Bagnall. — On Kauri-gum in a Kahikatea Forest. 413 



to a search being made for more, with the result that up to 

 the present time fully 100 tons of very superior quality gum 

 has been secured. The gum has been obtained in the open 

 country adjoining the forest, as well as in the forest. Boots 

 and portions of the trunks of kauri-trees have been found 

 while searching for gum. The greatest quantities of gum 

 were got in low-lying places and wet holes. As much as half 

 a ton has been taken from a place about 12ft. square. In 

 places it was found near the surface of the ground, but gene- 

 rally it was got at a depth of from 2ft. to 4ft. There were 

 many indications, such as charred pieces of gum and timber, 

 that fires in the long long ago had destroyed both the forest 

 and much of the gum. 



Although the Maoris had previously obtained small quan- 

 tities of gum in the open country, they appear to have been 

 ignorant of its existence there in any quantity, and I think 

 they never thought of looking for it in the kahikatea forest. 

 They knew, however, of the remains of kauri-trees ; and the 

 block on which the gum was first discovered after the fire, and 

 from which a great quantity was taken, is called " Te Kauri." 



It is well known that the kauri grows in dry hilly country. 

 I am not aware of its being found anywhere in such low- 

 lying ground as the Turua lands now are. This would seem. 

 to indicate that this land was once considerably higher than 

 it now is, or kauri in such quantity would not have grown. 

 Captain Hutton, speaking of the Thames, says, " The land in 

 this district at one time sunk to about 10ft. or 12ft. lower 

 than now, and subsequently has again risen to its present 

 level." 



How long it is since Turua was covered with kauri instead 

 of kahikatea no one can tell, but it must be a very long time, 

 as I estimate that the large kahikatea-trees are not less than 

 a thousand years old; 



So far only a small area of the Turua Forest has been 

 prospected for gum. The undergrowth is so dense that it is 

 not possible to search for gum until a fire has been through, 

 and fire will not run in virgin kahikatea bush — in fact, it is 

 only in very dry seasons that it will run through the old 

 workings. It is quite possible, when the bush has been 

 cleared, that the agriculturist may, in digging his drains, find 

 more of this valuable commodity. 



