The National tribune., 1892-09-22

wider known than are the ksuris of New
Zealand. The trees have achieved world wide
fame on account of the beautiful gum which
lows from their trunks.
The gum is one of the chief products of ex.
mort In New Zealand. Six thousand tons Of the
commodity - valued at LISA, 754-are ex'
ported yearly. The gum, or rosin, is as hard
and brittle, almost, as glass, and OF clear. yell
low color-some of It almos. transparent. 1t is
used In the manufacture of fine varnish, and
PRODUCES the best yarnish in the world. 1t is
used chiefly at the factories in England and
the United States. When the tree is cut OF
"barked" the gum will run out and down the
trunk to the ground in flow two and three
inches in depth, like the rosin- flow on the
long.leafed pines in the turpentine region oil
the Carolinas. The gum is first white, but
after it remains in the ground, or is exposed to
the sun for some time it assumes its rich yell
low color and hardness.
When the flow issues from the trees IL is
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 AID forms a
steady flow of rosin, which is absorbed by the
ground. In many of the open valleys, and on
the treeless hilsides, where the kauri forests
have for ages been extinct, are found subter-
ranean quarries of gum, like coal Lodges under
the SOIL Even under the lava overfows, where
the eruptions have destroyed the trees, are
found, down in the earth, great deposits of
gum.
Age mellows the gum and gives it hardness
snd quality. The earth for many miles
through New Zealand is underlaid with the
gum quarres The growing forests are not
alone resorted TO. but wherever kauri grove
has lived can be found the coveted treasure.
In breaking up the land in new grounds a
great deal of the clear rosin is uncovered
The gum is sometimes found In Jumps and
narrow lodges, and other times in large depos-
It's.
In the open country, where the forests have
died and left the gum in the earth, the excava-
ton Of the rosin is easiest. The underground,
vines, and roots of the trees render the digging
of the gum among growing trees more laborious
and difficult. The rcsin will also collect In cav.
titles and in the hollows of partially decayed
trees.
Gum-digging Is one Ct the principal indus
tries in New Zealand, and is extensively en-
gagged in. The gum-f fields very much resemble
and reminded me of the gold mining camps of
California and the placer diggngs in the Terri
tories. The gum-dggers pitch their tents in
the open country, and, unlike the gold hunters,
do not follow surface indications or outcrop-
pings, but sink their pits wherever they think
the kauri trees have grown. When the gum is
found the earth Is removed, and the rosin COL
lecied in barrels.
As the open country is largely occupied by
gum-diggers, many Of the miners resort to the
dense forests and to the banks of the rivers,
and delve for the yellow ORE" Some of the
miners enter the swamps and form camps In
the morasses in quest Of gum. Everywhere
throughout the great timber region of North
Island and along every stream is found the
diggers' camps. The natives have been en-
gagged in gum digging for many years. Over
- -, I'D d.,
for rosn. They build brush huts in the woods
by interlacfng the boughs Of trees among a
framework of stakes, and cover the rude struc-
ture with bark. Some Of their huts are formed
Of grass thatch. and have doors and windows
Their primitive dwellings are scattered over
the gum region wherever they are digging.
Some OF the Maoris unite ia bands and build a
hamlet 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 10 the island. and
before an English colony had been formed in
New Zealand, the natives had used the gum for
making fires as tho rich rosin produced a
strong and steady fame. BY mixing the Jumps
Of gum amongthe logs Of wood they soon made
q hot and brilliant fire.
For ages the M&oris also manufactured orna.
ments Of various Kinds cut Of the bright, yell
low rosin, with which they decorated tbei!
costumes. The clear and 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 aud capacity 10 endure
fatigue made them successful gum-diggers and
their acquain lance with the forests and knowl
edge Of where the gum was located made the
occupation quite profitable to them.
For many years the Maoris had monopoly
Of the kaur ming, and furnished all The
supply to the market.
Ioid and silver mining diverted the whit.
dggers into searching after the precious metals
AS many parts of New Zealand proved rich II
golden ores the attraction Of the gold. heldi
proved stronger and the search for bullion wal
found more profitable than digging gam.
Bat Of late years, since the gold mines have
begun to decline and the silver piacers hay,
become almost exhausted, q number Of th,
white miners have taken TO gum digging. II
requires but little capital to engage In kaur
mining. tent bunk and blanket and /
few days provisions will furnish the digger
with an outfit No machinery, expressly.
works, or asaalgsmating hoppers are required
and the returns are wherever be carries hl
goods TO market, as the gum finds Ready cash
sale.
number Of immigrants who land al th,
49, Il 2