NEW FLAX MACHINE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1883, 17 October 1913, Page 8

NEW FLAX MACHINE.

DESIGNER INTERVIEWED.

MAY CHANGE WHOLE INDUSTRY. Visiting New Zealand at present is Sir. Hubert J. Boeken, an inventor of machinery from tho Old Country, who describes himself as "a German by birth, British by naturalisation, and an Irishman by education." And thero is no disputing his claim, as ho is a naturalised Briton and a graduate of tho University of Dublin. Tho value of- scholarships won by him at the Blackrock College amounted to £512. Though ho distinguished himself in modern languages and political economy, his bent was mechanics, and during the past quarter of a century lie has taken out some 200 patents. Ho interested himself in machinery for' treating fibrous plants, with the result that to-day his "Corona" machine— well known in sisal-growing countries— is considered the bost the world has to offer. In support of that ho mentions having been awarded gold medals at Tourcoing (Franco), Allahabad (India) and at Sourabaya, Java, in 1910. "Corona" machines are also in general use in East and West Africa, tho Phillipines and Central America. How It Happened. "The machino," said Mr. Boeken, "is more than a machine —it is a self-con-tained mill. It takes"wie vegetable blades in at one end, and ejects the required product at the other ready for baling. How I camo to turn my attention to adapting tho machine for tho treats mont of New Zealand' flax was almost an accident. In London last year your High Commissioner (Hon. Thos. Mackenzie), who know of mo, told 1 Mr. Joseph Liggins, of Tokomaru (near Palmerston North), to seo me. As president of the 1< lax-millers' Association Mr. Liggms was naturally interterested in fibre-winning machines. We met and he showed mo a bundle of green Now Zealand flax —the first I had ever seen. At first I hoped that it could bo treated by my machine, just as sisal was, but on experimenting I found that that could not be done.. On testing with tho green flax I found' it impossible to make decortication easy. I saw that the outer epidermis of tho New Zealand flax was of an extremely hard and leathery nature, 'and would therefore have to be especially treated in some way or other. New Zealand Flax From Ireland. "As the result of several consultations with Mr. Liggins, and experiments I constructed a machine, whioh was tested at Home with several loads of New Zealand flax—from tho North of Ireland. This was obtained through tho offices of ono of my old University friends in Dublin from a lady who had a quantity 'of tho flax growing on- her estates.

"The machine, or series of Machines, though not then perfected, was found capable of dressing tho flax in a manner which prevented any waste of fibro, and did away ivitli the scutching •and paddocking diich aro essential to the present process of dressing. As a matter of fact the flax produced by my machine only needed drying before being baled for sale on the markot. Then I propose to save tho pulpy parts of tho (blades 'and the green colouring matter, thereby effectively preventing the pollution of rivers and streams." Out to New Zealand. " Wlien my experiments at Homo had given such results as proved' satis-! factory to tho High Commissioner and tho Produce Commissioner (Mr. Cameron) as well as to Mr.. Liggins, I entered into an arrangement with Mr. Liggins to come out to New Zealand for t'Jie purpose of lerecting 011 his property at Tokomaru my first plant of machinery for dressing New Zealand flax. That plant arrived, here at tho beginning of July last, and' was erected close to the railway lino (at Tokomaru). whero I started, it on Monday last. The first results were As satisfactory as could be desired ( but proved to mo that certain alterations to the machine aro_ necessary .before I will be quito satisfied. Others who were present were more tha.a satisfied with tho work which tho machine did, but' I was not. That is why I came to Wellington to obtain certain parts. No Wasto. "The plant is complete in itself—it takes tlie green flax in at one end 20 or 30 blades at a mouthful, .dresses it thoroughly, and by means of ■' an artificial dryer turns out marketable fibre, at the other end. Where the artificial dryer is not provided the fibre will have to be dried in tho open air before being baled ready for shipment. There is no waste. Iho flax contains a valuablo product in its vegetable wax (which is similar to the carauba wax of commerce), acids and other chemicals, which later 011 may, bo turned to profit in tho Old \\orld. For tho present-they will be turned into briquettes for firing the furnaces.

As to the details of the machine— well, you may see it working later. I should add that Messrs. Richardson, M'Cabe and Co., Ltd., 11 Grey Street, Wolmgton, are my agents in New Zealand." v

Mr Boeken returned to Palmerston North by the mid-day express on Saturday. With respect to the above it may be stated that several flax-millers who saw the machine working at Tokomaru were delighted with the results given ' and seem to believe that it will bo of the greatest service to the industry.