AUCKLAND. [From the Anglo-Maori Warder, Oct. 5.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 339, 1 November 1848, Page 4

AUCKLAND. [From the Anglo-Maori Warder, Oct. 5.]

A second meeting of the "New Zealand Advancement Society," was held on Saturday. It was proposed and agreed to that specimens or samples of the various products of the country, whether natural or artificial, should be collected, each member engaging to contribute, in duplicate, such as his own peculiar opportunities might enable him most readily Jo obtain ; the one set of specimens being deposited at the Mechanics' Institute, if leave should be obtained of the trustees, so as to be always accessible to masters of merchantmen, or whoever else might take interest in them ; the other to be forwarded to Loudon, and placed in the care of a gentleman (brother to one of the members of the society) who would do his best to call general attention to them. Mr. J. A. Smith then produced samples of the Orchilla weed in this country, and of the dye which he had succeeded in extracting from it, stating, however, that he believed it to have been gathered at the wrong-season of the year. The Orchilla that is used for the same purpose in Europe is worth about £80 a ton. He then laid upon the table pieces of sacking, canvass, drill, thread, and cambric, the latter in particular of very beautiful texture, manufactured in England out of the New Zealand Flax by Donlan's process. Mr. Whytlaw produced samples of unmanufactured flax, which were much admired, the gum having been cleaned away and the material rendered fit for fine manufacture by means of a solvent which he had himself discovered. He likewise shewed a skein of the fibre of the aloe, successfully subjected to the same process. The latter, however, be considered as a meie curiosity, on account of the slow growth of the plant from which it was taken. Mr. M'Vay shewed samples of leather, goat skins, and horsehides, tanned with indigenous barks. Much amusement was created by the production of a piece of the hide of the Attorney-General's defunct mare. The followiug report, on the curing of fish for exportation, was then read to the meeting:— Fish Curing. Fish, cured for foreign markets, appears at present to be our most available export, the preparation of it having the advantage of requiring but a small amount of capital to commence with, in comparison to that of many others which have been suggested. Our markets are Manila, which would take a large quantity, and for which we could obtain — Sugar, Pepper, Rice, Spices, &c, in returu. China would take any quantity this island could produce ; for which we could supply ourselves with Tea in exchauge. The consumption of South America would also be very great. The choice of fish to be cured depends of course very much both on the season of the year, and the location of the fisherman ; some fishing grounds being suitable for the Whapuku, others for Mullet, and others again for Snapper. There are numerous large fish besides on our coasts, that would amply repay the labour and expense of taking them. There is not the slightest doubt that off the coast of New Zealand, there are extensive banks very little known — on which the Cod Fish abounds. It has been already caught on several occasions. Our information on this subject will be much increased by the general survey of the coast which the Acheron has been instructed to complete. The Cape of Good Hope largely supplies the Mauritius with salt.fish for the use of the black population ; and there is no reason why Manila should not be equally well supplied by ■ us. A very little perseverance would create the trade. Some parts of our coast absolutely swarm with fish ; no less than 92 different species, having been already reckoned, many of them unknown elsewhere.

Sharks are taken in great abundance by the natives, the fins of which are wasted. They have been long known to constitute a profitable article oi export, with regard to which I read the' following extract of a letter from Hongkong : — " About the Shark Fins — I readily sold those you gave me at 9 dollars a picul (133| lbs.) ; had they been all large, I could have got probably 12 dollars a picul. I therefore can safely say 9 dollars, as my compradore had those of me, and you know what kind of rogues they are ; should you at any time feel disposed to send any fins let them be as large as possible." When the ship Bangalore was here in 1844, Captain C. Nelson look a small quantity of whapuka to Valparaiso, which realized Yd. per lb. The modes of deep sea fishing are almost as various as the countries where it is carried on. The system generally adopted off the Isle of Bute is this. A small cutter from 15 to 20 tons is employed, with a whale boat for carrying out the lines, which are three in number, each of 2000 fathoms in length, and each with 1000 hooks, No. 8, attached. The lines are suited to cod or other large fish. If nets are used, the trawl net is preferred, the cost of which at home is about £10. A vessel of the above class, (which seems best suited for this colony) would employ nine or ten men. The Irish fishery appears to have fallen off very much of late years. The herring fishery is what they principally rely on, for home use or exportation in small quantities. The cLss of vessels employed differs in various parts of Ireland. On the coast of England it is deep' sea fishing in the winter months — and along shore in the summer — the former is conducted on the larger scale. The vessel used for this business is about 60 tons burthen, with a crow of five men and four boys, which, completely fitted for sea, victuals, and with two suits of sails, costs about £160. A man with the above who understands his business, with ordinary chancas in his favour, would calculate on curing 25 tons a week, it being not uncommon to take ihat quantity in a single day. The fishing on the banks of Newfoundland is carried on in vessels from 14 to 300 tons, out sometimes three of four mouths at a time. They must in that case be wet salted ; but if drying be the object, they can only stay out a short time. In the latter process, the ' fish are opened, sprinkled with salt, and turned at least once a day ; when taken on shore they are dried on stages made of small spars with bark on the top for the fish to lie on, permitting a good current of air to get to them. It is necessary that they should not be too much affected by the sun, which would blacken them. This fishing seems best suited to our own colony, inasmuch as we could avail ourselves of the labour of the natives, to whose peculiar tastes this style of work would prove particularly suitable. Away from the towns, it could be procured at a very moderate rate, payment being made either at fixed wages, or by a share in the proceeds. In Newfoundland, the cost^of salt is covered by the livers of the Cod-fish, used for train oil. The roes and sounds when prepared in different ways, are also an important branch of that commerce. For stations, the numerous small islands on the coast, appear to be best suited, the fishing grounds being close at hand, with plenty of room for drying purposes, and little fear of interruption. la salting meat, mineral or Liverpool salt is required for curing. Bay salt for packing; but for fish any kind of salt is suitable. Bay salt is readily obtained at Swan river, Adelaide, and its vicinity ; in fact the coasts of New Holland would readily find a market for their salt in this colony if supplied at not more than £2 per tun. Liverpool salt in bulk could be landed in this colony at from 30*. to 255. per ton direct from Liverpool. A bounty given for the best five tons of produce during the infancy of the New Zea- , land Fishery, would tend much to the encouragement of both white men and natives. After some general conversation, it was agreed to meet again on Friday, October 13, at the same hour and place.