148 AGATHIS AUSTRALIS. 
Wavep AND Morrrep Kauri. 
Mention has already been made of a variety marked with longitudinal 
streaks: this variety has but little to recommend it as an ornamental timber, 
the streaks often being little more than lines, sometimes not exceeding rin. in 
length. Waved or feathered kauri is however a beautiful timber, and often 
occurs in large quantities ; the variations in tint are probably caused by lignifi- 
cation having progressed more rapidly in some portions of the wood than in 
others. Feathers or curls, which appear to owe their origin in part at least to 
the same cause, are often of great beauty: in some cases this may be due to 
unequal compression during growth, and it is not infrequent in trees which are 
‘‘bark-bound.”’ The large ‘‘ feather”? often developed immediately below the 
point where two main branches diverge is but rarely utilised, possibly on account 
of the waste which attends its conversion into veneers. 
Mottled kauri is the most striking and ornamental of all the varieties, and 
is the most highly prized; it is most frequent in rocky situations, and may be 
afforded by the greater portion of the tree or only by the outside layers, or one 
side of the tree may be more or less mottled while the other is but sparingly 
mottled. In some cases the mottling is caused by the excessive development of 
short branchlets, but most frequently it is due to the growth of the bark not 
keeping pace with the development of the woody tissue, so that flakes or small 
portions of bark are enclosed by the sapwood, and, becoming indurated under 
excessive pressure, ultimately form dark points or patches on a light ground. 
Sometimes the enclosed fragments form regular wavy streaks 2in. to 6in. long, 
making a kind of ‘ figure ;’’ sometimes large dark masses are formed: very 
often the effect is intensified by the deposit of a thin film of translucent resin on 
the portion enclosed. In course of time the sapwood becomes lignified, and 
assumes a deeper tint, which increases in depth as new deposits of woody tissue 
are formed over it. In many instances large portions of mottled trees are 
beautifully figured. 
At the present time mottled kauri sells at £5 per too superficial feet, of In. 
in thickness, but the supply is not equal to the demand. 
DURABILITY. 
In many localities, as at Papakura and in the Waikato, kauri forests have 
been buried from unknown causes, and the kauri is continually dug up, and used 
for railway-sleepers, house-framing, weather-boarding, shingles, fencing, &c., 
with the most satisfactory results. A still more satisfactory proof of its dura- 
bility came under my notice at Hokianga in 1877. I was shown a number of 
large logs, felled over forty years before, and left in the forest through some dis- 
agreement with the Native owners. At the date of my visit the logs were 
completely overgrown by vegetation; in some cases they were covered with a 
dense growth of ferns and mosses, amongst which small trees were growing ; 
but, on clearing away the rich plant-growth, the heartwood was found to be 
perfectly sound in every case, although the sap was decayed. The durability 
of kauri is so thoroughly proved that it is needless to offer further evidence on 
the subject. 
UsEs. 
Kauri is unquestionably the best timber in the colony for general building 
purposes, ground-plates, beams, framing, rafters, joists, flooring, and weather- 
boards; also for open roof-work, dadoing, panelling, mouldings, sashes, doors, 
and all kinds of joiners’ work, as well as for decorative fittings, whether in public 
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