Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 61

Timber Trade and Kauri Gum

Timber Trade and Kauri Gum.

In this trade Auckland has naturally the lead. The magnificent kauri forests, which belong to her alone, give her this supremacy. Dr. Hector states that the forests of New Zealand cover an area of twenty million acres. But the waste that is going on has aroused the anxiety of our statesmen, notwithstanding this enormous supply. The annual report of the Auckland Timber Company for 1885 shows upon how large a scale their operations are conducted: their assets are reckoned at £232,683 2s. 8d. In the Chairman's report he says, "Our stock of round and squared timber now amounts, in round numbers, to twenty-eight millions on tidal waters and creeks." The annual output of kauri timber from Auckland is about 110,000,000ft., and the highest estimate of the amount of timber in the kauri forests is 23,000,000,000ft. Bush fires destroy great quantities of standing timber annually, though the loss is not actually so great as might be supposed, as the larger trees are not consumed by the fire sweeping through the forest, and a large-sized tree that has been circled and killed by fire affords the most durable wood; but smaller and growing trees are destroyed) and the future generation will suffer for the waste and carelessness of the present. From Kaipara—the port of the largest kauri-timber district in Auckland—comes this complaint and suggestion: "The kauri timber is disappearing very fast, as it is not only being sawn up in the district, but very large quantities of baulk timber are now being sent away: ships are loading here for Melbourne and Sydney with baulk timber. Large quantities of kauri rickers are now being cut down and page 70 sent to Auckland for spars. In our opinion this should not he allowed; no timber should be cut under a certain measurement. Bush fires are also doing great damage to the forests here, and severe penalties should be enforced on all persons setting fire to the bush by carelessness or otherwise. As, however, in spite of all precaution's, the country is sure to be gradually disforested, new plantations should continually be made, and care taken that only suitable trees be planted. Many millions of feet of kauri timber have been wasted in opening up the tidal bushes on the Wairoa by using it for making tramways, when a light iron rail laid down on the kahikatca would have done as well. We think an export duty should at once be placed on all baulk timber leaving the country." With regard to kauri gum, the writers of the above say, "If varnish could be manufactured in New Zealand a considerable amount of money would be saved. We would, suggest offering a bonus for the manufacture of varnish."

Besides kauri, the totara, kahikatca, rimu, and silver pine are most valuable for general purposes. Rata makes admirable knees for ship-building, and is too often used for firewood There are, altogether, about sixty-six different kinds of useful woods, and about half these are reckoned as adapted for general purposes. The mottled kauri is the most valuable of all, and is getting scarcer every day. We imported in 1881 about twenty-two thousand pounds' worth of timber, chiefly in logs, from New South Wales, and Tasmanian posts, palings, and rails. In 1882 the return gives £62,881 as the value imported—a very considerable and satisfactory falling off. Nearly all the imported timber is for the purpose of being worked up into valuable articles. There is a duty of 2s. per 100ft. on undressed and l-s. per 100ft. on dressed timber, which is prohibitive except for exceptionally valuable kinds. Much of the timber sawn is used in the colony; but our export for 1885 was £140,000. The subject of bark for tanning has been referred to in the section on leather manufactures, and is well worthy of serious consideration. To Sir Julius Vogel bolongs the credit for having attempted seriously to rouse the colony to the necessity of conserving our forests; but, so far, the effort has not had much practical success, and the matter is being discussed in the present session of Parliament, sitting while this essay is being page 71 written. The Crown forests of the colony are estimated at ten million acres, and over this estate Government can exercise its control at least, and set a good example. By planting on Government reserves in the neighbourhood of railways with various kinds of exotic trees, the products of which enter into the economy of many industries already established, or capable of being profitably pursued, in this country, much good may be done. The blue-gum, wattle, hickory, ash, oak, cork, and elm would do well, if proper attention is paid to them at first. It is said that olives and mulberries might be planted in situations where they can be easily looked after, by way of experiment with a view to the introduction of the olive and silk industries by private enterprise in the future (vide report of Royal Commission).

There is an immense quantity of woodware manufactured in the colony. The Union Sash and Door Company, as their name implies, produce great quantities of sashes and doors of various kinds, besides mantelpieces and general house-building furniture. The Dunedin Iron and Woodware Company produce more miscellaneous goods with success. Besides these there are woodware steam-mills in every city and town, where timber is turned out in all states, from the rough weatherboard and scantling to the polished table and chiffonier. Furniture-making in the colony has reached a great state of perfection, and the high duty of 17 per cent, ad valorem has given it as much protection as can safely be afforded without declaring for prohibitive duties. The industry is furnishing much employment for lads and youths, many of whom are showing great skill in the work. There is, of course, a desire amongst many well-to-do people to have English furniture, and it is but fair that they should pay for the luxury of indulging their tastes in this respect. This industry will be promoted, along with many others, by finding an outside market, and so proving to New Zealanders that their wares are appreciated by others, and that they need not be at all ashamed of using them themselves. Where that market is I hope, to be able to show by-and-by.

Kauri Gum.—In 1883 Ave exported 6,518 tons of this article, worth £336,605. I am afraid those engaged in the occupation of digging the gum have acquired a very poor reputation, it being generally supposed that only the outcasts from page 72 society engage in it. There are at the present time over two thousand persons—white and Maori—engaged in gum-digging. Why it should he written of gum-diggers, "It is generally supposed that a European who resorts to gum-digging is unfitted for any other occupation," I do not know; nor why "All the finer feelings of his nature become blunted, and he falls to a lower depth than the savages with whom he makes his home." Having been at one time of my life engaged in buying gum, I know something about the work, and know that, with fair luck, good wages can be made in an independent kind of life, with no greater hardship than most gold-miners endure cheerfully. Yet the gold-miner is respected, the gum-digger despised. Nearly fifty thousand tons have been exported since 1871, and over two-thirds goes to the United States. It comes back to the colony in the shape of varnish. When we have mastered the secret of its conversion from gum into varnish the two freights, and intermediate profits, will be saved to the colony. The supply of gum is, however, being sensibly diminished, and with the diminution of the kauri forests will sink in importance.