ORIGINAL KAURI FOREST, 7 
of the Kauri tree—its trunk with little or no taper. He speaks pro- 
phetically of ‘‘the noble Kauri trees, the most valuable production of 
the Island,’’ for there is scarcely the remotest chance of any production 
rivalling economically that of a well-ordered Kauri forest growing on its 
own poor soil. ‘Then he adds, ‘‘ These trees are remarkable for their 
smooth cylindrical boles, which run up to a height of 60 ft. and even 90 ft. 
with a nearly equal diameter and without a single branch. The forest 
was here almost composed of the Kaurt, and the largest trees from the 
parallelism of their sides stood up like gigantic columns of wood.’’ 
(‘‘ Voyage of a Naturalist.’’) 
Dr. Hochstetter, writing in 1867, gives various interesting details 
regarding the Kauri forests of that time; and Kirk, in 1889, the 
account of the Kauri forests in his ‘‘ Forest Flora.’’ 
Said the late Mr. Colenso, ‘* There are few sights more impressive 
or grander than an untouched forest of this stately tree; few more 
impressive of misery and devastation than a worked-out and abandoned 
one.”’ (‘f Botany of North Island,”’ p. 40.) 
In 1885 Mr. Perey Smith, Surveyor-General, estimated the area of 
Kauri likely to pay for working at 138.470 acres. It must be remem- 
bered that owing to the want of forest control in those days Kauri had 
only a nominal value, and the actual area of Kauri forest may have 
been much greater. The finest forests of thirty-five years ago were in 
the Northern Wairoa and Hokianga districts. How far there were con- 
tinuous forests in those days is difficult to learn. At present the Kauri 
is seen in the form of strips and clumps distributed in forests of other 
trees. Mr. T, F. Cheeseman, in his ‘‘ Illustrations to the New Zealand 
Flora,’’ and in a lecture delivered a few years ago at the Auckland Insti- 
tute, gives the following description of the physiognomy of a Kauri 
forest :— 
From a considerable distance these clumps are at once recognized by the 
manner in which they stand far above the adjoining foré&t, by the peculiar 
ramification of the trees, and by the dark dusky-green colour of the foliage. But 
it is from the interior of the forest that the Kauri is seen to the best advantage, 
and the majestic size and noble proportions of the tree can be best appreciated. 
On all sides rise the huge columnar trunks, sometimes towering up for more than 
80 ft. without a branch, and tapering but slightly from base to summit, smooth, 
grey, and glistening. At the base of the trunk is the huge mound of debris 
produced by the fall of the bark, which is regularly cast off in large flakes. It 
is from this peculiarity that the bole of the Kauri is so free from the climbers 
and epiphytes which commonly clothe the stems and lower branches of the larger 
trees of the New Zealand forest. From the top of the trunk spring the immensely 
thick branches, often given out almost from a single point. These, with the 
branchlets and foliage, form a high-vaulted roof to the forest, through which 
a varying amount of daylight filters through to the ground. Owing to the great 
height of the trunk, and the fact that the branches are usually confined to the 
upper portion, and owing to the further fact that large trees of other species 
seldom grow plentifully intermixed with the Kauris of a particular grove, the 
forest has an open appearance not usually seen in New Zealand woodlands. 
Under the vaulted roof of branches the eye can penetrate far and wide among 
the massive trunks, which have hence been compared to the pillars of some 
vast Gothic cathedral. 
DISCOVERER OF THE Kauri TREE. 7 
According to Mr. Cheeseman the ill-fated French Commander, Marion 
du Fresne, was the discoverer of the Kauri tree. Captain Cook had 
previously found Kauri resin, but did not penetrate far enough inland 
to discover the Kauri tree. The Kauri is not a coast-margin tree or one 
of waterside swampy ground. Du Fresne describes the Kauri as a 
