580 Transactions. — Miacfllaneous. 



work, which, considering the extent of our kahikatea forests, is 

 worthy of earnest attention. 



Until this discovery has been made, let me urge every 

 person about to build with kahikatea to use only seasoned 

 timber ; and here I would say that it takes a much longer time 

 to season timber than most people suppose. Under the most 

 favourable circumstances I do not consider that timber should 

 be used until it has had six months' drying. Do not be in too 

 great a hurry to paint a new house. Great injury is often done 

 to timber by painting it before it is even half-dry. I consider, 

 unless the timber is quite dry, that a building should have six 

 months' exposure to the weather before it is painted. 



I have used kahikatea for such purposes as fencing, planking 

 bridges, and furniture, with good result. For fencing and 

 planking the heart only should be used. I have several articles 

 of furniture which are, so far as I can judge, as good, and likely 

 to be as durable, as if they had been made of any other timber 

 in the country. 



In conclusion, while I have no desire to place too high a 

 value upon kahikatea, I am anxious that it should take rank in 

 accordance with its merits ; and as it is a fact that those dis- 

 tricts which have used it the most, and for the longest time, still 

 continue to use it in preference to second-class kauri at the same 

 price, I think it is entitled to take rank before the latter. In 

 this opinion I know that some of the most experienced builders 

 of Auckland, and I believe all at the Thames, concur. The 

 rapidity with which our kauri forests are disappearing will ere 

 long compel those who now affect to despise kahikatea to turn 

 their attention to it as a substitute ; and when, by the aid of 

 science and experience, we are able to shield it from the attack 

 of the aforesaid beetle, I feel convinced that it will prove itself 

 no unworthy successor of that illustrious inhabitant of our 

 Auckland forests. 



