26 



becomes more transparent, forming lumps ranging in size from small 

 tear-drops to masses many pounds in weight. These pieces may 

 be found in the forks of the branches, in hollows or depressions on 

 the trunk, or concealed in the mound of debris at its base. But, 

 in addition to the resin met with in the living kauri forest, very 

 much larger quantities can be found buried at various depths on 

 the sites of previous forests, although these must have ceased to 

 exist for hundreds or even many thousands of years. That these 

 deposits are in many cases of enormous antiquity can be proved by 

 the changes that have taken place in the physical configuration of 

 the country since they were formed. Kauri-gum has been found 

 under the beds of shallow lakes ; it has been dug up in quantity 

 at considerable depths in swamps ; and it has been excavated from 

 strata overlaid by sand-dunes themselves of no very recent formation ; 

 while in not a few localities it has been observed in beds dipping 

 under the present level of the sea, and on the Auckland Isthmus 

 in strata overlaid by lava-streams. 



All through the North Auckland Peninsula are large areas of 

 rolling open lands of poor quality, intersected by swampy gullies, 

 and covered with a heath-like vegetation mainly composed of 

 tea-tree (Leptospermum scoparium] and other shrubs, together with 

 sedges, a few herbaceous plants, terrestrial orchids, and some ferns. 

 Almost everywhere these areas contain deposits of kauri-gum 

 sometimes close to the surface, at other times buried at considerable 

 depths. These " gumfields," as they are called, have for many 

 years afforded a living to some thousands of " gum-diggers," who 

 annually produce from 7,000 to 10,000 tons of gum. These nomadic 

 diggers, wandering over hill and swamp, armed with spade and 

 gum-spear, are a familiar and picturesque sight to travellers in the 

 North Auckland districts. 



It may well be asked in what manner did the kauri forests of the 

 past disappear, what vegetation succeeded them, and what have been 

 the series of changes which have resulted in the present plant 

 covering of the gumfields. The answer to these questions is, 

 however, still uncertain and incomplete. 



T. F. CHEESEMAN. 



AUCKLAND MUSEUM. 



Probably that portion of the Museum which will prove most 

 interesting to a visitor from abroad is the Maori Hall, which is 

 devoted to collections illustrating the manners, customs, and mode 

 of life of the Maori race. Here can be seen a magnificent example, 

 84 ft. in length, of a war-canoe, carved and decorated from end to 

 end, and in a perfect state of preservation. It is the last survivor 

 of the fleets of war-canoes mentioned by all early travellers and 

 explorers from the time of Cook to the establishment of British rule. 

 Here, too, will be found a superb specimen of a whare whakairo, or 

 meeting-house, without which no Maori village in olden times would 

 be considered complete. Two elaborately carved storehouses are 

 also exhibited. These differ from the meeting-houses in their carv- 

 ings and other ornamentation being on the outside of the house 

 instead of in the interior. Round the walls of the hall are placed 

 many ancient and valuable carvings, several of them dating back 



