The Evening Star. FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 167, 22 July 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, JULY 22, 1870.

Ai/THOU&ft in common with all other parts of New Zealaud tliis province ia deeply interested in everything relating to our great future staple, flax, it is surprising how little that interest is manifested as compared with what is taking place in some of the Southern provinces. There, attention seems habitually directed by various societies to the subject, and a vast araouut of valuable information accumulated, and ♦ testimony adduced in defence of the fibre against the calumnies current in England, and the colonies. There cannot be a doubt that great good would result from similar proceedings being taken in this province. But there is one point in the encouragement of the flax interest to which attention might, with specially good results, b© directed. It may be that the true secret in the preparation of the fibre, has not yet been discovered, but it is of the utmost importance that there should be, even at present, an official recognition of the relative merits of tho fibre as proceeding from the various flax mills. There is the widest possible difference between the specimens of the article aa presented for manufacture locally, and for export to England. Carelessness in the cutting of the plant leads to the indiscriminate ■use of the products of the growth of ten or. twenty years, and the frosh young pliorinium tenax such as alone should bo used in manufacture. The same carelessness makes no distinction between the various plants that are included in the generic term of flax ; and not only in the character of the staple, which is the hope of New Zealand, subjectted to the empiricism of countless unknown methods of preparation, but all kinds of rubbish are huddled together indiscriminately, and go to fasten libels on the character of the finest fibre in the world. In the highest degree it is advisable that a Society should be formed to devote attention to this special duty ; and by periodical shows, or systematic examination, by the granting of rewards or the issue of certificates, at once stimulate' the careful production and preparation of the fibre, and give a guarantee to the manufacturer or the English purchaser as to the genuine character of the article submitted. Nothing could be more careful than the classification requisite in wools. Why should it be otherwise in flax ?