THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 730, 28 October 1869, Page 3

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

(Southern Cross.) When an industry becomes well developed, or when any speculation turns out successful it is astonishingly difficult to realise the feelings with which that industry or speculation was regarded in its infancy. There was a time, for instance, when those who yen tured to take up scores of thousands oi acres for pastoral purposes, at a few pounds expense were regarded as bold adventurers. What a contrast between the position of the present lordly squatter and that of his predecessor the hard-working pioneer bushman. It is not long since people were rather ashamed of having speculated at the Thames. Many a person who now holds interest on that field which he values at thousands of pounds, thought himself a fool when he gave as many pence for the same. Iu some excess of speculative excitement the money was parted with, to be regretted in the revulsion of sober feeling which followed. There was some judgment and some chance, and the results have defied anticipation. There are plenty of pieces of ground untouched now which, in course of ti-me, will become famous for their auriferous yields. It is not likely that the only Golden Crown and the only Long Drive in existence have been discovered. Similar rich rocks probably run under many pieces of virgin ground untouched by the pick. A man may go to Coromandel and mark out a claim which in a few mouths may ruin him or place him in a position to eschew laboiious work for the rest of his life. The fairy tales, which children love to read, have many almost literal counterparts in the real life of young colonial communities. It is well that great successes should be regarded as fairy incidents, otherwise there would be too great a proneness to neglect the solid in search of the sparkling. Yet when the drama is partly laid out, and one thinks that there was a time when sheep runs went begging and Golden Crowns were despised, it is difficult to avoid asking what more remains behind.

There is an industry scarcely yet removed from humble infancy, the fairy nature of whose results there is little doubt will have yet to be told.

When the flax land is all taken up, and hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of the fibre yearly leaves New Zealand's shores, it will be asked, could it be possible that at any time there was a want of appreciation of so evident a source of wealth ? Even now one is astonished to remember that during years and years flax has been regarded as scarcely better than a weed ; that, with the exception of fitful efforts, little was attempted in the way of turning it -to useful account. Its value is now beginning to dawn on men's minds; a few dozen adventurous people are giving effect to the idea by engaging in the industry. There is not much enthusiasm about it—the flax producers, like those who took up the sheep runs, or the Thames claims, go about their business followed by very little envy of the results they may achieve, or admiration of their foresight. And this is the dawn of a new industry, which will be within tha reach of every individual in the community, which promises results more certain but not less gorgeous than the best sheep runs or richest golden claims, which requires but little capital to start it, which may be extended all over the two islands, which bids fair at no distant date to employ as many people as the whole present adult population of the Colony, and to yield as much as the total wool export. It is pleasant to write the many figures, which in pounds represent the yearly value of a leading article of produce. But it is not less pleasant, and considerably more novel, to rock the cradle of a new-born industry, with the strong conviction that the infant will attain to lusty manhood. The earliest difficulties of young Flax are surmounted. Its value is recognised. A market is open to receive it. The more that market is fed the more feeding it will require.. Manufacturers of articles in which the flax may be and such articles are numerous, hesitate to alter their machinery, to enable them to use it to the best advantage, until they feel assured that there is no danger of the supply falling off. Still, whatever flax goes home in marketable shape finds ready purchase. Much remains to be done before the best mode of attaining that marketable shape is arrived at, nor is it certain that the best marketable shape is yet understood ; and for the gum with which the flax is eneumbered a marketable use has not been found. So there is much to be done in the way of improvement and discovery; still, as it is, with crude machinery and cruder appliances, large profits can be made. Even though machinery is only used to bruise and scutch the flax and manual labor has to remove the stuff, to wash it to spread it to dry, and to pack it, a man with a few pounds of capital may obtain splendid results. But the time cannot be distant when machinery will receive tha green stuff and turn out the fibre ready for packing. The more persons who engage in the industry, the soonei? is it likely that the desired improvements will be effected. It is gratifying to think that even the attractions of the fascinating Thames have not altogether diverted attention in this province from the industry which will outlast the Thames, and we write this with the full conviction that no richer gold-field has ever been found. Auckland may still be considered most advanced in respect not only to the quantity of flax produced but the mode of production. In other provinces the flax " rush " is setting in but slowly with the exception of Taranaki, wherethe people are waking to new life under the influence of flax. A considerable proportion of the population is preparing to enter into its production; large tracts of laud are* being acquired for the purpose, and a new township in the midst of the flax district is to be surveyed. At Patea also, flax is beginning to war with the native difficulty. Settlers there are proposing to *'go in" for flax with the industry and vigor which have distinguished them hitherto in the pursuits they followed. In Canterbmy there is a little attention devoted to it, something less in Hawke's Bay and Nelson, and Otago and Southland are not altogether neglecting it. A provincial competition in flax will be event better than a quartz reef and goldfield discovery competition —although thia has its valuable and manifold uses*