376 Transactions. 



this location maylbe taken at about 1 ft. in height and -^ in. 

 in diameter per annum. The fifteen trees whose heights were 

 measured are indicated on the plan by arrows, and the heights 

 figured in feet and inches. 



Some doubt has at times been expressed as to whether the 

 rings or increments of growth as shown by the cross -sections of 

 kauri and other New Zealand pines indicated annual growths, 

 as they admittedly do in the deciduous trees and pines of other 

 countries. It was deemed to be quite probable that two in- 

 crements might be formed annually, especially in the case of 

 kauri, in the subtropical north of Auckland. All analogical 

 reasoning pointed to one very distinct increment of growth per 

 annum, but something more conclusive was desirable. As the 

 time of growth of the trees in question was definitely known, it 

 was seen that an opportunity was here presented, probably 

 unique, to determine the point. With this view, and in the 

 objects of science, application was made last year to the then 

 Mayor, the Hon. E. Mitchelson, for permission to cut one kauri, 

 to be selected by Mr. W. Goldie, Superintendent of Parks. This 

 was readily granted, and, when the time came, confirmed by His 

 Worship A. M. Myers, Esq., the present Mayor. In selecting the 

 tree to be cut, Mr. Goldie drew attention to the circumstance 

 that at one place the trees were too much crowded, and suggested 

 that one of them, a rimu, should also be cut down. The consent 

 of His Worship the Mayor having been formally obtained, the 

 two trees were cut on the 4th September last, and cross-sections 

 obtained of each. The kauri was 3 ft., and the rimu 3 ft. 9 in., 

 in girth. 



The sections of the kauri show much irregularity, not only 

 in the thickness of rings, but in the size at different places in the 

 same ring. In some places there are eight rings to J in., in others 

 three to 1 in. On account of tnis irregularity and constriction, 

 it is a matter of some difficulty to count the rings. The growth 

 of the kauri has been exceedingly slow during the first four or 

 five years, but there is no doubt that the section shows forty- 

 two rings at 1 ft. from the ground, and from the eccentricity 

 of the pith these are contained in 3| in. on one side and in 8J in. 

 on the other. The increase of height being roughly 1 ft. per 

 annum, one ring less will be found for every foot in height at 

 which the section is cut. 



The rimu section is much more regular and concentric. The 

 tree had taken twelve years to reach a diameter of 2 in. This 

 was succeeded by a rapid rate of increase during the next ten 

 years, amounting to -| in. diameter per annum. During the last 

 twenty years the rate has been less but very regular. There 

 are in all forty-two rings, and with the exception of the first 



