Page:Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute - Volume 1 (2nd ed.).djvu/204

170 liner calls “its native element.” I have been informed that the ownership of some of the largest trees is known and recognized years before they are ever made use of; and I have had totara trees pointed out to me which, while yet comparatively young, have been subjected to an operation which had for its object the lightening of the subsequent labour of hollowing them out. This operation consists in taking off the bark and a portion of the wood from one side of the tree to a height equivalent to the projected length of the canoe. As the tree grows after this operation, the bark and young wood swell up on either side of the wound, so that when the tree is ultimately cut down it presents a longitudinal depression, with a gunwale on either side formed by nature. One cannot but admire the ingenuity thus shown by savages, provided with no better tools than stone hatchets, in taking advantage of the operation of nature to lighten their work.

The rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) yields a very useful timber, strong and handsome, but, unless thoroughly seasoned, much given to shrinking and warping. Always of a rich brown, the fibre of this wood sometimes approaches the colour of mahogany, and is beautifully veined. It is thus much in request among furniture makers, and, in consequence of its strength and toughness, is preferred by some of them to every other New Zealand timber. A considerable variety of handsomely-grained and showy woods for cabinet-makers’ purposes is obtained from many of the smaller trees of our forests. The titoki (Alectryon excelsum), the akeake (Dodonaea viscosa), the ngaio (Myoporum laetum), and above all, the rewarewa (Knightia excelsa), yield wood out of which some very beautiful pieces of furniture have been made. In the hands, for instance, of Mr. Seuffert, of Auckland, these woods, worked up with others, have contributed to the construction of tables, cabinets, work-boxes, and other similar articles, which for general richness of appearance cannot be surpassed anywhere.

The rata (Metrosideros lucida) is not very common in the South Island, but, occurring as it does in several places in tolerable abundance, it must not be passed over in any enumeration of the economical woods of the country. The timber it yields is very hard, heavy, and tough, and is prized by wheelwrights and manufacturers of agricultural implements. To similar purposes is applied the timber of the maire (Eugenia maire). Where strength and durability are required, lightness being a secondary object, this timber is superior to any other.

The various species of Fagus, which have been described as the characteristic tree of the island, are hardly ever cut into boards and scantling. The timber is excessively tough and hard to cut, to such an extent as to necessitate the repeated sharpening of the saws. A very intelligent and well-educated owner of a saw-mill informed me that this was so much the