170 Essays. 
liner calls “ its native element.” I have been informed that the ownership 
of some of the largest trees is known and recognized years before they are 
ever made use of; and I have had totara trees pointed out to me which, 
while yet comparatively young, have been subjected to an operation which 
had for its object the lightening of the subsequent labour of hollowing them 
out. This operation consists in taking off the bark and a portion of the 
wood from one side of the tree toa height equivalent to the projected length 
of the canoe. As the tree grows after this operation, the bark and young 
wood swell up on either side of the wound, so that when the tree is ulti- 
mately cut down it presents a longitudinal depression, with a gunwale on 
either side formed by nature. One cannot but admire the ingenuity thus 
shown by savages, provided with ho better tools than stone hatchets, in 
taking advantage of the operation of nature to lighten their work. 
The rimu (Dacrydium cupressimum) yields a very useful timber, strong 
and handsome, but, unless thoroughly seasoned, much given to shrinking 
and warping. Always of a rich brown, the fibre of this wood sometimes 
approaches the colour of mahogany, and is beautifully veined. 1t is thus 
much in request among furniture makers, and, in consequence of its 
strength and toughness, is preferred by some of them to every other New 
Zealand timber. A considerable variety of handsomely-grained and showy ` 
woods for cabinet-makers’ purposes is obtained from many of the smaller 
trees of our forests. The titoki (Alectryon excelsum), the akeake (Dodonca 
viscosa), the ngaio (Myoporum letum), and above all the rewarewa 
(Knightia excelsa), yield wood out of which some very beautiful pieces of 
furniture have been made. In the hands, for instance, of Mr. Seuffert, 
of Auckland, these woods, worked up with others, have contributed to the 
construction of tables, cabinets, work-boxes, and other similar articles, 
which for general richness of appearance cannot be surpassed anywhere. 
The rata (Metrosideros lucida) is not very common in the South 
Island, but, occurring as it does in several places in tolerable abundance, it 
must not be passed over in any enumeration of the economical woods of the 
country. The timber it yields is very hard, heavy, and tough, and is prized 
by wheelwrights and manufacturers of agricultural implements. To similar 
purposes is applied the timber of the maire (Eugenia maire). Where 
strength and durability are required, lightness being a — objeet, 
this timber is superior to any other. - 
The various species of Fagus, which have been described as the character- 
istic tree of the island, are hardly ever cut into boards and scantling. 
The timber is excessively tough and hard to cut, to such an extent as to 
the 
: eene repeated sharpening of the saws. A very intelligent and 
| owner of a saw-mill informed me o that this was so much the 
