NEW ZEALAND HEMP AT HOME.

Evening Star, Issue 3390, 2 January 1874, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND HEMP AT HOME.

Mr C. Thorne writes out bv the last mail to the Canterbury Flax Association : “On the 7th October J received from Mr Lockhart a sample tf * rove ’ and yarn made from the fibre sent home by Celestial Queen, and on the 9th I posted these samples to your address. I have g«nt the fibre cx Nebraska to Mr Lockhart, and this, together with that by Celestial Queen, Mr Lockhart says he will manufacture into ‘sheep nets.’ He has made some ‘gaskin’ for packing steam cylinders from the tow of Chinnery and Essor's flax, and has sent a portion to the Leith, Hull, and Hamburgh Steam Shipping Company for trial. When he receives the report upon it, .he has promised-to send it to mo, and your association shall hear the result. Mr Lockhart and Mr Forbes still continue to take much interest in the phorminm industry and its progress ; the former, when in Dundee a short time back, h £ ard that there is to be a grand opening of the Dundee Museum on the Ist November, and that Messrs Baxter Bros, intended showing a case of fabrics to mark the progress made in Dundee manufactures. He had been stirring up several people on the subject of phorminm, and amongst others, ‘ Haillie Henderson,’ who suggested it would be a geod time to show phorminm. Mr Lockhart told the Baillie he should write to Dr Featherston for a case to exhibit, which ho did accordingly. Dr Featherston communicated with me, and now by the combined efforts of Dr Feathferston, Mr Forbes, Mr I ockhart, and C. Thorne, there seems a very good possibility of % show being made of phorminm fibre and fabrics, in the very midst of the manufacturers, and at the place from which the Secretary to the Chamber of Commerce, Dundee, in his letter to the Secretary, Board of Trade, under date Dundee, Ist May, 1871. wrote : ‘From the experience of persons in Dundee, endorsed also by the information generally given in the progress report, New Zealand flax is a harsh fibre, unsuitable for general manufacturing purpose, such as into linens, which are made from the real flax, or even manufactures made from Indian jute.’ (See appendix to report of Flax Commissioners, page 80, published in Wellington, 1871); and now, in Nov., 1873. goods, such as it was stated in 1871, could not be made from Now Zealand flax, will positively be exhibited. As the object is to shew how many manufacturers have successfully worked New Zealand flax, I have had the names of the manufacturers written on the cards which will be placed on the respective articles, and also the names of those who lend them.”