GENERAL INTRODUCTION 15 



Gone are the forest tracks, where oft we rode 



Under the silver fern-fronds chmbing slow, 

 In cool, green tunnels, though fierce noontide glowed 



And glittered on the tree-tops far below. 

 There, mid the stillness of the mountain road. 



We just could hear the valley river flow. 

 Whose voice through many a windless summer day 



Haunted the silent woods, now passed away. 



Drinking fresh odours, spicy wafts that blew. 



We watched the glassy, quivering air asleep, 

 Midway between tall cliffs that taller grew 



Above the unseen torrent calling deep : 

 Till, like a sword, cleaving the foliage through, 



The waterfall flashed foaming down the steep ; 

 White, living water, cooling with its spray 



Dense plumes of fragile fern, now scorched away. 



Keen is the axe, the forest fire streams bright. 



Clear, beautiful, and fierce, it speeds for man 

 The Master, set to change and stern to smite. 



Bronzed pioneer of nations ! — Ay, but scan 

 The ruined wonder wasted in a night. 



The ravaged beauty God alone could plan. 

 And builds not twice ! A bitter price to pay 



Is this for x^rogress, — beauty swept away ! 



Types of Forest. 



Though the bush is generally of mixed type, yet, in certain 

 districts, particular species predominate to the more or less 

 complete exclusion of others. The Oxford and Alford Forests 

 consist almost entirely of Nothofagus Solandri. Nothofagus 

 Cliffortioides often forms the sole species in mountain districts. 

 In the North of Auckland the kauri is found in groves, and 

 sometimes even in forests. There are large areas in the east- 

 central portion of the North Island, in which the totara is the 

 prevailing tree. Throughout the lowland forests of the South 

 Island the rimu is plentiful, but the sub-alpine forests of the 



