258 FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND. 



of South Island, where it rises in some of the mountain valleys, 

 to 200 inches and more. After the crest of the range has been 

 passed, the rainfall rapidly diminishes to less than 30 inches near 

 the east coast. In central Otago, a certain area receives only 15 

 to 20 inches. In North Island the rainfall is more equally distri- 

 buted, the greater portion having a fall of between 50 and 70 

 inches. Near the great volcanoes it is much heavier. On the 

 whole, there can be no doubt that the climate of New Zealand is 

 of a decidedly favourable character. 



3. Vegetation. 



The general character of the indigenous vegetation is distinctly 

 semi-tropical, and the forest in particular is almost impenetrable 

 in its native state, owing to the large number of lianes, which 

 interlace and form an almost continuous mass of vegetation. 

 Three-quarters of the indigenous plants are absolutely confined 

 to New Zealand, and the difference between the plants of New 

 Zealand and those of Austraha is specially striking, considering 

 the proximity of the two countries. There are over 100 species 

 of timber trees, amongst which conifers are prominent. Only 

 about a dozen species of trees are at present of real economic 

 importance. Most of these are believed to be of very slow growth, 

 an assertion which is rather surprising, considering the very 

 thriving character of the cUmate. As a consequence, numerous 

 exotic trees have been introduced. 



4. Population. 



The Maoris are the native race, which the first European 

 explorers found in occupation of the islands. As a race, they take 

 a high place among the coloured people of the world. The present 

 Maori population, inclusive of half-castes living as Maoris, is under 

 50,000, the greater part of them being found in North Island, 

 especially in the centre and northern part of it. Since British 

 sovereignty was proclaimed, in 1840, many immigrants have come 

 from Britain and some from the continent of Europe. Apart 

 from the Maoris, the population, according to the census of 1911, 

 amounted to 1,008,468, or about 10 to the square mile. It had 

 increased during the previous 10 years by 31 per cent., and it 

 seemed probable that, but for the war, the population would 



