A LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2122, 22 October 1875, Page 3

A LOCAL INDUSTRY.

Our Auckland correspondent writes :— During the last few days I have been visiting various objects of interest in and about the city, and amongst (he catalogue may mention the establishment of Mr Williams, the noted fire-kindler man. I went over the premises, .and can safely testify that the manipulation of the articles is unique and expeditious. During my visit I inquired what he did with the large quantities of sawdust I saw lying about, and from' his answer he must have considered my intelligence of a very low order indeed, as the article I took for sawdust was pronounced to be kauri gum dust. I again looked round, and desired to ascertain what reason there was for using the tar contained in numerous casks. " Tar!" said the proprietor, " that is no tar, my dear sir; it is all palm oil." The reply made me look anything but smart, but I was determined not to make a mistake in my next query, and blandly asked " What do the jars contain ?" " Chloroform," said Mr Williams. This was enough. I saw at once I was taken for a " Yank," and he had an idea that I wanted to get at the secret previous to starting the same line of business on my own account. So to induce me to leave at once he promised to se,nd a sample of his kindlers to the Editor of the Grahamstown Evening Star, and }p : t him judge of their convenience and advantage in the lighting of fires. I was satisfied beyond doubt, previous to j bidding my friend good day, that the article is very largely used, having Seen numerous telegraphic orders from various parts of the colony for five hundred gross at a time.