a—4

43

20. Southern Rata. —Grows on rich and poor land, sea-coast, or in mountainous country. Very durable in dry places. May be used for coachbuilding, including carriages, machine-bearings, &c. Used for special construction-works at coal-mines, and for firewood. More valuable than northern rata, owing to straighter growth and greater density. Grows chiefly at Ngakawau, Kawatiri, and Brighton, but not in quantities to be of value for commercial purposes. 22. Manuka rauriki. —Grows on poor land, partly open country. Very durable under cover. Used for hop-poles, posts and rails, and firewood. Commonly known to bushmen as " tea-tree." Should be in the category of noxious weeds. 24. Kowhai.— Grows along river-banks, in good soil. Very durable ; tough and strong. May be used for wheelwrights' work, axe-handles, slashers, &c. It is equal in all respects to the imported hickory. Used as fence-posts. Excellent for cultivation as a floral shrub. Very rare. 25. Red-pine (Rimu).— Grows on sea-coast, valleys, and lower slopes of main ranges, usually light soil. Seldom found above altitude of 2,000 ft. above sea-level. 529,284,000 sup. ft. in district. _ Not durable when exposed, except the rising heartwood of old trees. Used for general house-building purposes —window-sashes, doors, mantelpieces, dadoing, ceiling-panels ; dredge-construction, poppetheads, paddocks, lathes, underground props, sawmill-tramways, rails, sleepers, palings, shingles, and pickets. Value, Bs. to 9s. per 100 sup. ft. Very useful timber. Takes a high polish. Estimated quantity of timber, though comparatively large, is very scattered and inaccessible. 26. White-pine (Kahikatea).— Grows on good soil, deep, and inclined to be swampy. 62,003,000 sup. ft. in district. Not durable. Used" for butter-boxes and cheap furniture. Value, 9s. per 100 sup. ft. Quickly attacked by wood-borer. At one time was mistaken for yellow-pine, and attained an undeserved favourable reputation. 27. Miro (Miro toromiro). —Grows on all classes of land. 183,000 sup. ft. in district. Suitable for flooring and inside building, if matured. Will not last if exposed to weather. Used for mine-props. At one time passed as black-pine, and used for sleepers. Scattered over southern portion of Nelson District. 28. Tanekaha. —Grows on poor soils, sea-coast, and mountains. Not durable when exposed to the weather. Excellent wood for violins and string-instruments. Used occasionally as mine-props. Rare in this district. The bark of this timber is valuable for tanning purposes. 29. Mountain Toatoa.— Grows on high altitudes. Not durable. Not used. Too small for purposes of utility. 31. Mountain-beech (Tawhai rauriki).—Grows on high altitudes above 3,000 ft., and on sour ground at lower level, resting on coal-measures or Pliocene. Strong, but not durable. May be converted into wood-pulp for manufacture of paper, or distilled for acetic acid, tar, and wood-naphtha, or the bark may be ground for tanning purposes. Used occasionally for mine-props. Forms chief portion of the forest between 3,000 ft. and 4,000 ft. altitudes. 32. Silver-birch (Tawhai, Silver-beech).—Grows from sea-level to snow-line, on damp or very dry ground. 1,066,272,000 sup. ft. in district. Not durable when exposed to the weather. Can be used for furniture, buckets, and wine-barrels ; also for wood-pulp for paper-making, or distilled for acetic acid, tar, and wood-naphtha, or for tanning purposes. Used for mining purposes and for firewood. Value, 7s. per 100 sup. ft. Trees 2 ft. to 3 ft. in diameter grow at elevations of 3,000 ft. to 4,000 ft. above sea-level. Boards sawn from this timber twelve years ago are still sound. The only timber of value in Nelson which grows above 3,000 ft. level. Grows in damp soil or well-drained country. The timber growing on the high country is worth £30 an acre for mining purposes. 33. Pukatea.— Grows on good soil, swampy land. Only the heartwood of old trees is durable. Not used. Rare ; a few trees near the Oparara River, Karamea district. 34. on sea-coast and mountain-sides. Heartwood durable and suitable for straining-posts, bridge-sills, &c. Occasionally used as mine-props. A few trees throughout the district. 35. Pokaka.— Grows on sea-coast and mountain-sides. Not durable. Suitable for paper-making. Used for mine-props. Rarer even than the hinau. 38. Titoki.— Grows along sea-coast. Very rare, only found as small shrubs along warm coast to the north of this district. 43. Towhai, or Kamahi.—Grows on poor land, sea-coast, and mountain-sides. Fairly durable in some localities.' Suitable for paper-pulping. Used for mine-props, firewood, and fence-posts. Too small and irregular for milling-timber. 44. Porokaiwhiri. —Grows on sea-coast, river-banks, or warm sandy soil. Not durable. Too small to be of use, except possibly for paper-making. Not used. Small quantities along sea-coast of district. 46. Horopito (Pepperwood).—Grows from sea-coast to 2,500 ft. Not durable, or of a size to be of much use. Not used. Scattered throughout the district as common scrub. 47. Tarata.— Grows on sea-coast and river-banks. Not durable. Not used. Rare and small; a few odd trees on coast. 49. Tawhiwhi.— Grows on sea-coast and river-banks. Not durable. Not used. Rare and small; a few trees on coast. 50. Mahoe.— Grows on warm sandy soil, river-flats. Not durable. Suitable for paper-making. Not used. Small quantity, chiefly on flats around Karamea.