go REPORTS OF MEETINGS. 



No. 10. — Puriri, Iron Wood ( Vitex litoralis) ; nat. order, Verbenacese,— 

 The flowers are very beautiful, of a majenta colour. This tree is always 

 pierced with holes by a grub, which after being roasted on a stick is eaten 

 with avidity by the natives. This wood is close grained, very hard, splits 

 well, is very durable, and takes a splendid polish. 



No. 11. — Rewarewa : New Zealand Honeysuckle {Enightia excelsa); nat. 

 order, Proteacese. — This wood recommends itself now it is polished. The 

 cross grain is an entirely different but equally beautiful pattern. 



N. 12. — Tana It is a nice 



white soft light wood, used here only as firewood, throwing out a fine clear 

 blaze. White woods are worth 2/- less than dark woods : the darker the 

 grain the heavier the wood, and the longer it burns. 



No. 13. — Maire : white {Santalum Cunning hamu) ; nat. order, Santalacese. — 

 (White Maire bears stameniferous flowers.) A very tough wood, much used 

 for buUcck yokes, as the short grain will bear a great strain without 

 breaking. 



No. 15. — Maire : black. — Bears pistiliferous flowers, and is not so common 

 in the bush as the white. 



No. 15.— Matai {Podocarpus spicata) ; nat. order, Coniferae, — A good 

 useful wood, durable in the ground or under water. Being very tough it 

 drives well. It takes a good polish, and is much used for turning. 



No. 16. — Kowai {Sophora tetraptera) ; nat. order, Leguminosas. (New 

 Zealand Laburnum. — One of the most beautiful flowering trees in the 

 country. The flowers are a canary yellow, hanging iu tresses, and it is a great 

 favourite with the natives. When it flowers they plant their potatoes. 

 The Tooce, or Parson-bird, sometimes called the Mocking-bird, sucks honey 

 from the?e flowers. It is the wood from which the natives formerly 

 obtained fire. They made a hole in one piece of wood, and then by friction 

 with another piece would cause it to smoulder after a great deal of exertion ; 

 hence, a fire once lighted they always endeavoured to keep burning. This 

 wood is heavy and exceedingly tough across the grain. The Kowai and 

 the Potrutakawa are the only beautiful flowering trees indigenous to this 

 Island. As a rule, flowers or birds of any beauty or song are not indigenous 

 to New Zealand. English birds are becoming acclimatised, and are breeding 

 at such a prodigious rate that before long they will become a nuisance in the 

 orchards . 



No. 17. — Mangiao. —This tree grows from 40 to 50 feet high. 



No. 18, — Pukatea {Atherosperma Nova Zealandice) ; nat. order, Atherosper- 

 macese. — It is locally known as the " Water Bucket,'' because when a log of 

 this wood is placed on the fire it speedily puts it out, as the moment it is 

 warmed the sap comes oozing out. 



