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extremely serious concern; but happily there still exist in the Richmond and Tweed River districts timbers 
that are apparently equally suitable for the purpose, and in quantities sufficient to meet the requirements 
of even so rapidly expanding an industry as dairying for many years to come. The Dairy Expert, 
Mr. M. A. O’Callaghan, some time ago, when the question of suitable timbers for butter-boxes was rather 
prominently under public review, reported having carefully examined boxes of local production in the 
Richmond River district. He was favourably impressed with the timber—so-called Richmond River Pine— 
that came under his observation, and found that when properly seasoned such wood had practically neither 
taste nor smell, Mr. T. T. Ewing, M.H.R., also took an active interest in the matter, and in due course 
arrangements were made for analysis and systematic investigation of the timber used on the Richmond 
River for butter-boxes. 
Mr. W. E. Oxenford, of the Railway Sawmills, Crabbe’s Creek, Richmond River, was good enough 
to forward a box and samples of timber. In a letter accompanying the specimens he said : “ I have 
been using Pine (local) timber for some years for making butter-boxes. I have supplied the Tweed 
River Creamery Butter Co. (Ltd.) with boxes of this timber for the past three years, during which time 
I have never had the slightest complaint. Mr. Mcllraith, the manager, assures me the timber supplied 
does not taint the butter in the slightest degree. The boxes supplied to them are known as ‘local’ boxes 
—ends | inch thick ; sides, tops, and bottoms, A inch thick—but Mr. Mcllraith tells me he has been 
using this size all along for export as well, and has never had any complaint from the shippers. The only 
fault (if it can be called a fault) is the boxe.s made from our local Pine are a little heavier than boxes of 
the same size made from New Zealand ‘ Kahikihea ’ or AVhite Pine. 
“ I also supplied the North Coast Fresh Food and Cold Storage Co-operative Co. (Ltd.), Byron Bay, 
for about twelve months with boxes known as ‘ Export Boxes/—ends, f inch; sides, tops, and bottoms, 
£ inch in thickness. The Company discontinued the use of these boxes owing to their being slightly 
heavier than New Zealand Pine of same thicknesses, otherwise, they had no complaint to make. 
“ T am still supplying this Company with a small box to hold 28 lb. butter, and used for the trade 
locally. These are made out of second-class material—that is, knotty pieces and timber that is a little 
rough where the planing machine has not touched. 
“ In the earlier days of butter factories, the Richmond River Pine received a bad name for having 
a very nasty smell, and from giving a taint to the butter. This is to be accounted for from the fact that 
timber that did that was cut in Sydney saw mills, where logs on arrival were dumped into- the water, and 
may have lain for weeks before being cut up. Naturally such logs became impregnated with the filth that 
is to be seen and smelt around some of the Harbour mills, and hence the verdict went forth that 
Richmond River Pine was unsuitable for butter-boxes. The logs I cut are never in the water. They 
come straight from the scrub into the mill, where they are broken down into boards, which are then 
stacked with fillets between each board, and allowed to season about four months. They are then passed 
through the planing-machihes, dressed both sides and edges, are then cross-cut into suitable lengths, loaded 
into railway trucks, and forwarded to the factory. 
“ I am sure that our Pine is as suitable as the New Zealand wood. It is a far stronger timber ; 
boxes can be used for local trade three or four times, as washing with hot water or steam does not 
discolour this timber. The same cannot be said of New Zealand Pine. Our \ inch material stands the 
voyage to Europe, whereas A inch New- Zealand Pine would have a tendency to split (they use f inch stuff 
for the purpose). The w-eight of a box made from our pine, inch thick, would not be as heavy as | inch 
New Zealand Pine. The fact that one factory is continually using J inch boxes for export proves that 
other factories can do the same in place of using £ inch material.” 
Mr. Oxenford adds that in his district there is enough Pine to supply hundreds of factories for 
many years to come. 
The specimens of Richmond River Pine forwarded were submitted to analysis by the Chemist, 
Mr. F. B. Guthrie, in conjunction with samples of New r Zealand Pine for comparative purposes. 
Mr. Guthrie furnishes the following details of analysis :— 
Richmond River Pine. New Zealand Pine. 
Moisture at 100° C. 
. 3-52 
. 11-26 
Aqueous Extract 
2-81 . 
2-22 
Alcoholic Extract 
1-15 . 
•69 
Total Extract 
3-96 
2-91 
Total Oxidisable matter in aqueous ex¬ 
tract, calculated as Tannic acid 
•85 
•39 
Weight of butter-box (131, x 13 x 12) ... 
9 lb. 15 oz. 
8 lb. 12 oz. 
