NATURAL PRODUCTIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Thames Advertiser, Volume 3772, Issue XIII, 25 December 1880, Page 3

NATURAL PRODUCTIONS OF NEW ZEALAND.

The following interesting papors upon tho Vegetable Products of New Zealand aro iron? the pens of two scholars attending the Thames High School, and were submilted with others in competition for a prize, presented by Sir Julius Vogel, for essays upon this subject. Being considered of equal value, tho exarainor, tho Hev. S. J. Noill, suggested that there should be two first prizes awarded, and in compliance with that recommendation tho Biard of Governors have consented to givo the other prizo. Tho first paper is written

By Miss Beatrice Watkin, aged 17. Intpodoction.—The natural products of Now Zealand are very varied and contain many species peculiar to tho country, A large proportion of tho vegetable kingdom consists of the floworless class of plants, and comprise 130 known varieties of ferns, 42 of which are peculiar. The tree-ferns are sometimes found 40 feot in height, and have a tropical appearance among tho more massive forest trees. Tho edible fern covers a largo extent of tho uncultivated land, and sometimes grows six-feet high, Tho root was formerly tho staple food of tho natives, who prepared it by pounding and roasting. New Zealand possesses many valuable timber trees which will prove a great source of wealth to tho country. Tho wood is used for almost every purpose in tho colony, and is also exported to other countries.

_ Chief Timbeb-tbees,—The seven chief timber-producing trees are tho kauri, totara, kahikatea, rimu, matai, miro, and tanokaha. They are all classed as conifera, but include only ono true pine: this is the kauri, the most valuable of all New Zealand troos. It grows from 140 to 150 feet in height, sometimes to 170 foefc. Ono has been cut measuriug 200 feet in length. There aro three varetics: the red, white, and mottled; tho last is rather Bcarco. Tho timber is usod for almost all purposes by the shipwright, carpenter, builder, etc. It is very durable, but is rather apt to shrink, both when green and when in a seasoned state. The tree grows in the north of tho North Island, and there is sufficient of it to last for many years. A great many liauri spars are sent to England for the Eoyal Navy, where the wood is much prized for its durability.

The totara grows to 120 feet in height, and is much prized for the excellence of its timber, It is not affectod by rot, and is suitable for outside work. The wood is used largely for wharves, bridges and piles, and also for furniture. It was formerly used by tho natives for canoes. The kahikatea, or white pine, grows in swampy places, and readies the height of 100 feot. The wood is Hablo to rot, and so is not suitable for outside work, There is a yellow variety which is more prized. The rimu, or rod pine, is a very handsome tree, and useful for many purposes. The wood is hard and close grained, and is much used for furniture, pannelling, and cabinet making. The matai has variously colourod wood, which is easily workod, smooth, and durable. It is common in tho North Island. The miro is not so common as the matai.lThe wood is dark and close grained, and splits freely. _ The tanekaha is one of the celery-leaved pines. The wood is very valuable, but the tree is not easily got at. Secondary.—The pohutukawa grows in rocky places, and near the soa. Tho timber is crooked, and is very useful for the knees of ships, etc. The puriri is the hardest of tho New Zealand timbers, but it is infested by a grub which bores it with holes the size of a large nail.

Tho manuka is used for fencing, and other purposes requiring durability. Tho rewarewa, kohekohe, mairc, and ake, or New Zealand lignum vita, are all hard, close-grained woods. The last mentioned is the heaviest of New Zealand timbers, its specific gravity being 1011. Firewood.—The chief trees that are used as fuel are tho puriri, manuka, tawa, rata, titoki, and the blaok beech, or birch, in tho south, where it is plentiful. Flowebing.—New Zealand possesses a good many flowering trees, which give a lively appearance to the forests. The pohutukawa, or Xmas tree, has a bright scarlet flower, and blossoms in December.

The rata has a bright scarlet flower. The kowai bears bunob.es of pendant yellow flowers, and the kowaingutukaka bears handsome red flowers in tho shape of a parrot's beak.

The koreao, or supple-jack, which olimbs round and among the trees, bears a fragrant white flowor.

There aro many kinds of clematis to be met with in the forests, some of which have a pleasant fragrance, while others are scentless. A good many flowering shrubs are known, inoluding the koromiko, or veronica, and the manuka, which resembles heath.

Fruit.—The fruit hearing trees are few in number and of small importance. The karaka bears a berry tho size of a large nut, which is not pleasant to the taste. It used, however, to be eaten by the natives.

The totaramoa or blaokberry is a bramble which boars {fruit of a small size.

The kohutuhutu or konini, bears a fuoshia berry, and is remarkable as being the only deciduous tree. It sheds its bark. Tho berry is small and sweot. The tutn is a handsome shrub which bears bunches of small purple berries the seeds of which are poison. They produce sleep if taken in large quantities. The nikau bears berries which aro not edible. OBNAMENTAii,-The chief trees which produce ornamental timber, are the kauri (mottled variety), rimu, miro, matai, maire, &c These aro all used for ornamontal furniture, veneering, pannelling, cabinet making and fancy articles. Some of itheso woods have a beautiful natural grain, and have a very handsomo appearance when worked. Appearance.—The forests of New Zealand have a very pleasing appearance, owing to the great variety of colour, and diversity of foliage. Some of the trees are so different from those of other countries that they appear to form a little region of their own. An experienced traveller has said that seldom has ho seen anything so richjand beautiful, as the foliage of a New Zealand forest, and that the variety of colour and kind forms a charming subject for either painter or poet. Tho nikau is the most tropical of the treos, and is tho only palm that wepossess, The flower i 9 of a flesh colour. Tho leaves are long and sword-shaped, The karaka is a very handsome tree with gloßsy green leaves. Tho puriri presents a striking appearance, with ila dark foliage and bright berries. The rimu is ono of tho handsomest forest-lrees. lis foliage hangs down in graceful festoons. Conclusions-Two products especially

peculiar to New Zealand are the Phormium Tenax, or Now Zealand Flax, and the well-known Kauri Gum. The flax was used by tho natives for clothing and other household purposes, such as nets, baskets, mats, ennoe-snila &c. The fibre is very strong, and has already been made use of by Europeans, in tho manufacture of rope, and cloth of coarso aud fine texture.

The kauri gum is found in vast beds on the site of ancient forests, and also deposited among tho branches of tho trees. It is used in tho colony, and largely exported to Europe and Aruorica, where it is used for varnish. It is also formed into artioles of ornament,

A curious phenomenon of Now Zealand is tho hoteto or vegetating caterpillar This burrows at tho roots of trees, and afterwards becomes a plant, and sends up a shoot of vegetation."

Tho vegetable productions of Now Zealand are very important and valuable, and contribute largely to tho wealth of the country. There is no need to import timber for building purposos, whon our own forests produce it in such abundance and of such good quality. The few stone or brick buildings that are seen aro a proof of the excellence of tho timber. With active and intelligent colonists to work tho natural resources, New Zealand is on tho high road to success, and bids fair to take, in some future time, hor own lawful position as Britain of tho South Seas. Let us all do what lies in our power to further this ond, and say, with true British loyalty—Long live Now Zealand, and " God save the Queen!"