20 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



to the prohibitions against clearing), France has annually to import hard- 

 woods to the value of £8,000,000, mostly intended for the navy, wine- 

 cask staves, and furniture. The merchant navy has not, as yet, any non 

 ships. 



Prices for oak, in the Paris market, were quoted by the Revue des Eaux 

 et Forets, of the 5th October, 1878, as follows : — 



In log. — Logs of 2 metres in cncumference or above, 160 francs = 

 £6 8s. Od, 2^6)- cubic metre = l cubic yard-flO per cent. ; the logs to be 

 measured at the quarter girth if not squared. Logs fi-om 1 to 2 metres in 

 circumference — 80 francs = jC3 4s.,0d. 



Planks. — Lots of all lengths, breadths and depths, being piled, 150 francs 

 = £6 per cubic metre. 



Planks called " Entrevoux.'" — Breadth 10 inches, depth 1 inch, 5 francs 

 = 4s. 2^er 1 sujjerjicial m,etre = 10 superficial feet nearly = 40s. per 100 

 superficial feet. 



All other dimensions in the breadth and depth of planks are charged 

 proportionately to the cubic volume of the '^ Entrevoux.'" Oak planks are 

 to be free from sap-wood. The cost of freight from New Zealand to England 

 or Prance, maybe computed at about 6s. per 100 superficial feet, on a regular 

 trade being established. 



The above quotations are those of the forest contractor for newly-cut 

 wood, the timber merchant regulating the price of his goods according to 

 the length of time he has kept them seasoning. It is not uncommon in 

 France to see oak splitting and warping in its various uses, as may be par- 

 ticularly observed at the fom-th and fifth floors of houses where a com- 

 paratively low rent necessitates the use of cheap wood. Also, in the first 

 and second floors of the same houses, oak fi'om the same forest may be 

 seen perfectly sound, the difference arising from the more perfect seasoning. 

 The above given quotations for oak in the Paris market, relate to the 

 variety of the species which is the most abimdant in the forests of France, 

 viz., the " Quercus cerris,'" which is not so strong a timber as the " Quercus 

 pedunciilata," or British oak. Therefore, Mr. Balfour's tables, taken as a 

 means for comparison between New Zealand and England's indigenous 

 timbers, may certainly also stand good in reference to the standard timber 

 of France. Prices for oak and other hardwoods in England are about the 

 same as, if not higher than, they are in the Paris market. 



It may also be a matter of interest to observe that the most abundant 

 species of New Zealand timbers are precisely those which will best suit the 

 French markets. Such are rimu, birch, tawa, totara, etc. ; not that rimu, 

 for instance, could be expected to supply the place of oak in all its various 

 uses but, that, iox pm'poses such as those mentioned in the second section 



