300 ADDENDA. 
Mr. William Akerston, Nelson, reports that sleepers under rails laid for 
ballasting ships are quite sound after twenty-two years, and the lower part of a 
clothes-post is quite sound after twenty-five years. ; 
Mr. J. Burnett, Assistant Engineer, Christchurch, gives an interesting table 
showing the total percentage of matai sleepers removed from the railway-line 
during four years ending 31st March, 1884, to have been 15°6; of Oregon pine, 
58'4; of totara, 4°6; of kauri, 2°4. 
It would be easy to give numerous additional extracts proving the durability 
of matai, but it is desirable to extract a few adverse statements. 
Mr. C. Maltby, Assistant Engineer, Dunedin, states that ordinary bridge- 
timbers of matai will last from six to sixteen years, but sills and cattle-stops 
decay in from five to fifteen years. If tarred or painted when green, matai 
has been known to decay right through within a year or two after being so 
treated. 
Mr. k. Hay, Dunedin, states the principal cause of decay of matai is dry- 
rot: it is not a lasting timber, and should not be used in any work designed to 
be of a lasting nature. He instances the Mill Creek Bridge, erected in 1878 and 
examined in 1884, when it was found to be so much decayed that it would have 
to be removed in about two years. 
Mr. James Hunter, Inspector of Permanent-way, Otago, who has given a 
striking instance of the durability of matai, also states that Ioin. X 1oin. matal 
piles used in the construction of the goods-shed, Dunedin, were completely rotten 
in eleven years. 
Mr. W. Stone, District Manager, Nelson, states that railway-sleepers were 
badly decayed in nine years, and that bridge cap-sills and cattle-stop beams 
were badly decayed where in contact with the earth after the same period. 
_ Mr. Gerald Fitzgerald, Assistant Engineer, Blenheim, states that crossing- 
baulks at Blenheim were badly decayed on the lower side and the grain 
shortened throughout after four years, and that railway-sleepers were too rotten 
to be of further service after the same period. 
Mr. E. Rawlings states that matai piles were used in the Taipo Bridge, but 
lasted only five years, although the heartwood was still good. 
Mr. A. Salmond states that matai was used in the construction of the foot- 
bridge over the Maitai River, Bridge Street, Nelson, and that the tenons, scarves, 
and mortices were partly rotten within five years. 
Mr. John Robinson, Nelson, considers matai a most useless timber, which 
.has in no instance been found to stand for any length of time. 
The following extracts are remarkably suggestive: Mr. C. Banks, Engineer, 
Waitaki County, states that a square-pile bridge of twenty spans, each 28ft. 4in., 
was erected near the mouth of the Kakanui River in 1871, and examined in 
August, 1884, when all bearing-beams were found decayed on the top to a i 
depth of about 2in., and several beams for as much as 4in. in the centre, In . 
all other positions the timber is perfectly sound. The worst pile examined was . 
decayed to the depth of tin. at the surface of the ground. The timbers used 
‘‘were matai and totara, some of each being placed in all positions. There 1s NO 
apparent difference in the condition of the two timbers.’ Mr. M. Paterson, Engineer 
to the Clutha County Council, states that a bridge erected over the Wawera 
Stream in 1860 or 1861 was examined in July, 1884, when both totara and 
matai were so badly decayed that a new bridge had to be erected during the 
following summer. He adds, ‘‘ The totara beams and piles in this bridge show as 
much decay as the matat.”’ | 
