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46 (iii.) The Towai, and Tawhero, (Weinmannia sylvicola, and W. racemosa,) are small trees which are found throughout the interior. Their average height is 40 feet, and about 2 feet in diameter. Their wood is said to be heavy, close-grained, and red, and to answer all purposes to which Mahogany, or New South Wales Cedar, is applied.
(iv.) The Titoki or Titongi, (Alectryon excelsum,) is a tree general throughout the Island. It is of lofty growth, sometimes reaching 60 or 70 feet, and 3 feet in diameter; it has a pleasing appearance, and is low branched. Its wood is straight in the grain, and is very tough, and is much like that of the English Ash. It is used by Wheelwrights and Shipwrights, and may be applied to like purposes with that of the Ash.
(v.) The Kohekohe, (Dysoxylum spectabile,) is a handsome tree which is only found plentifully in the North parts of the Island. (see par 13, § ii.) It reaches to the height of 50 or 60 feet, having its trunk clear of branches to the height of 30 or 40 feet, and of 3 feet diameter. Its wood is fine-grained, of a pale reddish colour, and is heavier than the New South Wales Cedar. It is used in the making of Furniture.
(vi.) The Tangeao or Mangeao, (Tetranthera calicaris,) is a small tree, also confined to the Northernmost parts of the Island, where it is tolerably abundant. It reaches to the height of 45 feet, but its trunk is seldom above 19 inches in diameter. Its wood is of a dark reddish brown colour, and admits of a good polish; it is said to equal that of the Elm in lightness, durability, and extraordinary toughness. It is used for Agricultural Implements, Bullock Yokes, and Oars, and (lately) for Ship's Blocks, for which last purpose it is likely to be very valuable. It would probably make good spokes and cogs.
(vii.) The Rewarewa, (Knightia excelsa,) is a handsome tree of peculiar fastigiate - or poplar-like - growth. It is much more plentiful in the North than it is in the South parts of the Island. It is generally found in dry woods, and often attains to the height of 60 feet, although its diameter is rarely 3 feet. Its wood is beautifully variegated and mottled, reddish on a light-brown ground; and is used for Picture Frames, and Fancy Work. It splits freely, and is therefore used for fence pales.
(viii.) The Maire:- two, or more, very distinct genera, containing several trees, (Santalum Cunninghamii, and Olea sp.,) are confounded under this Native name; although the Natives themselves generally
47 distinguish them pretty clearly, - calling the Olea, Maire-rau-nui. Both were by them called Maire, from the fact of both being hard-wooded, and formerly used by them for the same purposes. One of the trees (Santalum Cunninghamii) is confined to the North parts; while the various species of Olea are more general, and much more plentiful in the South parts of the Island. It is highly doubtful whether the true Northern Maire (Santalum Cunninghamii,) is yet much known in the Arts and Manufactures; it is a small tree, belonging to the Sandalwood family, and the species is confined to a very limited area. (See par.. 11, § ii.) The large Maire tree, or Maire-ra-nui of the Aborigines, comprise 3 known species of Olive, (O. Cunninghamii, lanceolata, and montana,) one species being found generally throughout the Island. It commonly forms a large tree, 60 or 70, or even 100 feet high, and 4 feet, or more, in diameter. It is very closely allied to the European Olive, and to the "Iron-wood" of Norfolk Island, - all being species of the same genus. There are two kinds known to the Manufacturer; - a dark variety fit for Cabinet-Making, and a white variety fit for sheaves, and cogs, and for Wheelwrights' work. The dark kind has a handsome grain, and polishes well; but its brittleness and great weight prevents its being more generally used.
(ix.) The Pukatea, (Atherosperma Novae-Zelandiae,) is among the largest trees of New Zealand, sometimes reaching the height of 150 feet and a clear diameter of 5 to 7 feet, besides having immensely thick buttresses at the base. The wood, however, is soft, and will not split; and (at present) is little used save in boat-building; it is highly serviceable for the bottom boards of boats, as in case of striking a rock, only the spot so struck is staved: a nail might be driven into the wood without splitting or boring.
(x.) The Tawa, (Nesodaphne Tawa,) is a fine tree, common throughout New Zealand, especially in the interior, often attaining to the height of 70 feet. Its wood is light and splits easily, and soon rots if exposed to wet; notwithstanding, from its freeness of splitting, it is used for fence rails, and for shingles, in places where it abounds.
(xi.) The Taraire, (Nesodaphne Tarairi,) another species of the same genus, but confined to the North parts of the Island, (vide par. 11., § ii,) is a handsomer and still larger tree; yet its wood, being similar in quality, is of little use.
(xii.) The Ake, or New Zealand Lignum Vitae, (Dodonaea viscosa,) is a small tree, or large shrub, seldom attaining a greater diameter than 1 foot.
48 It is found generally on dry ground throughout the Island, but is both more plentiful and larger at the North parts. Its wood is very hard and very heavy, (being by far the heaviest of all the New Zealand woods,) is of a reddish colour, and is often variegated with dark streaks, or mottled with a succession of knots, giving it a peculiarly beautiful appearance. It is used for Sheaves, Axe-handles, &c.
(xiii.) The Tipau, or Mapau, ( Myrsine australis,) is a small leafy tree, 15 to 20 feet high, found sparingly throughout the Island, but more plentiful at the North. Its wood resembles Beech, and is used for Chair making, Carpenter's tools, Walking sticks &c.
(xiv.) The Wharangi, or Wharangi-pirou, (Melicope ternata,) is a small tree, 12-15 feet high, generally found throughout the Island. Its wood resembles Satin-wood, and is used by the Cabinet Maker for inlaying Fancy work.
(xv.) The Kawaka, (Libocedrus Doniana,) is a middle-sized hardwooded tree of the Pine family. It is sparingly found and generally at much higher elevations than the larger timber trees, hence it is not much known. It is confined to the North parts of the Island, where it attains to a height of from 30 to 40 feet, (or more,) and from 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Its wood is dark coloured, beautifully grained, close and heavy; well suited for picture frames. In the lower part of its trunk the wood is said to resemble the "tulip-wood" of New South Wales. This tree is very closely allied to the famed "Alerse" (Thuja tetragona) of South Chili and the Straits of Magellan; and is believed to be a very valuable wood.
27. There still remains to be noticed a few more indigenous vegetable substances known in commerce; foremost among which as valuable exports are two of world-wide fame, though peculiar to the Island, viz.-
(i.) The New Zealand Flax, or fibre of the Phormium tenax and of Ph. Colensoi, and of their varieties, (Muka of the Natives, as the dressed fibre of the Harakeke, or Flax Plant,) has long been too well known, to require any lengthened remarks here. The plants are common in every situation and soil throughout the Island, or the New Zealand groupe, (including also Norfolk Island,) where alone the Phormium is found indigenous. (g.) Some swamps, or low grounds, possess it as almost the only plant, growing continuously for miles. Formerly it was handdressed in large quantities by the Aborigines, both for home consumption among themselves and for sale, and was exported very largely. As an H
49 article of export it has greatly diminishhed, but this is entirely owing to the Natives having generally given up the dressing the plant for sale, - to the dearth of hand labour - and to the difficulty in properly preparing its fibre for use by machinery; which difficulty, however, will without doubt be eventually overcome. From official statistical papers it is gathered, that the export of hand-dressed Flax, during the 10 years ending 1852, from the port of Wellington alone, amounted to 523 tons 15 cwt., value £7,200: of which, nearly one fourth, or 128 tons 10 cwt. 85lbs., was exported in one year, 1850. Of late years the export of this article has been very small compared with what it once was, and with what (it is firmly believed) it will yet be.
(ii) The Kapia, or Kauri Gum, is (as its colonial name shows) a Gum, or rather a Resin, from the Kauri Pine (Dammara australis); it is not however obtained in the present living Kauri Pine forests, but only in the North parts of the Province of Auckland, where (it is believed) such trees formerly grew, -yet of such ancient forests no other trace generally remains than the resin iself slightly buried in the soil. Large tracts of the country north of Auckland (particularly of the more barren spots,) is of this description; and much of it has been already dug over, (carelessly perhaps,) and the resin collected. It is now about 20 years since the Kauri gum was first noticed as an article of export; and it has been mainly, if not entirely, gathered by the Aborigines from the Thames to the North Cape. The quantity exported from Auckland, in 1863, was 1,400½ tons, worth £27,026; and the total quantity exported from that Province, during the 10 years ending 1862, amounted to 13,575 tons 18cwt. 84lbs., worth £174,148. The largest quantity exported in any one year (1857), as 2,464 tons 10cwt., worth £34,550.
(iii.) Another peculiar article of export, which has also been extensively used in the Colony for tanning, is the bark of the Towai (Weinmannia racemosa). This tree (or a closely allied species), is more or less common throughout the Island, but it is much more abundant in the Northern parts, where, too, its Bark has been more particularly gathered for use, and exported for tanning purposes.
(iv.) Other indigenous vegetable substances, which have been both successfully used and brought to market, are, - the Kareao, or Supplejack creeper (Rhipogonum parviflorum), as coarse Basket and Wicker work; Brooms, for ship and domestic purposes, made of the twiggy Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium); the woody stems of the white Mangrove (Avicennia officinalis), for soapmaking; the downy pappus
50 Hune from the fruiting heads of the large Bulrush, (Typha angustifolia,) for beds, bolsters and pillows; and Honey; - since the introduction of Bees and their becoming wild. Of this last article a large quantity increasing every year, (particularly at the North,) finds its way into the market.
28. It is reasonably believed, that there are yet several indigenous plants and vegetable substances which may prove to be valuable both for use and export; some of which are all but quite unknown to Arts and Manufactures: a few of them will be here mentioned.-
(i.) OF TIMBERS:- (a. known hard woods.) The Mairetawhake, (Eugenia Maire); the Rohutu (Myrtus pedunculata), especially the larger Southern tree; the Maire (Santalum Cunninghamii), a small tree with dark bark, of the Sandal-wood genus, scarcely averaging 30 feet in height, only known as growing in the dry forests Northward of 36[degrees] South; the Manoao (Dacrydium Colensoi), a small hard-wooded pine, incorruptible, (according to the Natives,) found sparingly in high and dry forests on the East Coast, north of Whangarei, and also in the mountainous country near Taupo; and the long leaved Myrsine (M. salicina), being the next species to the well-known and valued beechlike Tipau or Mapau, (M. australis,) and also a much larger tree. (b. trees supposed to be hard-wooded.) The Tawari (Ixerba brexioides), the Toro (Persoonia Toro), the Kohuhu, and the Tarata, (Pittosporum tenuifolium, and . eugeioides,) and the Porokaiwhiri (Hedycarya dentata); besides which there are, the white-wooded Horoeka (Aralia crassifolia), the Kaikomako (Pennantia corymbosa), the large species of Plagianthus (P. betulinus), and Epicarpurus microphyllus (or Trophis opaca); all those, from their known affinities, are well worthy of a trail.
(ii.) OF BARKS : a. for dyeing : the Hinau,and the Pokaka, (Eleocarpus dentatus, and E. Hookerianus,) for dyeing black ; and the Makomako (Aristotleia racemosa), for a blue-black. --b. for tanning ; the Toatoa, or Tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichoaniodes), the the Makamaka (Ackama rosaefloia), so closely allied to the Towai ; and the Maanawa, or White Mangrove (Avicennia tomentosa,) the bark of which is said to be extensively used for tanning at Rio Janeiro.
(iii.) SUNDRIES: The living bark, branches, stumps and roots, and even leave, of the Kauri pine would yield a large amount of kauri resin uder proper management . The fibrous leaves of the Kiekie (Freycinetia Banksii), is and excellent article for