152 AGATHIS AUSTRALIS. 
results are not satisfactory. F'rame-saws for cutting wide boards are generally 
employed, but weatherboarding is usually cut by the circular saw. Planing-- 
and moulding-machines are attached even to the smallest mills, and in the 
larger establishments all machines required for the manufacture of converted 
timber into doors, sashes, gates, boxes, and a thousand other articles are found, 
of the best patterns, with the latest improvements added. The average cost of 
conversion into ordinary boards and scantlings may be stated at 2s. per 100 
superficial feet. In logs of average quality the proportionate yield is fully two- 
thirds of first quality to one-third second quality. Many of the mill-owners obtain 
their supply of logs from freehold land, others from land leased from the Natives. 
Some mills are supplied by contractors, who obtain their logs from any con- 
venient source. Some of the best kauri forest was purchased years ago at from 
2s. 6d. to 5s. per acre, but the present price is much higher: land covered with 
good kauri would sell readily at from £10 to £15 per acre, but there is none for 
sale. On the Thames Goldfield a fee of £1 5s. is charged for every kauri felled 
by the miners, but the privilege of cutting ordinary timber free of charge is 
conferred by the miner’s right. 
In a few cases the supply of logs is obtained from Natives on payment of a 
royalty varying from 3d. to Is. per roo superficial feet, according to situation. 
The royalty levied on kauri felled in the State forests is Is. 3d. per 100 super- 
ficial feet. 
The great depression which has affected all branches of colonial trade 
during the past four or five years has been severely felt by the kauri industry: 
prices have been unremunerative, and many mills ceased working for a time. 
The total output has, without doubt, been greatly reduced, but in all probability — 
it has not fallen below 80,000,000 superficial feet, of which 30,000,000 are 
exported, including logs and spars. The importance of the kauri industry may 
at once be seen by comparing the export of kauri from Auckland-ports alone 
with the total export of other timbers from all ports of the colony for the year 
1887 .— 
Quantity. Value. 
Superficial Feet. £ 
KAURI 4 “ge ae: 30, 230,084" is 124,347 
All other timbers 1,404,380 = 45475 
Rather more than three-sevenths of the total amount of kauri is exported 
from the Kaipara, and nearly one-fifth is exported direct from Auckland. Con- 
siderably over one-half of the total export of other timbers is shipped at Inver- 
cargill and the Bluff. Owing to the kauri being in many cases thinly scattered 
amongst other trees—sometimes only one or two trees being found on an acre— 
it is not easy to form a correct idea of the average quantity per acre. The 
returns from large blocks actually cut out are often very small, as low as between 
3,000 and 4,000 superficial feet per acre. On the other hand, patches con- 
taining from 40,000 to 70,000 superficial feet per acre are not uncommon. For 
good kauri forest 20,000 superficial feet per acre would be a low estimate. At 
least 100,000,000 superficial feet, log measurement, would be required to furnish 
the total output. 
A large quantity of hewn kauri logs or “ balk’? was annually exported for 
conversion in the Australian Colonies, and caused a feeling of irritation amongst 
the woodmen in the kauri districts, who called loudly for the imposition of an 
export duty, on the ground that the logs ought to be converted in New Zealand 
so as to employ home labour. ‘The balk trade has, however, become reduced to 
— 
* Including 477,000 superficial feet of kauri shipped on board vessels which cleared from Lyttelton, I have been 
unable to ascertain the quantity shipped from other southern ports, 
