Museum Notes

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Museum Notes

The latest addition to the series of cases containing exhibits to be sent out to schools from the Canterbury Museum is one dealing with the kauri tree and its timber. The case contains a model spray of leaves bearing two young cones, specimens of dressed timber and a large piece of kauri gum, and a photograph of one of the largest kauri trees still standing. With

these specimens goes a description of the famous tree and the oise to which its timber has been -put. Although not noticed by Captain Cook, kauri was discovered by the earliest French visitors to New Zealand and itp value was quickly seen by the early seafarers who landed-on these shores. They used it first for cnars for their ships, but later it was recognised that kauri timber was useful for almost every

KAURI

(By R. A. Balia)

building purpose. This led to a general attack on . the kauri forests of the North Island, until at the present time a very small proportion only is left. Much of the best kauri now standing is preserved in the Waipoua forest and in smaller parks in North Auckland. The southern limit of kauri grown naturally is the '3B degree of south latitude, but it will grow

further south if planted and cared for in the early stages. Young specimens may be seen in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and in some private gardens also. NOTICES Mr R. J. G. Collins will be glad to answer readers’ questions about stamps. Those who wish to have personal replies must send stamped addressed envelopes, Readers who wish to have stamps valued should send those stamps by registered letter with an addressed envelope and stamps for return registration. Mr Collins capnot undertake to value stamps from descriptions. Al) question.* should be sent to him care of “The Press Junior/' “The Press” office, Christchurch, Readers must send a stamped addressed envelope if they wan| rejected articles or verses' returned, ,