DISCUSSION. 43 



that oak bark contained between 10 and 12 per cent, of tannin. 

 The percentage of tannin in species of Acacia is on the average, 

 far higher. 



Hon. L. F. de Salis, remarked that in 1885, £17,500 worth of 

 bark was brought into this country. Mr. Maiden had spoken of 

 the value of the Eucalypts for tanning purposes ; this was a 

 valuable discovery. A practical tanner of England had mentioned 

 to him the delight with which he was receiving the Acacia bark, 

 which he considered of more value than the Oak. This 

 gentleman, however, knew nothing about the Eucalypts possesing 

 such excellent tanning properties. The colony imported something 

 like £600,000 of foreign leather. As we have the hides and the 

 means of tanning fchem, it is a great pity that this should take 

 place. He hoped Mr. Maiden would persist in his efforts, as the 

 results of the analyses would be of great value to the country. 



The President in presenting the thanks of the Society to Mr. 

 Maiden, said that all the members would feel gratified that this 

 was only the first of a series of papers on the same subject. Mr. 

 Maiden had chosen an almost untrodden path, and there being so 

 many species of Acacia in the colony, shows the importance of the 

 work. It would have special value as a work of reference in the 

 Society's Proceedings, and the specimens will be labelled and 

 placed in the Technological Museum. 



Mr. Maiden acknowledged the compliment, and said that as the 

 word discovery had been used, he might state that the value of 

 Eucalyptus bark for tanning purposes was no discovery. In 1823 

 an extract of wattle bark was sent to England and realised a very 

 high price. By sending it in the form of an extract a considerable 

 saving was effected in freight charges. An objection to wattle 

 bark is that it makes a reddish leather, and we cannot at present 

 make the finer kinds of leather with it. The bark would be more 

 valuable if it could be decolorised without destroying its tannic 

 acid. The Government had planted a great many wattle trees, 

 especially on the railway lines, but there were difficulties in the 

 way of the cultivation of them, as in some places they would 

 not flourish, because water could not be regularly applied to them, 

 and where they grew luxuriantly they were said to interfere with 

 the telegraph wires, and were cut down in consequence. 



