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tions : in some instances the groves are expa.nded into extensive forest, and afford one of the grandest sights in the vegetable world. Magnificent columns, from 50ft. to 60ft. to the nrst branch, and from 4ft. to Bft. in diameter, rise in rank after rank, the bold, glossy foliage being altogether unlike that of any other tree in the forest. The timber is, perhaps, the most valuable of all the pines, combining great strength and durability with a texture at once compact and silky. The puriri has been called the New Zealand oak on account of its hardness and durability ; it should rather be termed the New Zealand teak, as its timber bears a close resemblance to that of the Indian teak, and to which, in fact, it is closely related. It is a noble tree, with smooth bark and compound leaves of the deepest green ; the timber is the strongest and most durable grown in the colony ; it is used for a great variety of purposes, and is unequalled for railway-sleepers. It is not absolutely restricted to Auckland, as it occurs sparingly at Waitara in Taranaki. It ascends from the sea-level to 2,000 ft., and on good soils affords large timber in all situations between these limits. The pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) is another tree characteristic of the Auckland District, but also found in small quantity in Taranaki and, I believe, in Nelson also. It is almost exclusively confined to sea cliffs and beaches, but occurs sparingly on Lakes Taupo and Tarawera, and along the course of the outlet from the latter lake to the sea. Its trunk is often of large size, and affords a timber of extreme density and durability greatly valued by the shipbuilder. The tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides), one of the " celery-topped pines," is a fine, straight tree, 50ft. to 60ft. high, but rarely exceeding 3ft. in diameter ; the timber is white, dense, heavy, and of great strength. It occurs from the North Cape to Kawhia, and was observed by Mr. Travers in a single habitat in Nelson. Its bark is highly valued for special purposes, and contains from 26 to 28 per cent of tannin. In 1883 it was exported to the value of £2,177, and is stated to be worth from £30 to £50 per ton in London. Tarairi (Beilschmiedia Tarairi). The tarairi frequently attains 60ft. in height, with a trunk from 2ft. to 3ft. in diameter. It occurs from the North Cape to Poverty Bay, and affords a fissile but compact white timber, largely used for ship's blocks and general turnery. The mangeao (Litsea calicaris) ranges from the North Cape to Eotorua, and usually attains rather smaller dimensions than the tarairi, but the wood is of superior quality for ships' blocks and other special purposes. Other timbers of value for special work will be described in their proper place. Generally speaking, the northern forests are of a mixed character, except in the kauri districts, and bear a great resemblance to the best forests in the Kaituna Valley, Marlborough, the ordinary pines usually attaining very large dimensions, and being intermixed with tawa, tarairi, tawhero, &c. It will therefore be unnecessary for me to describe this mixed forest in detail. The Puhipuhi Block. This fine kauri-forest is situate between Whangarei and Kawakawa, and comprises an area of 20,000 acres, of which about 12,000 acres are covered with kauri. I was assured that the area of kauri was fully 16,000 acres, but it is to be feared that this is an over-estimate. The trees vary greatly in size. In some portions of the forest the trees in large sections were under 3ft. in diameter and remarkably uniform ; in others they were much larger. I measured numerous trees with trunks from 48ft. to 60ft. clear of branches, and squaring upwards of 48in. by 48in. One fine symmetrical tree tapered so gradually that the diminution of girth was not obvious at first sight: its height to the first branch was 85ft., and its dimensions 36in. by 36in. One short columnar trunk was only 24ft. in height, but squared 97in. by 97in. But, although these giants are numerous in some places, the bulk of the forest, so far as I was able to examine, consisted of trees of smaller dimensions, say, from 30ft. to 50ft. in length and 36in. by 36in. It is certainly the finest forest in the hands of the Government. A few ordinary pines are occasionally intermixed : kahikatea, rimu, and totara, but the aggregate is not large; moreover, with the exception of totara, the ordinary pines are but little valued in kauri districts. The manoao (Dacrydium Kirkii) occurs sparingly on several sections, and affords one of the most durable pine-timbers known. It belongs to the group of native silver-pines, and is remarkable for its dimorphic foliage. The lower leaves resemble those of the silver-pines of the northern hemisphere, while the upper leaves approach those of a cypress. Eewarewa (Knightia excelsa) occurs sparingly; tawari (Ixerba brexioides), neinei (Dracophyllum latifolium), tipau, and tarairi are more or less plentiful in different parts of the forest. The undergrowth consists chiefly of a small tree-fern (Dicksonia lanata), with trunks from 4ft. to 9ft. high; kauri grass (Astelia trinervia), the leaves of which are sometimes from Bft. to 10ft. long; and cutting-grasses (Gahnia setifolia and G. xanthocarpa) ; with various small shrubs. Portions of this forest have been destroyed by fire, but the aggregate is much less than I had been led to expect. In one instance, a section comprising from 150 to 180 acres has been cleared by fire maliciously kindled, as I was informed, by a Native, who considered that his personal interest had not received sufficient attention in the division of the purchase-money. Apart from this, the destruction caused by fire is but small. No gumdiggers were observed during my visit, although I came across several deserted huts. The forest has been placed under the supervision of E. Erunehua, who receives a small annual payment from the Crown Lands Department, and performs his duty faithfully. The greater portion of the forest is tolerably level, so that tramways will be of easy construction where required. Most of the timber can, however, be got out by the creeks, which, although rough in some places, can be rendered suitable for driving at a small outlay. The distance between the forest and the present terminus of the railway at Kamo is about ten miles, so that the timber will have to be carried about seventeen miles by rail before shipment; the cosb of railway-freight being Is. 3d. per 100 superficial feet.