THREE PAPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 232, 1 October 1930, Page 9

THREE PAPERS.

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

CAMPHOR FROM NEW ZEALAND

TREES.

Three interesting papers were read to members of the Auckland Institute last evening. Mr. I. R. Sherwood, who took for his subject, "Camphor and Camphorated Oil from New Zealand Trees," described investigations carried out in an attempt to determine- whether the Japanese monopoly in the production of camphor could be destroyed. "Camphor is used among other purposes in the manufacture of celluloid and in pharmacy," said the speaker. "Camphor oil is a solvent for varnishes and yields safrol, an ingredient of soap purfumes." Attempts had been made from time to time, said the speaker, to obtain a source of supply within the Empire. Most expensive investigations were made in India, but results showed that commercial production would not be economical. The yields of material and even the substances present in the oils varied in a most extraordinary manner with the climate of the country in which the trees were grown. "Camphor trees grow well in New Zealand," said the speaker. "The yield of camphor is good, but the safrol content of oil is low. It is doubtful whether cultivation would be economical." "Plants of the Mineral Belt in Nelson," was the subject of Miss L. M. CramveH's paper. She described the peculiarities of the sparse vegetation found in the northern part of the South Island. It was held that the excess of magnesia alone was sufficient to explain the peculiar characteristics of plant life. An enumeration of the minerals alone would be sufficient to suggest that the belt was not suitable for plant life in general. "The Relationship Between Resemblance and Birth Date," was the title of a paper read by Mr. M. Hodgkin*.