NEW ZEALAND.. 
339 
and sheep, as well as the different kinds of poultry. 
Violent storms are sometimes experienced on the 
coast of New Zealand, yet the climate, especially 
in the northern island, is salubrious and temperate, 
considerably cooler than that of the Society Isles. 
There the thermometer is never below 60; here it 
is sometimes as low as 42, but it seldom rises higher 
than between 70 and 80; while in Tahiti it is 
occasionally upwards of 90 in the shade. The river 
Thames, to the south-east, is a fine and capacious 
harbour. The coasts are well stocked with fish, 
which, with potatoes and fern root, constitute the 
food of the inhabitants. These advantages, toge¬ 
ther with its local situation in regard to New Hol¬ 
land, and the value of its indigenous productions, 
render it of importance to the colony. 
Among the native productions of New Zealand, 
the most valuable hitherto discovered, is the timber 
called pine. This tree, of which there are two 
kinds, called koisky and kaokatere, resembles in 
every respect, excepting its foliage, parts of fruc¬ 
tification, and habits of growth, the pines of North 
America and Europe, and it has been found exceed¬ 
ingly valuable, not only for the ordinary purposes 
for which pine or deal timber is available, but 
also* in furnishing masts and spars for vessels. 
Vast quantities are exported to New South Wales, 
and several large vessels have conveyed cargoes of 
it to England. Forests of this timber are extensive, 
and contain trees of the largest size. 
In 1816, I was at New Zealand, and visited 
Waikadie for the purpose of procuring spars. In 
company with our captain, and Waivea, the 
chief of the district, we visited the adjacent 
forests. The earth was completely covered with 
thick-spreading and forked roots, brambles, and 
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