Page:The Present State and Prospects of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales.djvu/44

 delivered by the stripper, broken by manual labour, into pieces from four to eight inches long. Buckets full of these are thrown down into the hold, where it remains in bulk. Water-casks are then rolled over it, in order to press it a little; but still it remains a very cumbrous article. If without injury to the bark, or without danger of making it rot on the voyage home, it could be broken by a machine, similar to that known (I believe) as a devil, into very small pieces, and then put into bales well secured and pressed in a hydraulic, or a screw press, it would much economize labour in the breaking, and freight in the sending home. But it must be fully ascertained that these advantages are not gained at any sacrifice of the goodness of the article. Some attempts have been made to extract the tanning principle, but as yet the results have not been such as to lead to the expectation that this mode will supersede the simpler one of exporting the article itself. But the most economical and simplest mode of saving the expense of the exportation of bark and of hides, as well as of the importation of leather, would be to tan the hides of our own cattle to supply the Colonial market in the first instance, and to export the remainder in the form of leather. A good deal of leather is at present made at Sydney, both kangaroo-skin and ox-hide, and it is remarkable for its softness and pliancy; but still a great deal of English leather is imported, which is a perfect absurdity, while we are exporting bark and hides. I do not know any trade in which there is a better open than in that of a currier and tanner for a man who has got sufficient capital, and who thoroughly understands his business.