THE KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 170, 4 November 1892, Page 6

THE KAURI GUM INDUSTRY

The Auckland Star of the 17th inst., contained a leadfng- article on the Kauri Gum industry, which gives the following interesting particulars : “ Kauri gum is a natural product of great value m the arts It is found exclusively in the Auckland district, and is used for making varnishes, chiefly in the Uuited States and England. Since its first introduction in 1850, it has steadily supplanted all other gums for highclass varnishes, gum anitnl, its only formidable competitor, having, from various causes, greatly diminished in quantity. Probably three—fourths of all the good varnishes made in the world are produced from kauri gum. It is not surprising, therefore, that its yearly export from Auckland Ims increased from 1440 tons in 1856 to 8752 tons in 1891. Of this latter quantity England took 8439 tons, and the United States 32,i8 tons. The price in Auckland has steadily risen from about .£l2 per ton in 1856 to £SO per ton in 1892. The value of the exports for 1891 may be taken at £439 600, and the total quantity of gum exported since 1856 to the end of 1891 may be taken at 141.000 tons, of ihe total value of £5,600,000, An army of gum-diggers, variously estimated at from 5,000 to 10,000 men are wholly or partially engaged iu digging it, Is is owing to this great field for employment that tho Auckland district, which has had by far the smallest portion of the borrowed millions expended within it, has never suffered from the “ unemployed ” difficulty, for if a man could not get work at any other occupation lie betook himself to the gumfields. His outfit wag simple ; a tent, a pair of blankets, spade, pick and gumspear, costing about £4, representing- his outlay for plant. His raw material ” ; - rq nothing. The nearest store, • o ils his gum, supplies what food he requires. Tie digs his gum by day and roughly deans it at night. Unlike the gold digger in his damp, dark “ ilriv !i : works in the open air. Like gold mining, gum digging has the charm of a speculative element about it. He is pretty sure of making tucker,” and may any day drop on a “ find ” which cheers his patient soul, and fills his pocket for the time, but not for long, for our “ knight of the gum spear,” like some other people, finds it harder to keep his money than to earn it.”