Hawke Bay Philosophical Im^titttU, 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, (3) Toatoa, (4) 

 Tawai, (5) Makomako, Yellow Kowai, and others. 



The tannin iu 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 idealbata), now so 

 plentiful in the North Island ; also the falcata, the melanoxylon, or blaok= 

 wood, and the moIUssima, 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 falhng seed. 



The value of Acacia bark for tanning purposes in New Zealand is 

 about ^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. 



Mr. Colenso related the first use of the barks of New Zealand trees for tanning 

 purposes, which took place at Ngunguru (between Whangarei and the Bay of Islands), 

 in the years 1839, 1840, and 1841, which had come under his special notice while hving 

 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 Koyal Gardens at Kew, long 

 before New Zealand became a British Colony. 



