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27. You refened to winter and summer cutting: which is the best time of the year to cut New Zealand timbers?'—Winter, undoubtedly. 28. If they are cut in summer-time, is that detrimental to the quality?— Undoubtedly, and it is for that very reason that the New Zealand timbers are so variable, the marketable lines of it: some being cut in summer, some in winter—s<sme shrink enormously, and some stand remarkably well. We have no guarantee that it is cut in summer or winter; it should be so marked: and, indeed, none should be summer-cut —it should all be winter-cut. 29. Two other architects have given us the same opinion. Do you think it is desirable, in view of this fact that more authority should be exercised over the cutting of the trees by the Forestry Department?— Undoubtedly. I consider that a thing of the very highest importance. for the simple reason that the timber is of far greater commercial value if cut at the right time of the year. 30. With regard to the lasting qualities of a house built with seasoned and with unseasoned timber: can you say the difference? —One built with unseasoned timber would show signs of decay in perhaps ten years, and one built with seasoned timber might last up to fifty or sixty or even a hundred years. I have seen timber taken down from old houses which has been there thirty to forty years, as sound as the day it was put in. This was New Zealand timber. It must have been thoroughly good seasoned timber to stand that time. If you put in unseasoned timber you have within that timber the elements of incipient decay, which would be bound to develop, and in a very few years the whole would be of far less value. 31. Then, your experience leads you to the opinion that if houses in New Zealand were built with more seasoned timber they would have a longer life? —Yes, undoubtedly, and so be incalculably more valuable to the community. A house would commence to decay in ten to fifteen years in the one case, and in the other case it would live generations. 32. It would be a financial gain to the people of New Zealand if houses were required to be built of seasoned timber ? —Undoubtedly. 33. Have you any difficulty in obtaining seasoned timber? —Very great; we cannot get it. I believe lately the timber-merchants are stacking timber and charging 2s. extra per hundred, but then we cannot always rely on getting that. My own experience is—perhaps now it might be different—hitherto it has been impossible to get seasoned timber. It has come generally straight from the mill to the timber-merchant's yard, and straight from there to the building —often straight from the mill to the building—so that it is impossible to get seasoned timber. The only way is to specify that the building should stand for a certain time, when the framing is up, to dry. 34. You say they charge 2s. extra for seasoning? —For stacking. That does not imply that the timber is seasoned, it only implies that it has been stacked; whether or not it is seasoned by that stacking we have no guarantee. It takes a considerable time, according to the size of the timber, for seasoning. F;ve or six months is the very least time for small scantlings; some timber ought to stand for years. 35. The difference in price in 1896 is Is. between seasoned and unseasoned? —It is 2s. now. 36. With regard to the future needs of this country, for manufacturing and for buildingpurposes, what do you think we should do for the future supplies of timber? Should we make certain reservations until such time as our planted trees have matured ?—Yes, I have always thought that. It seemed to me to be almost criminal to burn down thousands of acres of splendid trees, as has been done in various parts of New Zealand. It seems to me that we have among our New Zealand timbers all that is required for all building purposes, if properly cut, sorted, tested, and marked. We could then rely on all the timbers we have, and there would be no need to import from elsewhere. Ido not know how much of this soft kauri—silver-grained kauri—there is, but if the supply of that is very limited, then we should have to rely upon the imported yellow-pine or Baltic to take its place; but, assuming that variety of kauri to be available, then that is as good a material for joinery as could be obtained anywhere in the world. 37. In view of the fact that kauri is fast diminishing, and according to the Lands Department will be cut out in fifteen years, do yon think it desirable to have an export duty upon it? —Yes, I should certainly think so. 38. You speak about people not having sufficient knowledge of our trees, and you have evidently read up something about the forestry laws of other parts of the world. Do you think it would be wise to establish a School of Forestry, as is done in Japan, German}', America, and France, and other countries? —I certainly think it would be a very excellent idea. 39. To intelligently plant and care for our plantations?— Yes, certainly. 40. Mr. Hanan.] Is the building trade brisk in Ohristchurch now?—l have not known it so slack for very many years. 41. How do the buildings erected in the last five years compare with those erected ten years ago, as regards the class of timber, durability, and permanency of the building?—l do not think there is much difference, because we insist always in having good heart timber, and as long as we get that (we have to get it now with very great difficulty, and we should be able to get it easily) the house will have a good life, providing the timber is properly seasoned. 42. Are you putting in that seasoned timber?— Now it is impossible for us to get it oftentimes. We specify that it shall be seasoned, and we take care to get the timber as quickly as possible after the contract is let, to stack it, and to delay the building in order that the timber is as far seasoned as we can get it: but as to obtaining thoroughly seasoned timber from the timber-merchant here, that hitherto has been impossible. However, as I say, I think they are recognising the necessity of obtaining seasoned timber, and are taking more'care than they did in the past. When the building trade was extremely brisk there was not time—the timber came straight from the mill to the work, and they could not accumulate stocks; now it is possible to