The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-15

beautiful tree that grows in New Zeal
and. II IL a species of pine, and IL the
only pine on tho Islands which produces
q cone. The tree attains enormous body,
and grows to q great height. Most Of
tho trees are eight and twelve feet In
diameter, and 40 feet In length. Some
prodigios among the colossal giants are
30 feet around and 200 feet high.
The wood u very solid, and Koceixes .
fine polish. II 10 in great request for
bdilding houses in New Zealand, and IL
lfavorite wood for furniture. The tall,
handsome trunks are also largely used a.
the posts for masts on ships. The trees
grow only on the North Island Of New
Zealand, above the SO degrees OF latitude.
They are Of semi tropio character; are 0
native growth, and only found IN New
Zealand.
On the narrow peninsula Of North Is
land tho kauriB form great forests, and
tho rivers and bays arc fronted with q
dense wilderness OF staiwart trees. Tho
cedars Of Lebanon are not wider known
than are the kauris OF New Zealand. Tho
trees have achieved worldwide fame on
account Of the beautiful gum which flows
from their trunks.
The gum 10 ono OF tho chief products OF
export In New Zealand. Six thousand
tons of the commodity--vaiued at e1,-.
I53, 7s4-are exported yearly. The gum,
or rosin, ID a. hard and brittle, almost, as
glass, and Of clear, yellow color--some
OF Il almost transparent. 1t is used In
the manufacture OF fino varnish, and
produces the best varnish in the worlda
Il IL used chiefly ut the factories In Eng
land and the United States. When, the
tree In cut or "barkedn the gum will run
ont and down the trunk TO the ground In
q fiow two and three inches 10 depth,
like the rosin- fiow on the long leafed
pines in tho turpentine region Of tho
Carolinas. The gum Ii first white, but
after II remains In the ground, or is ex-
posed to the sun for some time, 1t as
surnes It's rich yellow color and hardness.
When the flow issues from the trees IL
10 thin and watery, and enters the porous
soil, and forms underground lodges under
the trees. At certain seasons the gum
exudes from the body OF the trees, near
the roots, and forms steady flow OF
rosin, which il absorbed by the ground.
In many Of tho open valleys, and on the
treeless hillsldes, where the kauri forests
have for ages been extinct, are found
subterranean qnarries OF gum, like coal
lava ovsrfiows, whore the eruptions have
destroyed the trees, are found, down In
the earth, great deposits Of gum.
Age mellows the gum and gives, IL
hardness and quality. The earth Tor
many miles through New Zsaland 10
underiaid with the gum quarries. Tho
growing forests are not alone resorted to,
but wherever kauri grove has lived can
be found the coveted treasure. In break
ing up the land In new grounds great
deal of the clear rosin 10 uncovered.
The gum IL sometimes found In Jumps
and narrow lodges, and other times in
large deposits.
In the open country, whore the forests
have died and left the gum In the earth,
the excavation OF the rosin Ii easiest.
The underground, vines and roots OF the
trees render the digging OF the gum
among growing trees more laborious and
difficult. The rosin viii also collect In
cavities and In the hollows OF partially
decayed trees.
Gum digging Is one OF the principal in
dustries In New Zealand, and Is extern
sively engaged in. Tho gum feds very
much resemble and reminded mo of the
gold mining camps Of California and the
placer diggings In the territories. The
gum diggers pitch their tents In the
open country, and, unlike the gold
hunters, do not follow surfaces indica-
tions or outcroppings, but sink their pits
wherever they think the kauri trees have
grown. When the gum Is found the
esrth is removed, and the rosin collected
In barrels.
As the open country is largely occupied
by gum diggers, many OF the miners re-
sort to the dense forests and to the banks
of the rivers, and deive for the "yellow
ore.n Some Of the miners entersthe
swamps and form camps in the increases
In quest of gum. Everywhere through
out the great timber region OF North
Island and along every stream are found
the diggers' camps, The natives have
been engaged in gum digging for many
years. Over 1900 Maoris are yearly oc-
cupied in searching for rosin.. They
build brush huts in the woods by inter-
lacing the boughso Of trees among a frame
work of stakes, and cover the rude struc-
ture with bark. Some of their huts are
formed OF grass thatch, and hava doors
and windows. Their primitive dwell
ings are scattered over the gum region
wherever they are digging. Some OF the
Maoris unite in bands and build a ham
let of huts together, and carry on their
work In companies. Some convey the
rosin to market and others dig the gum.
When the product is sold they divide up
the result.
Before white men came to the island,
and before an English colony had been
formed in New Zealand, the natives had
used the gum for making fires, as the
rich rosin produced a strong and steady
>fame. By mixing the Jumps of gum
among the logs Of wood they soon made
hot and brilliant fire.
For ages the Maoris also manufactured
ornaments of various kinds out OF the
bright yellow rosin, with which they de.
corated their costumes. The clear aud
almost transparent gum makes very
pretty forms and ornaments, but, like
glass, is so brittle as to stand but little
wear. The great muscular proves OF the
natives, their strength and capacity to
endure fatigue, made them successful
gum-diggers, and their acquaintance
with the forests and knowledge OF where
the gum was located made the occupation
quite profitable to them.-J. N. Ingram
in National Tribune.