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Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 187, 3 March 1893, Page 5

From the report of the Collector ot Customs on the export trade of the Port of Auckland for the year 1892 something may be gathered of the importance of the gum trade to this province which is fast taking the premier place in the colony’s commercial dealings. The total export of colonial produce for the year amounted to £1,128,140 and to this sura kauri gum alone contributed £517,678, or nearly one half. The gold export only reached £lB3, 654, and wool only £137,847. Kauri gum and wool both show substantial increases on the exports of the previous year ; the former an increase of £81,094 and the latter £25,865. Were it not for these increases Auckland trade would have shown a serious fall, for flax shows a decrease of £21,744, and timber of £42,341 : whilst frozen meat, preserved meyt, hides and tallow together show a decrease of £23,916, The valuable assistance rendered by kauri gum to the progress of our northern district could be told by many a settler who in his struggle to establish himself on his land has found the gum ever ready to provide him with the capital without which he could nut exist.