42 
is neve r met with forming forests, almost always scattered and single. 
In its young state,—owing to its light green colour, graceful shape, fine 
foliage, and long drooping pendent branches,—it is a truly elegant 
object, often rivetting, for a few moments the entranced beholder; 
especially when seen standing out to advantage in bold relief on the 
slope of some secluded sunny dell in the virgin forests! forcibly remind¬ 
ing him of Xerxes and the beautiful plane-tree on the Mreander.* In 
the northern parts of the Island this tree affects much higher ground 
than the foregoing; it attains to the height of from 50 to 70 feet, 
with a diameter of from 4 to 5 feet; and is lower branched than its 
congeners. Its wood is tolerably close-grained and hard, and varies 
considerably in colour, from yellowish to a dull red interspersed with 
dark-brown streaks. It makes handsome furniture, takes a good polish, 
and is suitable for finished inside work; although it is often rather 
difficult to work, owing to its natural fissures (frequent in the best 
wood) filled with a hard resinous concretion much like some wood of the 
Kaliikatea, or White Pine, already mentioned. Its wood is in general 
use by the Cabinet Maker and Turner, and by the Carpenter and 
House-builder; and is sometimes used by the Joiner and Millwright. 
At the North, where it is more plentiful than Totara, it is often used for 
fence posts, being tolerably durable. From published official sources 
we learn that the quantity of sawn timber {kind not specified, but sup¬ 
posed to comprise the last three mentioned kinds, Totara, and White, 
and Red Pine,) exported from the Port of Wellington, in the year 1863, 
was 2,143,303 feet, value, £19,705. 
(v.) The Mataii {Podo carpus spicata ), another large-sized timber 
tree, is also common throughout the North Island, but (like the Rimu) 
is generally found alone. It is sometimes found growing in forests with 
the Rimu, but often it affects lower grounds ; preferring rich alluvial 
soil. It grows to a height of 70—90 feet, aud a diameter of 4—5 feet, 
with a straight clean trunk and few branches. The wood is variously 
coloured, sometimes reddish, and sometimes variegated; it is easily 
worked, is hard, and pretty durable; and is used for Wheelwrights’ and 
Millwrights’ work, and for Cabinet Making and pannelling. 
(vi.) The Miro (Podocarpus ferrugima ), is also a timber tree pretty 
general throughout the Island, but not so common as the Mataii. It 
grows to a height of from 40 to GO feet, but is small in girth, rarely 
reaching 3 feet in diameter. The wood is smooth, close grained, and 
Herodotus, Polymnia, § 81. 
