'1 .. T^^ ^^^ ' "?" *¥ '^''*' '"^ *^'^ "^^'^^^y "f Kawhia Harbour. In the valley 



ot the Ihames an extensive kaun forest once existed at Waiorongomai, near Te Aroha 

 but It has long since been cut down. A few isolated trees, however, still exist on the 

 flanks of the ranges flanlcing the eastern side of the Thames River, the Gordon Settle- 

 ment being the southern Inmt. In the Waikato district scattered trees or small 

 c umps were once not uncommon on the west side of the Waipa near Ngaruawahia 

 stretching southwards almost as far as Whatawhata. The southern boundary of 

 A.%ni "'™ *^f ^"[•^^ b« '^'i^^^ ««i^«jde with the 38th paraUel of south latitude. 

 As for Its altitudmal range, it descends to sea-level in many localities, but it I 

 most abundant from 250 it. f. 1,000 ft. It is not common above 1,500 ft although 

 ^Zm^Z^f^L:"" ''' '"'' ''''''' ^-^-^^- -^ between-'Hokian^a 

 Although the kauri mil flourish in almost all soils and situations, save those 

 winch are exceeding y wet, it prefers hilly and somewhat rugged locaHties and a 

 poor and decidedly clayey soil. Isolated trees are-or, rather, fere-found in a'most 

 all forests nor h of Auckland, but as a rule the tree forms little clumps or smal 

 groves rather than continuous forests. These groves may contain from a dozen 

 to a hundred or even seveml hundreds of trees. Usually they are separated from one 

 another by forest tracts m which few kauris are present. Rarely the groves may 

 almost coalesce forimng a forest in which the kauri is the dominant although b^no 

 means the sole tree. Nowadays such instances can hardly be found, for the ravLes 

 of more than sixty years of sawmilHng, and the gradual spread of settlement, hfve 

 either swept the forest out of existence or very greatly changed its character and 

 appearance. In many cases what was once a noble and magnificent spectacle has 

 been reduced to a scene of utter ruin and desolation. Those who were fortunaJe 

 enough to see the kauri forests of the Northern Wairoa and the Hokianga districts 

 as they existed thirty-five years ago will readily agree with Mr. Colenso when he 

 says There are few sights more impressive of grandeur than an untouched 

 forest of this stately tree ; few more impressive of misery and devastation than a 

 worked-out and abandoned one ! " ("Essay on the Botany of the North Island," 



The physiognomy of a kauri forest has often been described. Perhans one of 

 the earliest accounts is that given by the illustrious Darwin, who visited New Zealand 

 in 1835, and who was taken to see a patch of kauri then existing not far from the 

 '"^fiT^ o?'''"'^ ^* Waimate, Bay of Islands (see " Naturahst's Voyage" 

 p. 427). Mr. Colenso s paper, quoted above, also contains some excellent reniarks • 

 and numerous other publications could be mentioned. But by far the best and most 

 reliable popular account of the kauri is that given by Hochstetter ("New Zealand " 

 pp. 40 to 150). For more recent and more strictly scientific information reference 

 should be made to Mr Kirk's "Forest Flora," and Dr. Cockayne's " BotanTca^ 

 Survey of the Waipoua Kauri Forest." ^ -ootanicai 



A kauri forest, or, rather, a forest containing numerous clumps of kauri has a 

 very remarkable and distinctive appearance. Even when seen from a considerable 

 distance these clumps are at once recognized by the manner in which they stand 

 far above the adjoining forest, by the pecuHar ramification of the trees, and bv the 

 dark, dusky-green colour of the foHage. But it is from the interior of the forest that 

 the kauri is seen to the best advantage, and the majestic size and noble proportions 

 of the trees can be best appreciated. On all sides rise the huge columnar trunks 

 sometimes towering up for more than 80 ft. mthout a branch, and tapering but 

 shghtiy from base to summit, smooth, grey, and ghstening. At the base of the trunk 

 is the hugh mound of debris produced by the fall of the bark, which is regulariy cast 

 off in large flakes. It is from this pecuHarity that the bole of the kauri is so free 

 from the climbing and epiphytical plants whicli commonly clothe the stems and 

 lower branches of the larger trees of the New Zealand forest. From the ton of the 

 trunk spring the short but immensely thick branches, often given out almost from 

 a single point. These, with the branchlets and foliage, form a high vaulted roof 



