,094,664 19,476 5,114,140 Sup. ft. Sup. ft. 482,858 129,569 576 8,049 483,434 137,618 Sup. ft. 493,837 245 Sup. ft. 143,582 443 Sup. ft. I 21,672,798 21,646,563 43,319,361 £ e. d. 19,322 19 0 15,571 5 0 Totals 36,946,062 494,082 144,025 34,894 4 0 Section s loaded u uitli Value of Tim< I 487,767 |468,510| her. I 1,243,5821 I 475 6 0 I 104,126| I 183,1791 I •• I I •• Timber measured < rind disposi ed of for Educatu ■m Depa; rtment. I 12,000] I 6 0 0 I I •• I I .. J 12,000| .. I I ••