Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/107

 very rare. Rata is scarcely ever sawn into timber, but it makes excellent firewood. There is a variety in the North Island which begins as a vine, and, embracing another tree, acts like a false parasite, eventually crushing the life out of its host, which it replaces, growing into a fine forest tree.

Hinau is a fairly large tree, but is not plentiful. The bark furnished the best dyes to the Maoris for their scraped flax garments, baskets and mats. The timber is light-coloured, and is but little used, save by shoemakers for cutting their leather on. I have seen good, serviceable chairs made from it. It is useless in the ground.

Pukatea, Broadleaf.—Unfortunately this tree has no bole to speak of. It branches close to the ground, throwing out three or four large branches, sometimes three to four feet in diameter. Its habitat is mostly on the tops of the hills. It is most useful for fencing, lasting in the ground indefinitely. It is also much in request for firewood. The timber is twisty, but notwithstanding it splits easily. Its berries are a favourite food for pigeons.

Tarata, New Zealand Oak, is a very handsome tree, really a variety of matipo,