244 
TIMBER 
strength and durability, and it grows to be a large tree of 
100 ft. in height and considerable diameter. 
It is to be had in logs up to 50 ft. in length and 2 to 4 ft. 
square. The wood is destitute of figure and is too tough 
and hard for cabinet-makers' use. It is commonly called 
ironwood. 
Weight about 65 lbs. per cubic foot. 
The Honeysuckle {Knightia excelsa) or " Rewarewa," as it 
is called by the Maoris, grows to a height of 100 ft. with a 
diameter of 3 ft. and produces a beautifully and peculiarly 
marked light brown or reddish brown wood, particularly 
suitable for furniture and decorative purposes such as the 
saloon fittings on steamers, etc. It is often used for mantel- 
pieces owing to its incombustible nature. To produce 
these beautiful markings, the timber, as is generally the 
case, has to be cut on the quarter, the medullary rays being 
both deep and wide. It is durable when used for interior 
work, but will not stand exposure to variations of weather, 
being indeed purely a furniture or cabinet-makers' wood. 
All oily substances should be avoided when polishing New 
Zealand honeysuckle, as it absorbs grease and oil to the 
detriment of the finely marked grain, and moreover varnish- 
ing is said to be a disadvantage. It is now found chiefly in 
the North Island and mixed with other forest trees. 
There are no eucalypti in New Zealand. 
Tasmanian Timber. 
As in Australia, the eucalyptus is the most important of 
the trees of Tasmania. 
The Blue Gum {E. globulus) for heavy and important 
structures stands first, and has been known and used in 
