Bzrarg.— On the Building Materials of Otago. 145 
workable timber. So far as habits and habitat are concerned, this tree is 
identical with the preceding variety. Like most other hardwoods, manuka 
does not grow straight, and it is much given to warping and cracking ; but 
I do not know that it inherits these defects to a greater extent than is done 
by jarrah, ironbark, and other Australian timbers of the same class, and it 
is freer from heart shakes and knots. 
Manuka is noted for its great strength and hardness, combined with a 
considerable amount of toughness, although, as a class, it did not give the 
highest average. One specimen stood the greatest transverse strain of any 
Australasian timber tested at the New Zealand Exhibition. Manuka is one, 
of the best timbers in Otago for firewood, consequently there has been a 
great demand for it, particularly in the vicinity of Dunedin, and the supply 
is running short ; but it is satisfactory to note that young trees grow up 
rapidly when the oldonesare removed. This timber is well adapted for piles 
in situations where they are kept constantly wet, for swingletrees, spokes, and 
handles of tools, also for the teeth of wheels. This last is a purpose that 
requires wood of a particularly good quality, and although not quite so suit- 
able as rata, manuka has been found to answer admirably. The teeth in 
the spar-wheels of the ** Express’? and other coasting steamers are made of 
manuka, and they are wearing remarkably well. 
The old settlers had a high opinion of the durability of manuka, and 
used it extensively in fencing posts, house blocks, and similar situations of 
the most trying kind, but it has not proved equal to their expectations. 
Under ordinary circumstances manuka will decay in the ground in from six 
to ten years, according to the situation. The longest lived fence that I 
have heard of is at the Beaumont Ferry, where the posts were not decayed 
quite through in eleven years. This is, however, an exceptional case, as 
the fence was erected on dry, porous, alluvial soil, that did not retain 
moisture. Manuka has proved very durable in marine works ;—the great 
majority of the piles in the old Dunedin Jetty, erected seventeen years ago, 
were of this timber, and remained quite sound till its removal last month. 
The George Jetty at Port Chalmers, erected a year later, is in the same 
condition, but here the test has been more complete—all the other timbers 
are very much affected by the Limnoria, and the manuka is untouched. 
Mr. Kirk, in 1874, reported that he had seen manuka fender piles at Port 
Chalmers much perforated by the Teredo ; but the piles he refers to must 
have been removed since his visit, for there are no signs of the worm in the 
manuka piles now. The only evidence of its having attacked this timber is 
in the Bowen Pier, erected four years ago, where one white manuka has 
been perforated to a small extent. 
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