Monro. — Gcorjraphical Botany of Nelson and IlarJhoi'ongli. 171 



case that lie 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 Eiver, in 

 the Amiiri, in the Province of ISTelson, is from that variety of Fagus termed 

 emphatically by the colonists the hlach 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 veiy 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 IN'elson is now 

 almost entirely de^^endent 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 {Edioardsid) . 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 



