The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-21
NEW zeALANo's TRADE.
The Great Natural RESOURCES OF q Mer
gage Ridden Colony,

The Great Natural Resources OF Mort
gage Ridden Colony,
'The Great Lrau Land is the title
given to New Zealand by some face
tious writer, and the epiihet is rather
appropriate, when ono considers that
with population of barely over half y
million she has managed to borrow
money TO tune of $3.50. 100000. Be-
sides this. every little borough and
harbor board throughout .he length
aud breadth of the land. has rushed
into tho London money market and
mortgaged Itself for all 1t was worth.
Notwithstanding the large amount Of
annual interest due on these loans tho
country has always paid it's way right
along. and this goes To prove the great
natural resources of this young conn-
try which can stand SO great u strain,
and also speaks fpvorably of tho push
ing qualities Of its farmers and busi-
ness men.
Wool is the staple of the country.
but the industries peculiar 10 the Auck-
land disi ilict are he lumber and knuri
gum trad IS Vast forests Of kauri
pine and other indigenous timber cover
the greater part of the tract of coun-
try lying nor.h of Auckland City, and
are being worked with such will by
the lumber and saw-nill corporations
that the Legislature has ut last been
compelled to move in the matter. A
Government Conscrva'or or Inspector
of Forests has been appointed. whose
duties are to report on The slate of the
different forest lands. TO check the
willful and waste ful destruction Of the
growing timber and TO take measures
for the replan ing of bare or denuded
country. The kauri pine grows only
in the northern portion of New Zea-
land, and although it does not come up
in size to the big trees OF California,
still makes very good show for sec
ond place. Ten to fifteen feet in di-
ametcr is quite common, and even
larger ones are met with The stem
of the tree rises clear and straight for
height of seventy to one hundred
feet, then branches ont into wide
spreading. umbellferous head of ever
green leaves. Capital ship spars are
obtained from this tree.
Ka,ri gum is the resinous product
of the tree of the same name. 1t is gem
orally found in irregularly- shaped
Jumps. ranging in size from pigeon's s
egg to mass two or three ct in cir
cumference. and is dug out of swampy
or bleak, forn-clad stretches of coun-
try whereon the kauri pine has -four
ished in days gone by. Tie gum gem
orally lis about foot b ,low the sur
face of the gr' unl, and its presence is
detected by means Of sharp iron
spear. with which The digger prods all
The likely looking spots. In the mar
ket it sells for from $3.50 to $500 per
ton. according to quality and to the
state of the foreign markets. No cap
ital being required for the prosecution
of this industry of gum-digging, be-
yond spade, spear and camp outfit,
it is followed out by many poor fellows
who are out of regular employment or
have had q streak Of bal luck els =
where. If he is steady the digger can
make good wages. and one must
remember that labor wages in
the colonies. if they do not equal
those prevailing in some parts of the
States, are yet much HIGHER than the
low rates ruling in Europe. The colo-
nial workmcn's motto is the -four
Ss."