476 
THE GUMS AND RESINS OF NEW ZEALAND. 
The chief gum-yielding localities are situated at the north of Auckland, 
the greatest quantities being shipped in coasting vessels at Wangarei 
and other adjacent ports, whence it isconveyed to Auckland, and thence 
exported to England. The trade is a considerable one, and from the 
number of natives it employs, who generally dispose of it to local 
European traders, is a source of considerable profit to the settlers. Its 
market price varies according to the demand, from 101. to as much as 20/. 
per ton, or even higher. It is worth a good price in England, and 
yields a very handsome profit to the shippers. For some time its uses 
were enveloped in a good deal of mystery, but it is now known to be 
employed for a variety of purposes. It is largely used in the manu- 
facture of varnish, its qualities not being unlike gum copal ; and of late 
years it has been consumed largely by cotton manufacturers for glazing 
calicoes and other goods. Recently, a company in London has com- 
menced the manufacture of candles into the composition of which kauri 
gum enters largely. They are said to burn nine hours, and to be no 
dearer than ordinary sperm candles. It has been used by an Auckland 
manufacturer to varnish buckets, and when boiled with pitch makes 
excellent application with which to preserve fences, or to keep out 
moisture in damp situations. Kauri gum is insoluble in water. 
When in clear, large lumps, it can be carved into many beautiful 
forms ; ornaments made from it have somewhat the appearance of 
amber. It burns readily, and emits a dense black smoke highly charged 
with carbon, and from it an excellent lampblack can be prepared. The 
Maoris used to employ this black in their tatooing process. The 
supply of kauri gum is, however, rapidly falling off, and owing to the 
industrious digging of the Maoris and the gradual clearing of the 
kauri forests, it will at no very distant time become a rare commodity. 
Kauri gum is found embedded in the coal found at Drury, near 
Auckland, in small lumps and granulated pieces. The following figures 
show the quantity of kauri gum shipped from the Colony during the 
years 1853 to 1864 :— 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
QUANTITY. 
VALUE. 
Tons. 
£ 
830 . 
. 15,791 
1,661 . 
. 28,864 
356 . 
. 4,514 
1,440 . 
. 18,591 
2,522 . 
. 35,250 
1,811 . 
. 20,037 
2,010 . 
. 20,776 
1,046 . 
. 9,851 
856 . . 
. 9,888 
1,103 . . 
. 11,107 
1,401 . 
. 27,026 
2,228 . 
. 60,590 
