KAURI PINE. 
XXXVII.] 
297 
elude the Kauri Pine timber from competing with the 
Fir timber brought to this country from the Baltic, for 
ordinary building purposes. 
Kauri Pine, when used for masts, yards, &c., is un¬ 
rivalled in excellence, as it not only possesses the 
.requisite dimensions, lightness, elasticity and strength, 
but is much more durable than any other Pine, and 
will stand a very large amount of work before it is 
thoroughly worn out. 
All the thriving and healthy trees have from 3 to 5 
inches of alburnum or sap-wood very distinctly marked 
in them, even when fresh cut. The duramen or heart- 
wood is of a yellowish-white or straw colour, moderately 
hard for Pine, strong, clean, fine, close, and straight in 
the grain. It has a very pleasant and agreeable odour 
when worked, planes up well, and leaves a beautiful 
silky lustre upon the surface, resembling, in some degree, 
the plainest Satinwood. It shrinks very little, and stands 
well after seasoning; further, it takes a good polish. It 
is, therefore, valuable for conversion into planks and 
boards, and is very suitable for cabin and other fitments 
in ships, for joiners’ work generally, or for ornamental 
purposes. 
It is also employed for the decks of yachts, as, from 
the regularity of its grain and the absence of knots, it 
looks much better than the Dantzic Fir that is commonly 
used. It wears, besides, more evenly, and does not require 
the reconciling or planing over, which is frequently found 
necessary if other woods are worked. 
The Kauri Pine is generally sound, and free from the 
defects common to many other descriptions of timber ; 
it very rarely has more than a slight heart-shake, even in 
old trees ; the star and the cup shake are also rare; it 
is, therefore, a remarkably solid timber, and may be 
