Lzcoy.— The Forest Question in New Zealand. 19 
An analysis of returns relating to colonial timber, issued by the English 
Colonial Office, and presented to both Houses of Parliament, August, 1878, 
affords important information. In the prefatory observations of the official 
document it is stated that * The returns exhibit, in a striking manner, the 
urgent need for some prompt and comprehensive action to stay the influences at 
work to destroy the indigenous forests which constitute, in many instances, the 
principal natural riches of the colonies.—Looking * * * above all, to the 
intrinsic importance of the question itself, this may be regarded as a matter of 
Imperial concern, calling for well-considered action on the part of the Government," 
In the chapter devoted to New Zealand, the provisions of the State 
Forests Act of 1874 are recited, and the following remarks occur :—** As a 
practical and comprehensive experiment in the direction of forest conservancy, the 
results will be looked forward to with interest." * * * 
Besides the supply derivable from her dependencies, England imports 
immense quantities of timber from the north of Europe. But there, also, 
forests are becoming exhausted, and protective duties on the Baltie timbers 
are imminent. 
The demand for staves and hardwood intended for various purposes, is 
considerable in the English markets, and should New Zealand timbers be 
better known there, they would soon be in demand to any amount that 
could be supplied. The same remarks apply to those of our woods which 
are so well adapted for the mannfacture of furniture, cabinet work, etc. 
However, for ordinary house-building purposes New Zealand timbers could 
not compete in price with the lighter woods generally used in England. 
In France, the use of hardwoods for house-building purposes is more 
general than in England, and it may be there a matter of necessity, to 
which, in some cases, ornamentation is added. Houses in Paris being 
five stories high (each house affording habitation to ten families), have to be 
constructed with the strongest materials. Oak, as a rule, is used in the 
construction of stairs, inlaid floorings, doors, and panels, the work being 
finished off by the application of a special encaustic, which produces a 
varnish-like appearance. Thus, in France, oak is found to be both useful 
and ornamental; and floorings of polished oak are almost universal, carpets 
being but seldom used, and then only in winter. Another characteristic of 
French custom is extreme luxury in furniture, all classes of the people in 
towns seeking to possess themselves of the best furniture that their means 
wil admit of. It may therefore be confidently asserted that New Zealand 
timbers, for all purposes indicated in the above classification, will find a 
ready market in France. 
In addition to the annual product of her 23,000,000 acres of forests 
(including State, communal, and private forests, all of which are subjected 
