A NEW INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 232, 19 June 1918, Page 8

A NEW INDUSTRY

| GUM OILS, VARNISH, SPIRIT FROM THE SWAMPS OF THE NORTH The potential wealth of the roadless wastes that' lie between Whangarei and tho North Cape lias never yet been measured. From time to ti&o "we learn tint so many Austrians have no difficulty in picking up a very good' living by delving with pick and shovel in land tint was formerly the home of kauri forests in all their pristine grandeur. Probably millions ol pounds worth of kauri gum has been won in this way during tho past lmlf-centu'ry. but it was only during tho last few years—ten at tho most—that gum-saving methods have been brought .to play 011 the wealthladen earth. These methods have been, improved and further improved until it' is now possible to win oven the Hour gum from the earth, and. what is more important, it has been found to pay to do so. Up till the time the war broke out the owners of gum lauds wero quite content to get a fair return out of their land, either by allowing the Austrians ami Maoris to dig 011 tribute or by purchasing the gum won at a certain figure which would mean a fair return. Then, after the big gum was picked out tho ''rubbish" was sold at 19s. per cirt., and as there are many thousands of acres of gum-bearing land (much of which is owned by the Government), the El Dorado that exists in the north must be apparent to everyone, particularly wliei it is established that there is; 110 prospect of evir satisfying the demands of the world for kauri gum (us tho basic ingredient of all high-grade varnishes) ,

Necessarily the progress of development has been slowed down by tho exigencies of the «reat war, but somo little time ago a. party of gentlemen, including Mr. Richard Keene. of Wellington, were proceeding .to the far north on business concerning the Paraenga Gumfields, Ltd., when they chanced, to call in at a little place called Kaimaiui (on the East Coast), where a small company known as the Trevor Company, had erected retorts, and wero not oniy getting the crude oil from the gum they were treating, but were producing as by-products, acetic acid, ammonia, pitch and gum spirit (which was being used to drive a motor-boat).' Mr. Trevor, who was well versed in the scientific knowledge requisite ftir refining the gum into those products so valuable at the present time, said that,out'of a patch of 2000 acres of old swamp, he could get enough gum-earth to keep eight,retorts going for thirteen hundred years. Mr. Keene at once said that the company 110 was interested in had land 01 the same character to the extent 01 many thousands of acres. The company, as h matter of fact, litis 40,000 acres 111 which these old swamps occur frequently. The idea soon presented itself to those interested that if such good results couki bo obtained by the Trevor Company working in a small way, Why should not tho Paraenga Company establish a distillery instead of exporting tho gum to America and Europe?

As a preliminary step towards the forwarding of nil industry, which promises, under favourable to reach vast proportions, it was decided to have a thorough test of the land made. This work has just been completed in Auckland, and us the result, Jlr. Keene has this week received the following telegram from tho managing director of the company (Jlr. A. E. Aldcrton, of tho firm of Mandono Jackson Co.) :—

"Extracted tests by our hew duplex distillatiou proccss are now complete ami liavo exceeded anticipations. The yield of crude oil ranges from 76 gallons per ton from gum dirt to 1(!8 gallons por ton from gummy timber. Tho oil has yet to bo refined, when its value will be ascertained."

Jl r. Keene says that tho Paraenga gumfields, Ltd., was formed (and fully subscribed) five years ago.