WHITE ISLAND GUANO.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1169, 23 December 1879, Page 2

WHITE ISLAND GUANO.

In last Thursday's issue we published a telegram from our Tauranga correspondent, stating that a good description of guano was being brought to Tauranga from White Island, and had been successfully used by farmers in that distriot. We have seen a sample of this guano, which is named by Mr J. A. Wilson, the enterprising owner of White Island, " White Island Guano.' ' It is, in appearance, not unlike ordinary guano, but to the touch is markedly more unctious—a peculiarity not easily to be accounted for. The White island guano is found in large beds formed by the sea-birds, which have for untold time bred on the island. Mr Wilson's workmen drive off the birds, dig the deposit up—which in one placed is 30 feet deep bag it, and ship to Tauranga. A gentleman who. has just returned to the Waikato from Tauranga, informs us that he has seen vegetables of various kinds to which this manure has been applied, and the effects appear all that could be desired. We trust that Mr Wilson will take the necessary steps to make this White Island guano known outside the Bay of Plenty district. If it is as good as it is represented to us to be, it would doubtless meet with a ready sale in the Waikato district, and a portion at least of the large sums of money which annually go out of the colouy for manures would be retained in it.

We draw the attention of our auctioneering firms to this industry ; a small parcel of this guano distributed among farmers would satisfactorily test its worth. We understand that Mr Wilson is prepared to place it in the Auckland market at a cost considerably below any artificial manure hitherto imported.