XXVI.] NEW ZEALAND TIMBERS. 311 



where hard, short, curved wood is required. Specimen 

 logs were brought to England to be used experi- 

 mentally in ship-building. The specific gravity of 

 Puriri in a green state is about iioo, and when 

 seasoned it is nearly 1000. 



Other New Zealand timbers are : — 



The Maire {Oka Cunningkamii), a very hard wood 

 used for mill and wheel work ; the " Birch "^really a 

 Beech {Fagus Solandri) — a durable hard fencing and 

 pile wood, but not fit for marine work ; the Rewa- 

 Rewa {Knightea excelsa), valuable in cabinet work; 

 the Hinau {Elceocarpus dentatus), a small strong timber 

 used for sleepers, railings, &c., in exposed places ; the 

 Taraire {Beilschmiedia Tarairi), a hard, compact, 

 cabinet wood, and the allied Tawa (B. Tawa), similarly 

 useful for furniture work; Mangeas (Teiranthera cali- 

 caris), used for blocks, &c. ; and a number of others. 



