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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 71

Kauri Gum

Kauri Gum.

This peculiar, but now important, industry is well worthy of note, and the following particular, from the Government Handbook, will be of interest:—

The ordinary method of searching for the gum is by first feeling for it a little below the surface with a steel-pointed piece of iron about ½ inch in diameter and 4 feet long, called a "gum-spear," and then digging it out with an ordinary spade. A skilful and industrious digger can earn as much page 42 as £3 to £4 per week at the work, and even children can make a few shillings a day at it. As, however, the gum-fields offer a refuge for all sorts and conditions of men, many who are old and infirm resort to them, and so the average earnings of those engaged in the work is reduced to £1 15s. or £2 Per week.

The gum is used principally in the manufacture of varnish, hut it is found useful for many other purposes, such as dressing "glazed" calicoes, &c. The best quality, which is scarce, is worth as much as £8 to £10 per cwt., while the poorest quality is worth only about £1 per cwt. in London.

The following are the quantities and values of the exports in ten-year periods since 1853:—
Year. Tons. £.
1853 829 15,971
1861 856 9,888
1871 5,054 167,958
1891 5,460 253,778
1891 8,388 437,056