DACRYDIUM CUPRESSINUM. 30 
of the sleepers, and secured by wooden wedges driven home. The material 
being obtained along the line of tramway, and the forests being usually of a flat 
character, the construction of tramways in Southland is very easy. In the 
absence of special difficulties, the cost ranges from 16s. to tgs. 6d. per chain. 
Wooden tramways are worked by horse-power; but in some instances light 
iron rails are used, so as to allow of haulage being effected by a steam motor. 
The cost of rails is estimated at £300 per mile. 
In felling, a small scarf is cut with the axe on one side of the tree, which is 
then felled by the saw. This method has come into general use since 1877, 
and is found more economical than felling with the axe. The trunk is cut into 
suitable lengths for the mill, and the logs are hauled by bullocks or horses to a 
raised loading-place by the side of the tramway. It is not considered profitable 
to haul logs from a greater distance than ten chains on each side of the tram- 
way: this fixes the maximum proportion of tramways required at half a chain 
per acre. 
In some cases both mill and forest are worked by day-labour only, but most 
frequently the work is done by contract to a greater or less extent. The entire 
plant and forest may be placed in the hands of a contractor, who engages to 
perform all the work of conversion at a fixed rate per 100 superficial feet; or 
the felling, logging, and hauling to mill may be let in a separate contract. The 
entire cost of production, from felling to delivery on the railway trucks, need 
not exceed 3s. per 100 superficial feet. To this must be added royalty on logs, 
percentage for interest on cost of machinery and plant, depreciation from wear- 
and-tear, accidents, loss of time, and bad debts. 
First-class rimu for building purposes is now being loaded in the railway 
trucks at 4s. per 100 superficial feet. This can only be done under thoroughly 
systematic management. 
The average yield of timber per acre varies considerably in different dis- 
tricts. Good virgin forest in Southland yields over 20,oooft. In some parts of 
Westland and Nelson, where the trees are unusually dense and attain excep- 
tionally long lengths, the return often exceeds 80,o00ft. per acre. 
In State forests a royalty ef 3d. per 100 superficial feet is charged on rimu, 
the timber being measured before felling. On payment for an area of 200 acres, 
the department reserves 600 acres additional for the use of the sawmiller. In 
private forests the royalty varies from 3d. to 6d. per tooft. on the sawmiller’s 
return. Sometimes the timber is purchased at an acreage rate. 
In the Wellington District the Crown forest is often purchased from the 
Government and cleared by the sawmiller, who is usually able to dispose of it 
at a profit after clearing, so that his raw material is obtained free of cost. 
With the single exception of the kauri, no other tree affords employment to 
so large a number of men as the rimu. | 
Puates XX,,' XXI., anp XXII. 
XX. Felling matai and rimu in Seaward Forest. 
XXI. Bush scene in Seaward Forest. 
XXII. Bush tramway and log-train on Mr. J. Murdoch’s area, Seaward 
Forest. 
The above are from photographs taken for this work by Mr. J. Dougall, of 
Invercargill, and kindly presented by him. 
Note.—tThe fruit is termed ‘‘ koroi”’ in the North. 
