Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1884 — Kauri Forests of New Zealand. [ARTICLE]

Kauri Forests of New Zealand.

But the Kauri forests are a thing altogether apart; and, alas! indeed of these also we must say that they are rapidly diminishing before the ax of the lumberer. The kauri is the pine tree of New Zealand, the sole representative of the coniferous family, and a very noble representative it is, though by no means answering to our ordinary notions of pine trees, inasmuch as its foliage consists of leaves instead of needles; but it is tall and straight as a mast, and a very majestic mast, for thoso stately trees range from fifteen to fifty feet in girth, and attain a height of from a hundred to two hundred feet ere they commence throwing out the branches which form their crown of somber green. The trees stand close together, forming endless groups and clusters, and long aisles of tall, dark pillars, like marble columns in some wondrous cathedral of giants. For the bark of the kauri is smooth and very dark, and the only relief to the solemnity of these forests is the carpet of luxuriant ferns and the delicate creeping ferns which twine lovingly around the statelv stems of the unbending pines, and‘lend them a touch of fairylike life, more especially when a ray <?f mellow sunlight, gilding their- dainty fronds, seeibs to shine with magic beauty through the dim twilight which prevails even at noon beneath the kauri shade. , A New York dancing master: “I think that the quadrille diagonal, which now being extensively taught by dancing masters is dujtiqed to become Iho mbit popular daneo going. It is fast replacing the Saa L x>ga landers, which i.cß liitherio been the society

danoe. Then* there is the mistletoe — composed of six ladies and six gentlejnen—which is one of the most beautiful dances now being taught. T ' '