110 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



4 feet in diameter, and affords a timber of great durability, which is 

 used for a variety of purposes, such as piles for bridges, wharves, and 

 jetties; bedplates for machinery, millwrights 7 work, house blocks, rail- 

 way ties, etc. 



Miro (also called black pine). Of similar distribution to the last, 

 which it closely resembles. It is easily distinguished when in fruit, as 

 the fruit is solitary instead of spicate. The cross section of the timber 

 shows the heartwood star-shaped and irregular. It appears, however, 

 to be specially adapted for use in positions where it is partially exposed 

 to the influence of sea- water, and under these circumstances exhibits 

 great durability. As a rule it is not esteemed a durable wood, except 

 under the above conditions. 



Tanekdha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides). A straight, handsome tree 

 50 to 60 feet high, trunk rarely exceedingly 3 feet in diameter; common in 

 hilly districts in the North Island, and quite abundant in the province 

 of Auckland. The timber is white, dense, and heavy, closely resem- 

 bling in everything but size, it is said, the best crown memel of Europe. 

 No particular tests have been applied up to the present to ascertain its 

 strength and elasticity, but it is believed to be one of the strongest and 

 most durable timbers in the colony. The wood appears to be specially 

 adapted for railway ties and highway bridges, etc. An instance of its 

 durability is given by a civil engineer, who says he has seen tanekaha 

 used in water- tanks at the Bay of Islands after being eighteen years in 

 use. 



Cedar; Pahautea (Libocedrus bidwillii). A handsome conical tree 60 

 to 80 feet high, 2 to 3 feet in diameter, producing a dark red close- 

 grained timber of great durability, but inclined to be rather brittle. 

 Found on the central ranges of theNorth Island, and sparingly through- 

 out the South Island, but never below 1,000 feet. This particular tim- 

 ber has been largely used in the construction of railways in the South 

 Island, with satisfactory results. It has been known to last in good 

 condition as piles in dikes and bridges and fencing posts for over 

 twenty years. For fence posts it is preferred to totara, but this claim 

 is evidently ill-founded. It is, also, largely used for the manufacture 

 of furniture. 



Teatree; Manuka (Leptospermum oricoides). This tree attains a height 

 of 40 to 50 feet, with trunk 15 to 30 feet in length and 1 to 2 feet in 

 diameter; wood, hard and dense, much used for house blocks, fencing 

 rails, and especially valued for small marine piles. This timber is 

 largely used throughout the colony for piles in the construction of 

 jetties, wharves, etc., where timber of larger dimensions is not required. 

 It exhibits greater durability in marine structures than when driven 

 for land or fresh- water bridges. When used for land piles it has been 

 found to decay at the ground level in about six years. On the other 

 hand, piles in marine works in Auckland and other parts of the colony 

 have been found to be perfectly sound after being twenty years in use. 



