Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, October 29th, 1850.

His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief has directed that the following Memorandum be published for general information.

By his Excellency’s command,
ANDREW SINCLAIR,
Colonial Secretary.

MEMORANDUM.
Auckland, New Zealand,
October 28rd, 1850

In this Colony we have to complain of the short time allowed us to collect specimens for the Exhibition of Industry of all Nations, to be held in London, in the year One thousand eight hundred and fifty one. Although rumours reached us several months before, the first decided information on the subject was obtained from the “Government Gazette,” published here on the 6th September, 1850. Much might be collected, if we had the advantage of the summer months, but as there probably will be another opportunity of shipment before the first of January, 1851, a supplementary collection may be sent home.

Memoranda respecting the specimens sent home for Exhibition in 1851 —

In the first place, at the Rope walk in Mechanics’ Bay, Auckland, they can manufacture 4 tons of Wool lashing, or 2 tons of Cordage per week; the former is for the Sydney and Van Diemen’s Land Markets, the latter is for home consumption. There are 28 men and boys employed in this establishment — the machinery is driven by horses. The walk is 160 yards long. Wool lashing has varied in price, according to the season, from 20s. to 28s. per cwt; cordage is 35s. per cwt.

Within the last three years the quality of the flax brought to market has gradually improved, and the price has increased from £12 to £20 per ton. The quantity brought to Auckland increases rapidly, and has amounted to about 100 tons within the last six months. A second Ropewalk has been established in the town, but on a smaller scale.

The importation of cordage has nearly ceased.

2. Our Tanneries are sufficient to supply the demand of the place. The native Tanning Barks are easily obtained.

3. There are two Soap and Candle Establishments in Auckland, they are fast superseding Foreign Importations.

4. The Cloth made at St. John’s College is intended to clothe the native boys. There are three Looms now at work.
   The Felt Hats manufactured by N. God, a Pensioner, give general satisfaction.

5. The specimens of Basket work were made by another Pensioner, named J. Meagher.

6. Lignite is found in large quantities on the Banks of the Tamaki, in a clay formation; in some places the bed is 10 and 12 feet thick.

7. The indications of coal are numerous in the vicinity of Auckland. The specimen of coal from the Waikato is in a great measure surface coal, and is gathered in places where it crops out of the sides of hills. It evidently is a great coal country.

8. Copper Mines have been worked with various success in this colony. There are many lodes of great value in the neighbourhood of Auckland: the only one upon which there have been extensive operations is the lode at Kawau, the works being carried on partly by the Aberdeen Loan Company, and partly by Messrs. Whitaker & Heale.

9. Iron Sand is to be obtained in great quantities on the banks of the Rivers and Coasts of New Zealand: the ore of which a specimen is sent is abundant.

10. Sulphur can be obtained in large quantities in the Interior, as well as on the East Coast of New Zealand.

11. Pumice Stone is also to be obtained in any quantities that may be required.

12. Kauri Gum is found in large quantities: its qualities are not generally known, but as a varnish, in a variety of forms, it has been found very useful. The trade is confined to America.

13. The stone used in our building at present is generally scoria, and the Matakana stone. The limestone, of which a specimen is sent, is merely the surface waste. Other good working stones are known in this neighbourhood, but the demand is not sufficient at present to pay the expense of works.

14. Roman Cement stone is found in large quantities, in the clay formation, both on the banks of the Tamaki, and all the rivers in the neighbourhood.

15. Sharks are caught here in very large numbers during the months of November, December, and January. They are natives who use them as an article of food. The fins can be procured at a very moderate rate, and fetch a good price in the China market. Train oil, which the Maories use themselves, and also sell in large quantities, is extracted from the liver.

16. Flax Seed (Phormium Tenax) is an excellent and valuable oil seed.

17. Orchilla weed, of the same quality as the specimen, is plentiful here, but from a want of knowledge as to the time at which it should be gathered, and the mode of preparing it for the market, has not yet become a saleable commodity.

18. Fish Oils. Great varieties can be collected in the season, which extends over six months.

19. The Model of a War Pa will give people in England some idea of the ingenuity and knowledge of engineering displayed by what are supposed in England to be a race of ignorant savages.

20. The New Zealand Furniture Woods are very numerous: the specimens sent have been collected in great haste, and cannot be considered fair samples.

J. A. SMITH,