39

C.-3

STATEMENT of EXPORTS and IMPORTS of TIMBER and Minor Forest Produce from and into New Zealand, during the Year 1875, compiled from the official statistics.

t Fungus, of which 2,247 cwts., valued at £5,714, were exported in 1875, should be included under this section. It will be observed that the balance of imports over exports of timberis very considerable, but that the export of kauri gum, which we may fairly class as a minor forest product, and the collection of which on waste lands of the Crown should be leased or farmed out, balances the account almost exactly. The exports were chiefly to Victoria and New South AY ales, with a considerable quantity of baulk timber and spars, probably all kauri, to the United Kingdom. The item under " Firewood "is set down to the whale fishery, I presume, for boiling down. A very large proportion of the imports is from Tasmania, which sent us 4,375,482 superficial feet of sawn timber, 13,230,270 shingles out of a total number of 13,243,870 imported, and 1,995,391 palings. New Zealand also took from her 1,107 tons of bark, valued at £8,493. I am informed that most of the Tasmanian timber arrives in comparatively small quantities, being used in packing and filling up cargoes of fruit, preserves, &c; but this would scarcely account for the large imports just quoted, and I am inclined to think that a cheaper and better supplied labour market has a good deal to do with it. This must certainly be the case with regard to the bark used for tanning purposes, for that of the New Zealand Weinmannia, F. fusca, and the tanekaha of the North Island, is quite equal, if not superior, to the Tasmanian wattle, and procurable in any quantity required. The timbers of the Australian Continent and Tasmania are, however, so different from those of New Zealand, and both are so eminently adapted for special and widely different purposes, that I do not see cause to fear any injurious competition from that quarter, even if the rates for New Zealand timber advance considerably. I look forward, rather, to a larger export of New Zealand timbers to the other colonies, as their special qualities and advantages become better known and recognized, and they are shipped in better condition for immediate use. Neither ought there certainly to be any fear of competition detrimental to our timber industry from the importation of American or Baltic pines, for I consider some of our New Zealand descriptions quite equal to Oregon or Memel, which are, however, placed upon the market in better condition, being frequently seasoned artificially. Much may, I think, be done to increase the durability of the New Zealand pines by impregnation, for which there are several processes, known under their several designations of kyanizing, creosoting, &c. A valuable paper on this subject, by Mr. Warth, was read at the Indian Forest Conference in 1875, but I have, unfortunately, no copy to refer to. Brandis, in his suggestions printed with the " Eeports on Forest Management," recommends Boucherie's system and impregnation in air-tight cylinders as likely to meet Indian requirements. The antiseptic substances most in use on Continental railways are chloride of zinc and sulphate of copper, whereas, in England, creosote is most generally made use of in the impregnation of railway sleepers. Burnett's process is also favourably spoken of; nor must we leave out of consideration Mr. Watson's suggestions as to charring as a preventive against the attacks of insects, larva?, &c, recently communicated through the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse. I believe that New Zealand white and red pine, treated by one or other of the above processes, would take a high place, and be much in demand at greatly enhanced prices, both for local works and export, and I am astonished that in an enterprising colony like this nothing would appear to have been done in this direction, either by the Public AVorks Department or private firms. I do not know the principles upon which the Customs duties are fixed, but, if it be considered advisable to tax manufactured timber imported, I think the same rule should apply to bark, which I observe enters free. I would suggest attention to this point. Methods of " Exploitation," Convebsion, &c. I have already alluded, in Chapter 1., to the methods adopted in removing the gigantic kauri logs from the forests to the mills, but think it desirable to advert to the subject generally. I consider that * The duty collected on imports amounted to £ 10,555 18s. 4d., of which £6,651135. 7d. was ou sawu and, I presume, manufactured timber, and £2,013 Its. on palings.

Exports. Imports.* Description. Quantities 1 Value. Total. Description. Quantities Value. Total. . Timber and Firewood — Timber—Baulk ... „ Sawn jj Logs „ Spars Laths and shingles ... Palings ... ... Posts and rails.., ... Firewood— ( tons (whale fishery) ( cords Sup. feet. 2,069,063 3,003,564 No. 1,390 401 150,000 1,600 1,210 180 8 £ 10,818 16,096 8,980 3,965 127 8 74 1. Timber and Firewood — Timber —Hewn „ Sawn „ Spokes and „ Felloes ) „ Pieces Logs and piles Laths ... Palings ... Posts and rails Shingles Sup. feet. 544,809 9,196,889 No. 79,727 22,524 14,407 997,401 2,013,641 136,565 13,243,870 £ 6,116 92,685 ] 8,751 ] 83 18,992 1,178 15,800 5,326 11,593 !. Minor Forest Produce — i Bark ... f tons Kauri gum ... „ t 7 3,230 40,151 40 138,523 2. Minor Forest Produce — Bark ... .. tons 160,44: 138,563 2,135 18,979 18,97! Totals £178,714 Totals £179,421