82 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



Besides the bond fide settlers there are on an average about 

 forty or fifty gum-diggers, who find the gum in the central por- 

 tion of the island where the ground is not too rocky for their 

 operations. A curious feature of gum-digging at the Barrier is 

 that they get what is termed " old gum " in the forest as well 

 as in the " open ;" and a still more curious feature is that it is 

 found on the crater of Ahumata, on which, to judge from its 

 arid appearance, one would conclude that no trees, save a few 

 stray pohutukawas, had grown since the eruption. And, more- 

 over, the gum is said to be obtained from different layers of 

 clay. Mr. John Blair, jun., to whom I am indebted for the 

 statistics as to population, industries, &c., says that " they are 

 now getting gum in the third layer of clay — that is, they dig 

 through the surface and get gum in the clay ; then they go 

 through that clay, and get it on the next layer, a diiJerent 

 crust-formation; and some are going through that clay to the 

 rock, and still getting gum ; showing gum in three different 

 formations : but the lowest gum is so old and ' rusty ' that 

 half of it has to be scraped away before it is market- 

 able." 



A great deal of kauri timber has been taken from tlie 

 island, and a large quantity still remains ; but, as it is confined 

 almost exclusively to the slate formation, which is the most 

 broken and precipitous part of the island, it is very difficult of 

 access. When I was there a •' bush " was being worked on 

 the eastern side of the island, and the timber shipped in scows 

 at Harautanga Bay to Auckland. During the last thirty 

 years hundreds of thousands of tons of excellent firewood have 

 been taken from the island, but at present it is believed that 

 not more than 150 or 200 tons a week are exported. 



Some of the settlers go in extensively for bee-keeping, and 

 one, I believe, last year extracted 12,0001b. of honey from his 

 hives, and another 8,0001b. 



Of minerals, gold, silver, and antimony are said to have 

 been found on the east coast, near Harautanga ; but, as far 

 as I know, payable fields have not yet been discovered. Pro- 

 fessor Hutton. in his geological report, says something like 

 these words: "From the general absence of iron-pyrites I 

 am compelled to think that gold will not be found." Let us 

 hope that he may prove to be a false prophet. 



To the artist, geologist, and botanist the Great Barrier 

 presents many objects of interest. A climb to the top of 

 Mount Hobson on a clear day well repays the necessary 

 exertion, as the whole island appears to lie at your feet, and 

 there is very little of it which is invisible. Eangitoto and 

 Auckland are easily seen, as well as a long trend of coast-line 

 northwards ; also a splendid view is obtained of Cape 

 Colville and the Mercurv and Cuvier Islands southwards. 



