Walsh. — On the Destruction of the New Zealand Bush. 491 



scanty growth of tea-tree, the digging operations frequently 

 reveal successive surfaces strewed with the remains of the 

 primeval forest, while in other parts the same thing is often 

 brought to light by mining and engineering works, as well as 

 by landslips and river erosions. Wherever, in fact, excava- 

 tion is conducted in alluvial or volcanic country it is usual to 

 find the remains of a former vegetation, generally of large 

 growth and frequently in sound condition. 



It is probable that, had no other causes intervened beyond 

 those already named, the country might have gradually 

 become reafforested. So much, indeed, is indicated by 

 the successive beds of timber that have been found — some- 

 times as many as two or three — one above the other. The 

 destruction, though severe and often widespread, occurred at 

 intervals ; and there would generally be ample time for nature 

 to reassert herself. But with the advent of a population, 

 even though comparatively small and widely scattered, other 

 conditions were introduced which made the work of destruction 

 much more rapid and complete. The Maoris were a busy 

 people, and, if not employed about the precincts of the kainga, 

 they were generally roving the country on their hunting and 

 fishing expeditions, visiting from settlement to settlement, or 

 engaged in warlike exoeditions. The fire-stick formed an im- 

 portant part of their travelling outfit, and was constantly in re- 

 quisition to clear away the dense growth of fern or tea-tree which 

 impeded their movements. The fires so kindled would sweep 

 over the country during the dry summer months, scorch- 

 ing the edge of the bush, and gradually extending the area of 

 open land. Such fires were iioticed by Tasman as he sailed 

 along the western coast two hundred and fifty years ago, and 

 they are still to be seen in all parts of the country. 



Much of the destruction of the bush is therefore to be ac- 

 counted for both by natural causes and by several centuries 

 of Maori occupation. But with the progress of European 

 settlement a host of new conditions have been added, which, 

 in conjunction wath those already existing, have greatly pre- 

 cipitated matters. The Maori settlements were confined to 

 certain localities where the conditions of soil, climate, &c., 

 were peculiarly favourable, and, though comparatively numer- 

 ous, they formed in the aggregate but a small fraction of the total 

 area of the country. For want of proper tools, moreover, their 

 bush-clearings were necessarily confined to the margin of the 

 forest, where advantage would be taken of the dead timber, 

 and were, in fact, little more than a " clean-up " after the for- 

 mer fires. But since the axe and saw have come into opera- 

 tion the living bush has been attacked throughout the length 

 and breadth of the land, and not only is an increasing area 

 annually deforested for farming purposes, but the bush is 



