Moxno.— Geographical Botany of Nelson and Marlborough. 171 
case that he had to come to the conclusion that the juices of the wood con- 
tained some free acid which acted upon the iron, a supposition by no means 
extravagant or improbable. Owing to this circumstance, the timber of the 
Fagus is not so commonly seen as its quality might warrant. The wood of 
that most remarkable work, the bridge over the Waiauua, or Dillon River, in 
the Amuri, in the Province of Nelson, is from that variety of Fagus termed 
emphatically by the colonists the black birch, a tree with a sooty, rough 
stem, and minute, heart-shaped leaves, growing at low levels. Mr. Handyside, 
the gentleman who superintended the erection of the bridge, and to whom 
the greatest credit is due for the manner in which he carried out a work 
requiring very considerable engineering skill and great ingenuity and 
courage, assured me that as regarded strength, toughness, and apparent 
durability he could desire no better wood. It was subject, however, to the 
great drawbacks of rending in the sun and warping. By more careful 
drying, and selection of the proper season for felling the trees, (a point 
hardly ever attended to in this country), it is possible that these objections 
might be obviated, and if so, we have in the country a boundless supply of a 
timber admirably suited to purposes of the greatest utility. 
Although not much operated on by the sawyer, the different varieties of 
Fagus split readily enough before the wedge, and a great quantity of fencing 
materials is constantly being obtained in this manner. The posts, if they 
contain a fair proportion of heart-wood, are found to last many years in the 
ground, and the rails are durable and tough. The city of Nelson is now 
almost entirely dependent for its supply of firewood upon the beech forests 
which clothe the mountain range to the eastward of the sunny nook in 
which it nestles. The timber is cut into convenient lengths for loading in 
the forest, and is then run down, by the force of gravitation, upon the rails of 
the Dun Mountain railway. 
In the southern portions of this island a tree, which is but sparingly 
met with in the north, occurs much more abundantly, attains much larger 
dimensions, and is conspicuous for its economical applications. I refer to 
the kowhai, or, as it is called in the south, the gowhai (Edwardsia). The 
southern settlers assure me that, for posts and rails and a great variety of 
useful purposes, no timber can compare with that of the kowhai for 
strength, toughness, and durability. 
I shall not be expected, in an essay of this sort, to present an elaborate 
or detailed account of all the useful purposes to which various members of 
the indigenous flora of New Zealand are applied, and must of necessity omit 
the mention of various trees which yield timber of more or less value. It 
may be sufficient to say that in the article of timber New Zealand has been 
richly endowed by nature; for there are few purposes to which timber is 
