70 THIRD REPORT ON FOREST OPERATIONS 



in the shops for about Es. 8. Planks and sleepers are now pre- 

 pared for the most part by the saw instead of the axe, and a great 

 saving of material is hereby effected. 



The introduction of saw machinery was referred to in my first 

 summary, and the opinion I then expressed, that it should be left 

 to private enterprise, was approved of by Government. Since that 

 time a large steam saw-mill has been in active operation at "Wel- 

 lington, under the superintendence of an engineer, which is 

 indispensable. "When the logs are prepared, they are placed upon 

 carts, and carried to the inland depot or to the rivers, as the case 

 may he. The annexed sketch (plate I.) shows the usual way of 

 loading a country cart with a squared beam of say 18 or 20 cubic 

 feet. The effects of the great destruction of trees are already 

 visible. The extravagant waste of wood in the roofing of na- 

 tive houses is gradually being diminished, at least in our large 

 towns, where the increasing value of timber is distinctly felt. 

 The manufacture of tables or other furniture from a single piece 

 of wood is seldom seen, and materials less valuable than teak are 

 now used for camp chairs and ammunition boxes. 



13. Noxious Insects. — The injuries sustained by the woods and 

 forests from the attacks of destructive insects can scarcely be 

 estimated. Those which are best known to us as wanton and 

 indiscriminate destroyers are the white ant (Termites) and the 

 carpenter-bee (Xylocopa). The former attacks the timber, not 

 only during its growth, but after it has been felled; the latter 

 confines its ravages to the dead wood. Much good might be 

 effected if the public servants attached to Government buildings 

 were instructed to destroy this insect whenever it is seen by 

 them. Several species of wood-cutter (Xylocopa) tunnel through 

 the beams and posts of our public buildings, which they frequent 

 in numbers. The passages are from 12 to 15 inches long, and 

 more than half an inch in diameter. If the insects are numerous, 

 their ravages are dangerously destructive, and they soon render 

 the beam unsafe for supporting the roof. The accompanying 

 illustration (plate II.) shows the mischief caused by the car- 

 penter-bees in a log* of cadukai (Terminalia chebula). The 

 wood appears as if pierced by an auger, and well represents the pe- 

 * Sixteen cavpenter-beea were found in a cubic foot of wood. 



