CHEMICAL WORKS IN TARANAKI.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 316, 27 April 1878, Page 4

CHEMICAL WORKS IN TARANAKI.

Th;; Taranaki Herald, of the 20th instant, yi vcs description of works which have been erected at Omata, for the manufacture ot V.'iiio’lS chemicals, from wliicii vre talco tlie * following :—“ Those who are acquainted with Mr Grayling are aware that, being of an active turn of mind, with an extensive knowledge of chemistry, ho has for years past beet; most indolatigaole in his endeavours to produce valuable extracts from the hark of trees and plants indigenous to Taranaki. His moans, however, La ve not permitted him to do anything on a large scale—hut by his energy and persevering industry lie lias conquered many difficulties, and although his appliances have been of the crudest kind, yet ho has produce d extracts which have been proved, to be extremely valuable. Many ®i them have been forwarded to England, and the reports on them from the best authorities have been most encouraging. As our readers are uwaiv, some samples that were scut to the Philadelphia Exhibition wore' considered so excellent that to him was awarded the first prize, with a bronze medal. All that Mr Grayling required was'for some gentleman to come forward with capital to assist him to erect the necessary works on a scale sufficiently large to enable him to produce lus extracts in quantities, and thus turn them to a profitable account. Such a gentleman he Las found in Major Brown, who has enabled him to erect the works we had the pleasure of visiting on-Thursday last. \)ne oi the greatest annoyances an agriculturist experiences in this district is thefern that grows so prolific-ally over the country, and which the fanners find to bo a pm feet nuisance, raid very difficult to thoroughly eradicate. It seems hardly feasible, bat nevertheless it is a fact, that from tin’s much-abused him, if properly manipulated, a most valuable tanning com nc in id may be manufactured. It occurred to Major Brown that this weed possessed certain tannic properties which might be udined ; and, having got Mr Grayling to. bring his chemical knowledge to bear on the matter, some was manufactured, and a Email quantity forwarded to England to ascertain if a market could be found there lor the extract. A favourable report was received, besides a a order for live tons from a Bermondsey tanner in a large way ot business bring scut at the same time. This was sufficient encouragement to proceed with the manufacture, so Major Brown having ])atcntod the u Tannin in the Fern,-’ the necessary works were at once c-umrenced to be erected, and, now being finished, we were invited out mere on Thursday to roe thorn started. The fern extract, wo learn, is fur superior than that used at present by the tanners, as it gives weight to the leather as well as I aiming it. Mr Grayling in lends to manufacture other extracts, according as the deiuanu arises from them. He also sent samples to she Paris Exhibition which will be ;■ borty opened ami when the valuable qu ditv of Ids extracts becomes known in Europe >t is very probable that he will rea .’ivv several test orders to be executed, i Vi-: loin-wing is a list of the astringent ox leaves ho proposes to manufacture : Town, much commended as a tanning _ agent.. Prize medal, Philadelphia, 187G, —Kata Climber, used by the Maoris as a styptic.—Pnrin or ironwood, yields pr-rnuaunit yellow dyes.—Tawa, very effective in diarrhoea. —Birch, good tanning agent.—Honeysuckle, as a dye gives various shades of brown.—Taranaki Tanning Extract Compound, from fern.— Pnkatea, valuable tonic, much used by the Maoris as a cure feu - neuralgia. Buppiejcck or How Zealand Cane, considered an excellent substitute for sarsaparilla.—Sulphate of a new alkaloid, from the Piikatea named Disulphate of .fa ran akin. ATTEMPT TO BITE A FILE. TP : was the manager of a Church .Fair, and one morning lie walked into the newspaper office and said- “ Want an item this morning ?” “ Of course/’ replied the editor, thereupon the visitor laid the following note upon the table : The ladies of the Street Church will give a festival at their vestry hall next Friday evening. Literary and musical entertainments will be provided, and supper will bo served to all who desire. • The ladies in charge of the fair have much experience in such matters, and arc sure to provide a good time. Tit admission will be only fifteen cents, a id it is certain that no one can spend that amount to a better advantage. Be sure to go, and take your friends.” When'the editor had read it, he said- >— “ Ob, I see, an advertisement.” “ Ho ; not an advertisement. Wo prefer to have it go in the local column,” repiyed the manager. And seeing that the editor looked sceptical, he continued— , “ It will interest a great many of your readers, and help a good cause ; besides we have spent so much money getting up our entertainments that wc can’t afford to advertise it without increasing the price of the tickets. In such a.matter as.'this wc ought to be willing to help each oilier.” Well.” said the editor, “ if it goes 'into E:c locals, I suppose you would ••■■ciprorate by reading a little notice in your Church next Sunday.” T ie vLifin y brother asked what notice ; , iv editor wrote and handed the i Ji.•' -li-, j - , i. “ The Weekly- Chronicle , for the coming year, will be the best and

cheapest family paper in Maine. Its proprietor has had much experience, and has all the helps which a large outlay of money can procure. His paper has a larger circulation than any ‘other published in. the country , and is to bo furnished at only two dollars. It is certain that no one can spend that amount to a better advantage. - Be sure to take tire Chronicle, and subscribe for your friends/’ The manager hemmed and hesitated, and then said, solemnly, that he doubted whether it would bs judicious to read such a notice,. but suggested that if it was printed, copies of it might be distributed at the door of the vestry on the evening of the entertainment.

iC Yes,” said the editor, “ but it would attract more attention in the middle of a sermon. ; It will interest a large number of your congregation, and help a good cause ; and besides, so much money is spent upon the Chronicle that I don’t see how the owner can afford to print handbills to advertise it without increasing the subscription price. In such <i matter as this we ought to be willing to help each other.” Then the gentleman saw' the situation.—Fairfield (Mel) Chronicle.