NEW ZEALAND HEMP YARN AND CLOTH.

Evening Star, Issue 2815, 26 February 1872, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HEMP YARN AND CLOTH.

The Auckland Hera.ll of February 9 contains the following remarks : Our English exchanges apprise us of the fact that through the exertions of Mr C. T borne, IG, Mark lane, London, the value of New Zealand flax for the manufacture of canvas and similar fabrics had been success? fully tested. We have before us samples of the result of these experiments, in pieces of cloth and bundles of yarn, pure and mixed. The samples were forwarded to the Bank of New Zealand for exhibition. No. I is a sample of bleached yarn, made from pure New Zealand flax fibre, extracted from the dry leaf. The gum having become thoroughly hardened, was difficult to dissolve. The yellow marks in the yam show the straw retained in the gum. This sample, but for the defects stated, is very superior indeed ; the lustre of the yam is pure. It is a sufficient proof that the fibre will bleach as white as ordinary linen yarn. No 2 is a sample of unbleached mixed yarn, made by a mixture of 75 per cent. Riga flax and 25 per cent. New Zealand flax. 'I he color of the yam is darker than in the unmixed bleached sample (No. 1); but the two fibres appear to spin well together. No. 3 is a sample of bleached yam, mixed iu the same proportions as sample No. 2, There cau be no doubt of the superiority of this yarn over No. 1, No. 4 is a sample of cloth, made from unbleached yam of pure New Zealand flax. This is the first attempt, we believe, at weaving pure New Zealand Haxyarn ; the cloth was woven in a jute loom. The cloth is very well suited for bags and sacks ; and, doubtless, after a few experiments will be improved upon. It is sufficient to show, however, that New Zea and may manufacture from its own raw material, all the cornsacks and wool-packs it requires, besides doing something to supply Australia aud California. We may say that the consumption of cornsacks is very great in California, and that the greater part of the material used in their manufacture is imported from Dundee. No. 5 is a piece of cloth made from bleached pure New Zealand flax-yam, similar to sample No. I. This sample is a decided improvement on No. 4, both in closeness of texture and color. Mr Thome intimates that he expected to have some good cauvas iu about ten days, woven from yarn similar to that of No. 1. The cloth of sample No. 3 is really well made and could be put to many common uses. No. G is a piece of drab cloth, woven out of unbleached yam (No. 2) mixed in proportions of 75 per cent. Riga flax and 25 per cent. New Zealand flax It is very much closer in texture than either of the samples of cloth manufactured from unmixed New Zealand flax No. 7 is a piece of cloth made from bleached yam, mixed as in preceding sample. It is rea'ly a piece of excellent canvas. Mr Thorne deserves the thanks of the colon'sts of New Zealand for his enterprise iu this matter ; and we trust he will be able to apply to the Government for the reward promised for the manufacture of cornsacks and woolpacks. It is clear from the samples that New Zealand flax fibre mixes well with lint; and doubtless this fact wili not be lost on manufacturers. But Mr Thorne has also demonstrated that it bleaches well, and can be made into cloth of a reasonably fine texture without any admixture with other fibres.