Fungus Gathering -

When Mr. Chew Chong first arrived in New Plymouth, says the Taranaki Herald, it was said that he would be able to obtain but little fungus, as it would not pay to gather. It appears, however, that per sons were mistaken in their surmises, for, as it now turns out, fungus-gathering is likely to prove ft profitable industry for some time to come. We learn that Mr. Chong paid away on Saturday between £60 and £70 for the fungns that was brought into town, and he was in formed that Lirge quantities would be in during the week. From what we can gather respecting the collecting of fungus, we learn that in bush, clearings it is very plentiful, and a man can gather from two to five sacks full in a day. The price paid for it is 6s. the sack, so the wages made is at the rate of from 12s. to 30s. per day. 'lhe Maoris are the principal parties who have devoted their attention to gathering it at present ; but Europeans, seeing the profitable nature of the industry, are also busy at work collecting it. The fungus required is said to thrive well on the fallen tawa tree. The Queenslander (Brisbane) Saturday 4 November 1871