Hawke Bay Philosophical Institute, 571 
With regard to tanning barks in New Zealand, I beg to remark on the 
indigenous trees, and also the imported, the cultivation of which would 
prove highly remunerative, a desirable industry for the Colony, and a good 
export, 
The native trees which contain tannin are (1) the Tawero, synonymous 
with Towai (Weinmannia racemosa, Forst). (2) Whinau, (8) Toatoa, (4) 
Tawai, (5) Makomako, Yellow Kowai, and others. 
The tannin in our New Zealand Trees certainly does not abound, but 
it is amply made up for by the introduction of the numerous varieties of 
the Acacia from Australia. 
The whole tribe of Acacia medicinally contains a valuable astringent, 
consequently tannin more or less in the various species of which now more 
than 300 sorts are known to science. Those of which the bark for 
tanning is used in Australia are but few sorts, such as are large growing 
trees, and of easy access. The undermentioned are commonly used in 
different parts of Australia and New Zealand, and exported in considerable 
quantities to England :— 
The first is generally known as the Silver Wattle (dealbata), now so 
plentiful in the North Island; also the falcata, the melanoxylon, or black- 
wood, and the mollissima, woolly-leaved. All these are to be seen in 
Napier gardens. 
I am informed that in Victoria, the Silver Wattle seed is sown there as 
a speculation; that in three years the trees are worth £5 per acre—the 
bark for tanning purposes, the wood for fuel. The great advantages of 
these trees is, that when the seed is once sown, it does not require renewal, 
as it is supplied in the future by suckers from the roots and falling seed. 
The value of Acacia bark for tanning purposes in New Zealand is 
&bout £8 per ton. 
If these trees were planted along our railway lines where they are 
fenced, it would no doubt be a large source of revenue, and amply repay 
the outlay ; they would also prove shelter from the sun, the wind, and the 
dust. The Acacia has already been tried with advantage in Algeria, and the 
Home authorities intend cultivating it in the island of Cyprus. 
at the Bay of Islands, and often travelling in that district. This was the first place in New 
Zealand where hides were tanned for leather, the whole process was particularly primi- 
tive. Extracts of those several barks there used, with specimens of the trees producing 
them, he had sent to Sir W. J. Hooker, the Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew, long 
before New Zealand became a British Colony. 
