5

C—l 2

No. 39577, F. V. Raymond (3 figures, 6 claims). —Relates to the removal by scoops of the top layers of peat over the gum-bearing soils. No. 39732, C. Suttie (3 figures, 7 claims). —Consists of the use of a spiral chamber for the separation of solid contents, such as wood and gum particles, from the soil and the grading into different sizes. No. 40127, F. V. Raymond (2 figures, 4 claims). —Consists of moans to prevent tho slime water from the screening apparatus, in the working of swamps by bucket dredge, from returning to the paddock. No. 39927, W. R. Coekburn and l<\ Jenkins (3 figures, 1 claim). —Consists of a semi-cylindrical screen of fine mesh, in which is rotated a spiral wiper or brush of the same diameter as the internal diameter of the screen, said wiper or brush being mounted on a central shaft supported in bearings in or above the screen. No. 40128, F. V. Raymond (17 figures, 19 claims). —Consists of treating the gum-bearing soils in a vessel flume or chute the bottom of which may be plain or perforated, with a frame or set of frames arranged crossways in which are slats, bars, heavy wire, or tho like, the surfaces of said riffles being either plain, or roughened, or uneven. No. 40505, V. Silieh and N. Silich (2 figures, 3 claims). —Consists of a vessel container made narrower at the top than at the bottom, having a horizontal shaft mounted on bearings across its top carrying at its inner end a bevel gearwheel set to mosh with a bevel gear-wheel carried on upper end of a central vertical shaft, said vertical shaft being centrally plaoed within said vessel or container and having fixed to it at its lower end twei horizontal stirrers working slightly above a screen or sieve placed just off or above tho perforated bottom of said vessel. In use the, dirty water and fine soil passes out through the bottom, while the gum pieces and other material too large to escape are retained on tho screen. A note of warning must be sounded, however, in regard to gum cleaning and washing machines in general. Very little provision has been made so far by some of the patentees for the saving of gum-dust, which constitutes a very appreciable percentage of the gum content of the soils treated. In the case of one plant of which great things were expected the gum content of the, soil treated was ascertained after very careful tests, and it was found that the residue run to waste as useless contained a gum content of almost one-third that of the original sample in other words, one-third of the gum in the shape of fine dust was entirely lost. Kauri-oum Exports. For the year ended 3ist March, 1919, the export was 2,338 tons, ol the value of £152,299. During the last four years the average yearly output has been 4,198 tons, of the value of £263,388 ; whilst for the previous four years the average annual export was 8,187 tons, of the value of £460,890. It was only to be expected that there should be a great falling-off in the export so long as the war continued, but it is doubtful whether the old figures will be again attained, unless better methods of production are introduced. But this subject I deal with more fully in another portion of this report. The following table gives particulars of the exports for the last twelve years : —

Particulars of Kauri-gum exported from New Zealand from 1908 to 31st March, 1919, inclusive.

Country to ,,, which exported. )08. it 109. If HO. It £ Tons. 263,375 3,514 ill. 1 .912. 11 913. Tons. United States of | 2,855 America, United Kingdom , 1,799 Germany .. 067 Canada . . 21 Austral in .. 155 Belgium .. 22 France .. 10 Austria-Hungary 1 Russia Netherlands .. . i Sweden .. j Italy .. Japan.. Hong Kong Argentina £ j Tons. 215,29P 5,127 £ 375,126 Tons. 4,149 £ Tons. 209,216 3,894 £ Tons. 232,566 3,995 £ 308,450 123,011 2,290 23,841 639 1,646 24 6,458! 149 1,572! 17 875 1 104 1 140,235 24,111 2,555 8,576 1,770 85 68 3,253 913 66 66 29 19 124 15 6 30 23 151,319; 2,378 28,016 1,142 7,087 9 4,465; 75 1,899 78 1,656 75 3,011 131 1,976 80 133, 55 720 ! 35 779 15 130,767, 2,468 34,062 1,053 I ,061' 40 2,559 30 3,990 123 5,774 : 37 3,968 159 1,859 2 1,206 42 803 35 417 15 25; 1 114,640 3,390 32,964 833 3,370 62 2,487 80 5,088 126 3,037 45 4,611 112 184 53 974 60 952 16 410 9 22 .. 187,547 27,880 4,018 3,933 5,120 3,995 2,617 1,725 2,495 420 300 2 "l72 8 '.'. Totals .. : 5,530 372,798 8,250| 552,698 8,6931 465,044 7,587 395,707: 7,908 401,305 8,780 549,106 Country to ,, which oxporteei. MB. 1st ,Tai 31st Ma nuary to 1st Aprl irch, 1910. 31st Mil il, 1910, to 1st April iron, 1917. 81st Mai il, 191.7, to 1st Aprl irch, 1918. 31st Mar ii, 1918, to rch, 1919. 914. 1! Tons. United States of 4,531 America United Kingdom 3,335 Germany . ■ 373 Canada .. 70 Australia .. 19 Belgium .. 34 France .. 42 Austria-Hungary 14 Russia .. 3 Nether-lands .. 8 Sweden .. 20 Italy .. .. 23 Japan.. .. 1 Hong Kong Argentina £ Tons. 310,200 3,312 £ 222,850 Tons. 974 £ 60,010 Tons. 3,158, £ | Tons. 218,214 2,310 £ 164,516 Tons. 1,371 £ 81,914 148,370 1,172 21,193 .. 2,114 56 I , 720 9 1,519 .. 3,599 5 329 .. 225 21 664 .. 560 .. 855 .. 96 .. 48,585 330 13,548 1,484 , 08,378 303 13,982 3-16 10,977 594 118 5 8,972 314 ■J 29 7,718 U929 i 1,982 18 1,577 '572 4!) ■15,588 4,820 430 2,118 50 i 3,440 .. 10 539 .. 506 8 Totals . . 8,473 497,444 4,575 279,133 1,433 300,271 4,636 82,844 4,862 304,852 2,338 152,299