150 
As the gathering of Kauri-gum has been hitherto an occu- 
pation limited almost exclusively to the natives , it may he taken 
for granted that by far the largest share of the proceeds from the 
sale of Kauri-gum has accrued to them alone. Within the last 
few years they are said to have earned not less than £16,000 
during each year by gathering this gum. Even from the distant 
South of the Province of Auckland, from the Taupo and Rotorua 
district, larger and smaller Maori parties come during the summer 
months to the North , especially to the vicinity of Auckland , for the 
purpose of gathering the gum which still continues to be dug upon 
the fem-lieaths from the surface of the earth in large quantities. 
But I have never heard of the gum being obtained also in the 
bush from the trees. The question would arise whether a resinous tar 
might not be easily obtained from the powerful crowns of the Kauri 
pines and from the resinous bark of the trees by carbonisation in 
tar-kilns, instead of simply burning them up, as they now do. 
The New Zealand flax plant, Phormium tenax, is quite pecu- 
liar to New Zealand, the adjoining Norfolk Island and the Chatham 
Islands; it is found nowhere else. The flax-like fibre, prepared from 
the leaves by the natives , the value of which was soon observed 
by Europeans, constituted the first article of barter in the trade 
carried on by the Maoris with the Europeans. What the bamboo 
is to the inhabitants of eastern and southern Asia, this plant is to 
the natives of New Zealand. The various uses it is put to are in- 
numerable. Near every hut, every hamlet, on every way-side its 
bushes, whether wild or cultivated, are at hand for use. 
Phormium tenax is a flag-like plant, the sword-shaped drooping 
leaves of which the natives call Harakeke; the flower-stalk, bearing 
pink blossoms and resembling agavas , is called Koran , and each 
constituent part of the plant can be used for some practical pur- 
pose or other. The blossoms contain a sweet honey-juice, much 
liked by the children, and which the natives are wont to collect 
in their calabashes. One plant will produce nearly half a pint. 
