OIL CASKS.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume V, Issue 362, 18 September 1844, Page 2

OIL CASKS.

To tht Editor nf the " New Zealand Gazette and

Wellington Spectator. ''

Sir, — I learn from your Journal, that the whaling stations in Cook's Straits are unprovided with sufficient casks for the whale oil, and that the various experiments which have been made with the wood of the country to manufacture them, have not been satisfactory. I hasten to communicate to you, what we have done towards this matter, at Akaroa, in order that every colonist in New Zealand may benefit by it.

I caused a cask to be made 13 English feet long, and rather more than three feet at its greatest diameter ; to hold about 714 gallons — and to contain a calf whale.

This cask has now been full of water for more than one month, and has not yet leaked a drop. The wood we hare made use of is

the " Kawia," or " Gowai." Mr. Clark, an English cooper, for some time established at Akaroa, is the person who pointed it out to me as the best for this purpose. He has already made, for the fisheries on this part of the coast, a great number of casks of this wood, and assures me they have answered perfectly well, inasmuch as no leakage of oil has taken place.

The " Kowai " is a " Mimosa," common in the Middle Island, the " Clianthus Puniceus " of the celebrated botanist, Allan Cunningham.

It grows generally near the sea shore, or on the banks of rivers, where it is found of great size ; but those are not the best kinds for it is remarked, that the old trees of this species, are nearly all rotten at the heart.

This wood splits extremely well, and very straight. Thus Mr. Clark obtains his staves, with ease, by merely splitting the trunk. But for our cask, the staves which are very long we have found it impossible to use this cheap method, and have sawed the trees into planks about four inches wide, and \\ inch thick; and as we have used them at once, it has not been found necessary to heat them, in order to bend them. Mr. Clark, however, informs me that to make smaller casks, he used fire to render the staves flexible.

In splitting the "Kowai," it is to be observed, that there are two woods of different colours : one, brownish red, and the other yellow ; the first is always the best and solidest ; and, if possible, this only si ould be made use of. Nevertheless, a small portion of the yellow part may be left, if it should be hard ; otherwise, water, and much more oil, will filter through it. When it is necessary to use these mixed staves, attention should be paid to placing them in the upper part of the cask, near the (bande) for there the pressure of the liquid is less. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your's obediently, A. Bkraud. On board Le Rhin, corvette, at Akaroa, 19th Aug., 1844.