400 Transactions,—Dotany, 
Let us suppose the caso of a forest settler on tho lower flanks of tho 
Rimutaka, or in many parts of tho Wairarapa, the Kaipara, ete. In 
clearing his land he finds trees of honeysuckle or rewa-rewa (Knightia 
excelsa), the timber of which is almost useless for out-of-doors work, on 
account of its perishable nature, while, as it is difficult of combustion, it is 
worthless for firewood; yet, placed in the English market it would fetch a 
much higher price for cabinet work than tho so-called American Birch, 
which is retailed by the timber merchant at from 6d. to 12d. per superficial 
foot of inch thickness, The timber should be prepared by cutting into from 
10 to 14 feet lengths, so as to be easily moved to a rough saw-pit, when it 
could be reduced to planking, say from three to six inches thick; or, if in 
the vicinity of a saw-mill it might be converted at a still lower rate, or 
perhaps sold in the log, When converted it should be “perched” or 
* stripped " in such a way that no two planks would be in contact, and a 
constant circulation of air should be maintained between them. In this 
condition it could be sold to local eabinet-makers or consigned to a merchant 
or agent for export. But itis necessary to offer a word of caution with regard 
to two points of considerable importance, for the neglect of either would lead 
to loss and disappointment. First, the timber should not be sent on board 
ship until it is thoroughly dry, or it will inevitably become foxey and tainted. 
Secondly, it is imperative that the consignee in England should be someone 
thoroughly acquainted with the timber trade, for it is certain that many 
valuable timbers and other products endure continuous neglect simply from 
their not finding their way into the proper channels of distribution in 
Britain. Dr. Hector informed me that the object most admired in tho 
New Zealand Court of the American Centennial Exhibition, was a cabinet, 
constructed chiefly of rewa-rewa, which, after lying in the London docks 
for an indefinite period, had been picked up by a cabinet-maker, who 
recognized its value for his purposes, but who had been unable to learn from 
what country it had been brought, although striving to procure a further 
supply. 
It is not casy to form an exact idea of the cost of conversion and delivery 
at the port of shipment, so much depends upon situation; the following 
may be taken as a sufficiently liberal estimate :— 
Falling, 1d. per cubic foot, 
s [Nh pie 
Cartage, 3d. 
Railway charges, ad 
Say tenpence per cubi: foot, or saven skiltings per 100 superficial feet. 
The settler would th»reforo obtain not morely romaaration for his labour, 
but a direct profi; by solliog tha p'aniking at so low a rat» as one shilling 
” 
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