A BOTANIST'S SPECIMEN CASE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12946, 28 October 1907, Page 7

A BOTANIST'S SPECIMEN CASE.

STRAY LEAVES AND RANDOM PLUOKJNGS.

-Dr. Cockayne returned to Christchurch from his botanical surrey of the kauri forests in the far North on Saturday. Of hie work in the kauri country he was loth to epeak, for the excellent reason that, co far oe th© extracting and separating process of newspaper interviewing is concerned, he has spoken tho last informative word. Hβ was persuaded therefore to rummage among the non-eseentials of the trip. MAORI nREWALKINO. One day there cam© to MaxweJTs whare, a littJe Maori lad—young Awania, the adopted eon of old Airarua., the bush lawyer to the natives of tho; Hokianga district. He attracted tboj attention of Dr. 1 Cockayne by his toy- j ing with the hot embers of an enor- I mous fire with his ducky toes. This at onoo awoke recollections of j tho Fijian fire-walkers in tho mind of the scientist who there-1 for© heated a large piece j of volcanic rock in the fire, and woenM it became unbearable to tho*touch of tho hand, invited the stripling to stand upon the stone. This invitation ho accepted with alacrity and remained I so poised for a minute or more, without j suffering the least inconvenience. To j make assurance doubly sure, Dr. Cockayne heated tlio etone a eooond time until its temperature readied that j point lit which o match epplied to tho rock -was instantaneously ignited. Little Awarua scrambled up with a broadly beaming countenance, betokening his full enjoyment of the proceedings, and remained, barofooted, upon the glowing surface fora considerable period. "It surely appears," Dr. Cockayne commented, "that the hardened hoofs of tho young Maori will give an explanation of tie Fijians-' firewalking abilities. Afterwards a stout, full-blooded' Maori (John Bunyan he was named) attempted to raise the stone with his hands, but he was quite unable, owing to its heat, to raise it from tho ground." NEW LIGHT ON GUM DIGGING. It is generally supposed! that those open fern-clad hills where tho ground consists of whitish clay aro the haunts of the gum-digger, and! that here ho reaps his richest harvest. Tins in some measure is true, but at the same time a great deal of digging has been accomplished in the sOont forests themselves. The Waipoua forest, which was the scene of Dr. Cockayne's botanical investigation, has been the happy hunting ground of diggers of past times, very large quantities of gum being found , beneath the kauri trees. There are etiU to be plainly seen many tracks through the forest by means of which the diggers conveyed their gum on pack-horses to the stores. In certain I places also aire remains of quite extensive settlements, now in a state of complete decay. I CAMPING IN THE FOREST. In the South Island, when camping is suggested or becomes imperative, one's thoughts naturally turn to a calico or canvas construction as affording readily portable and effective means of shelter. But in the forests of the North Island, the huge leaves of the nikau palm render the carrying of even tenta superfluous. Alight framework is constructed from saplings of the tarairi, and this being thatched with palm leaves right to the ground, affords* a shelter which is absolutely impervious to even the fiercest thunderstorms, of which Dr. Cockayne experienced at - least four per week during his visit. The front of this rapidly-construct-ed # whare is left open, while irsido a bed made from the tough stems of the climbing fern Lygodium articulatum, quite equals the finest ■wire-woven mattress, and invites to dreamless, refreshing slumber. Within the open space a fire is built from rata or tarairi logs, and for cosiness such a haven of rest is difficult to excel. THE WAIPOUA RIVER. Of almost insignificant proportion and extent, the Waipoua river, traversing a length of only some twelve or fifteen mike, rises in the Tutamoe tableland, the __ -wettest part of the Auckland province, and has cut .for itself a deep and most picturesque goige. Finally, after much fretting and many windings, its waters mingle with- those of the Taaman Sea. Here on the sea shore (which affords a most excellent roadway at kw tide), between the iMaunganui bluff Hokianga, the Waipoua may easily be crossed under normal conditions!; but at high -water, and especially after floods (of which in winter and spring there ore two or three weokly) it must bo crossed higher up—an undertaking of some risk, on account of itho quicksands. Still further up the river, is a native settlement where a certain amount of rude husbandry is practised. Tho green meadows of this extremly fertile valley, dotted here end there with sheep, constitutes a veritable oasis—« verdent gem in a setting of barren gumfields. CLIMBING FOR KAURI GUM. A ourious industry which, oiA account of its hazardous nature, is not followed by many is the winning of kauri gum from the trunks and branches of the trees ihemselvos. The intrepid climber has first of all to pass n etout rope over one of the lower limbs of the forest monarch, which may bo anything from 40 to 80 feet from the ground. To accomplish this manoeuvre he holds in one hand a coil of thin cord, having a weight of a pound or co attached to one end. Whirling this round and round until sufficient impetus is gained, he releases the weighted end, and it may or may not fall over the desired branch. Usually several attempts aro made before a successful throw is scored, and the climber rune numerous risks of i coming off with a broken skull. Qnce the cord is over tho branch, however, ho is easily able to haul up the thick ropo, the two ends of which are brought parallel with oaoh other and reach to the ground. Up those the operator climbs, eailor-fashion, right into the branches of the tree, and, passing hie rope over higher and etill higher limbs, he is enabled to gain the actual top of trees 140 feet from the ground. Having collected the gum, which is found in the (Porks of the branches, he next has to procure what is technically known as the "skin plaster" from tho trunk. Seated on a small piece of wood attached to the rope, and holding the other part in liis hands, 'and the limb eerving as a pulW, lie can raise or lower himself at will. When, opposite any patches of gum exuded from the bark, it is necessary he should remain perfectly steady while chipping it from the tree with his tomahawk. To this end, the climber has a cord attached to his belt furnished with a hook which is fastened to tho bark. Tho loose end of the rope is secured by the ciimbor taking one or two turns round his leg, leaving both hands free. By this method as much 83 30 or 40 pounds of gum, and even more is secured. Dr. Cockayne was ©nabled to study this interesting phase of the kauri industry, a climber visiting his camp and giving a special performance for his edification. A number of interesting photographs wero secured In- Dr. Cockayne, and some of them will be reproduced official report.