244 TIMBER 



strength and durability, and it grows to be a large tree of 

 100 ft. in height and considerable diameter. 



It is to be had in logs up to 50 ft. in length and 2 to 4 ft. 

 square. The wood is destitute of figure and is too tough 

 and hard for cabinet-makers' use. It is commonly called 

 ironwood. 



Weight about 65 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



The Honeysuckle (Knightia excelsa) or " Eewarewa," as it 

 is called by the Maoris, grows to a height of 100 ft. with a 

 diameter of 3 ft. and produces a beautifully and peculiarly 

 marked light brown or reddish brown wood, particularly 

 suitable for furniture and decorative purposes such as the 

 saloon fittings on steamers, etc. It is often used for mantel- 

 pieces owing to its incombustible nature. To produce 

 these beautiful markings, the timber, as is generally the 

 case, has to be cut on the quarter, the medullary rays being 

 both deep and wide. It is durable when used for interior 

 work, but will not stand exposure to variations of weather, 

 being indeed purely a furniture or cabinet-makers' wood. 

 All oily substances should be avoided when polishing New 

 Zealand honeysuckle, as it absorbs grease and oil to the 

 detriment of the finely marked grain, and moreover varnish- 

 ing is said to be a disadvantage. It is now found chiefly in 

 the North Island and mixed with other forest trees. 



There are no eucalypti in New Zealand. 



TASMANIAN TIMBER. 



As in Australia, the eucalyptus is the most important of 

 the trees of Tasmania. 



The Blue Gum (E. globulus) for heavy and important 

 structures stands first, and has been known and used in 



