39

C—4

29. Toatoa. —Found from sea-level to 2,000 ft. Scarce. Not very durable ; strong, tough wood ; very good for sprits, masts, and booms of boats. Bark used for tanning, saplings for boats, spars, poles, &c. 30. Mountain Toatoa. —Grows on mountain-ranges. Scarce. Makes good walking-sticks. 31. 32. Tawhai rauriki (Mountain-beech). —Grows on the high tops and upper parts of the bush ranges. Plentiful. Not durable. It is of little or no use, except for firewood, and not very good for that. 33. Pukatea. —Generally grows on alluvial flats. Fairly plentiful in the Sounds. Not generally considered durable, but some of its heart-wood, grown on dry land, lasts probably better than any other wood in the water. Used slightly for weatherboards, but not generally cut. This timber is, I think, better than supposed for weatherboards. The tree is said to be an indication of good land. 34. Hinau. —Grows on river-flats, but chiefly on lower slopes of hills, up to about 3,000 ft. Plentiful in the Sounds and Kaikoura districts. It is only fairly durable, but is extremely tough and strong. At one time it was used as the best timber for the surf-boat planking, but is now hardly ever used. Would probably make good casks and boxes. It is generally passed over when getting milling-logs. This tree has a berry which affords a great deal of food to birds and pigs when it falls from the trees, and formerly was used by the Natives as food. The honey found in the hollows of this tree is said to be superior to that in any other tree ; why, I do not know. 37. Tawa. —Grows from sea-level to 1,000 ft. Only extends to near the head of Pelorus River. Plentiful in the Sounds, but not found south end of the district. Not at all durable ; hard and brittle when dry. Good firewood. Sometimes cut into boards, but unless put up green is almost too hard to drive nails into. Splits very readily. Used almost entirely for firewood, though at one time buttercasks were made from it. Value, about £1 a cord. This timber is plentiful in the Upper Pelorus, and there are one or two small trees in Kaikoura ; but the southern limit may be said to be the head of the Pelorus River. This tree is generally thought to indicate good soil. 38. Titoki, Tokitoki. —Grows on river-flats and lower hills. Although found all over the district, it is not plentiful. Not durable when exposed to wet, but is very tough and springy, and makes good cart-poles, shafts, &c, for a time, but does not last well; it also makes good tool-handles. This timber is, I think, often neglected for inferior timber when elasticity and toughness is required. 43. Towhai, or Kamahi. —Grows along the banks of streams, on flats, or high spurs, being fairly plentiful in the district. Not at all durable, and is of little or no use except for firewood. The bark is useful for tanning. This timber is considered an indication of poor soil. 44. Porokaiwhiri. —Grows from sea-level to 1,500 ft., but is rather scarce in the district. Neither durable nor strong, but nicely figured, and is suitable for cabinet-work. Not used, except for firewood when handy. 45. Kohekohe. —Habitat: From sea-level to 500 ft., chiefly in the North Island. Ends about head of the Sounds. At one time it used to cover a considerable area of this district, but is now scarce. Fairly durable ; light, but not strong. Makes good fence-posts, and is also suitable for cabinet-work and for shingles. Used at present for fencing and for firewood. Known locally by settlers as cedar. Stops rather abruptly about the head of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds ; I have never seen it south of this. 46. Horopito. —Grows generally all over the district, being plentiful in places. It is of no use for anything but cabinet-work, the wood being nicely marked. Sometimes called by settlers " pepperwood." It is a small tree in this district, rarely being over 3 in. in diameter. 47. Tarata. —Grows from sea-level to 2,000 ft. all over the district, though very scarce. Not durable. Timber of no value. Good and ornamental shelter-tree, for which it is used. An exceedingly handsome tree. Grows well all over the district, but is not plentiful. 48. Karo. —Grows in places throughout the district, but is very scarce. Heavy close-grained wood ; not durable. So scarce as to be generally unknown. It is a very handsome plant, but is not frequently met with in this district. 49. Tawhiwhi. —Grows generally on low country and river-flats, but is rather scarce. Heavy compact wood, but not durable. Only useful for firewood or for a hedge-plant, for shelter. I know this plant as " rautawhiri." 50. Mahoe. —Habitat: From sea-level to 3,000 ft., being rather abundant in certain localities. Not durable. Good firewood. Is used by the Maori to obtain fire by friction. Known as " whitewood " by the settlers ; is supposed to be an indication of good soil. 51. Huoi, or Manatu. —Habitat: From sea-level to 3,000 ft., but scarce. Poor, useless timber for all but firewood ; called " lacebark." Known here as " whauai." There are two kinds —the one which grows into a small tree, and the other, a shrub, growing high up the mountains. The flower of the latter looks like a large orange-blossom, with a scent like primrose. 54. Ake. —Grows generally on river-flats and low country. Fairly plentiful in Kaikoura district, but scarce in North Marlborough. Heavy, dense, strong wood. Useful for mauls or for other purposes requiring strong dense wood, and also for cabinet-work, &c. Used now for posts, mauls, &c. It is a very handsome tree, with long thin bright-green leaves. Wood looks like Lignum vitce. 55. Karaka. —Grows along the coast, wherever the Natives have settled ; but scarce. Poor soft timber. Does not even burn well. The berry is used by the Natives for food. Always found associated with old Native cultivations.