NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 787, 16 May 1870, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

We extract the following paragraphs from late exchanges : A Southland flax-dresser has stated to an Invercargill contemporary his conviction, founded upon experiment, that the application of steam to the fibre immediately after its passing the rollers, will produce that softness and lustre which are so highly desired, and render it in every respect equal to the finest Manilla hemp. The following letter from Mr W. K. liulke, dated April 28, appears in the Taranaki Herald : , — Believing that any information respecting the growth of flax from seed will be interesting as well as useful to many of your readers, I have much pleasure in communicating the fol lowi'g particulars :•—*On the 16th March last I prepared ground as if for onions, and (without putting the seeds in hot water, as suggested) sowed eight varieties of the best Mulcu or cultivated Has; this, I observed, was up on (Sunday last, 2ith iust. Had the weather not been so very dry, I have no doubt it would have come up sooner; at the same time I put in seven beds under glass, but this is not yet up. To day I am again sowing, and intend doing so monthly, and shall from time to time keep you informed as to its vegetation and growth." ,

A correspondent writes as follows to ffe# Otago Daily Times ?, —"There is Qne im* portant item with regard to the preparation of flax for the home market which, %. am afraid, Iras been quite overlooked., viz., the fact of its being out of aeason during a portion of. the year, when, as has been proved by evperience, it is quite useless, and so rotten as to tear a"cross the blade. Surely this is worth investigating now that so much is being dressed, for a shipment of flax in this state would seriously affect the sale of good samples, and throw cUV trust upon the whole." We (Lyttelton Times) have had the opportunity of inspecting a sample of flax, prepared by boiling and scutching, which is certainly equal, if not superior, to the general run of machine-dressed flax. A Mr Pegg, of Oxford, first tried the experiment, and Mr Dumergue has since followed it up. The great merit of this system is its cheapness, as flax of very fair quality can be produced for something like £8 per ton. Specimens can be seen by those interested at Messrs De Bourbel and Go.'s offices. A Southland paper publishes some extracts from a private letter received from a gentleman in Auckland with reference to flhx. dressing. In the course of this letter the writer says :—f % As far as I can gather,' the system of dressing is the same with you as with us, but the fibre produced in the North is superior, not from .better machinery or dressing, but from either a better climate for bleaching or from better flax The whole of the husk should be loosened off the fibre by the beaters, else the drum is not set properly; there should be no 'edges' not done, except perhaps the red line on the extreme outside of the leaf. The 'tips' should be done to within an inch or so. .... If you use steam, be sure you have power enough. A ten-horse engine has quite enough to do to drive four mills and scutch at the same time. .... Although the process looks simple, it requires constant attention, especially in the field." The Sydney Morning Herald, which fiercely condemned .New Zealand flax as being the cause of the fire in Flood's store, seems to have moderated its opinion, to judge by the following paragraph:—"After the fire at Flood's store, on Circular Quay, much was said and written about the probabilities of spontaneous combustion in flax, the defenders of that article bringing forward scientific evidence to prove that flax did not and could not originate fire* Some fresh experience, however, on this point has been furnished on the last trip of the Claud Hamilton from New Zealand, and which, .having flax on board, caught fire on its passage to Melbourne. Flax promises to become to New Zealand so important an article of commerce that no hindrances should be thrown in the way of its export; but, at the same time, it is allimportant that whatever is transmitted to Sydney and Melbourne for shipment to Europe by large passenger vessels, should be packed in a thoroughly safe condition. Life and property must not be risked even to patronise a new industry. Science will soon overcome the difficulty if the matter is energetically studied." In an article referring to the recent heavy fall in the price of New Zealand flax in the home market, the Southland Times states that "it is conclusive that the ini" provement in the quality of the fibre the main thing to be aimed at by the flax manufacturers, together with a decrease in the cost of production." In order to secure these objects, the same journal remarks that "it would be perfectly corncompetent and right for the General Government to offer some substantial reward for the discovery of such appliances, or processes as would meet the requirements of the case, and secure the prosecution of so important an industry. Other countries are fully alive to the value of utilising their raw material, or even to the advantage of encouraging the growth of a foreign product of large consumption, when suitable 10 soil and climate. A recent instance is that of the Indian Government offering a reward of £5,000 for the discovery of the means whereby a certain fibre may be produced at a certain cost, and we think our ! Government could not spend an equal amount of the public money on an ob» Iject of greater public good. The Government of India have drawn the attention of machinists and others throughout Europe to the subject by advertising it widely and stating fully and clearly what they wish, and the terms on which the reward, will be paid," - ,• .',■-..'

following extract from Mr Stafspeech at Timaru is takeafrpm £>tago paily Oentlemen. T will make a few rejaark§ .on the present position of jiative affairs, so far as J. can understand them. Berng out in the cold |ike yourselves, I liave no other than prdinary channels of information. Jt appears to me that the Government is doing its best to arrive at a miestiou of peace, I have never for #, moment doubted thar, it wished to 4o §o. While T am a set opponent pf the Ministry, and many of the fundamental principles which govern £heir actions, .1 have never for a moment allowed myself to join those who considered that the present Government had any other desire than p hat of restoring peace to the North Island. It is impossible that it can jbe otherwise. Jfo man who has faeen a minister could come to any pther conclusion than that they would endeavor to put an end to such an unhappy state of affairs. But if $e Qovernment are doing that, they Jiaye by certain acts laid themselves ppen to animan version. I refer to difference between their professions and practice. They promised to give us £l 50,000 of war, or peace, as it was indifferently called. A pardjnal feature of their policy was to act on the defensive, or in other wouds, + eschew all aggressive pperativ It has been the habit of people on getting hold of a phrase to ride it to death.. There is one which fras been applied to the late Government, namely, the conquest of peace Jt is held as a great reproach against them, but I would ask wha': the present Government have been doing with regard to tfye conquest of peace 1 ? They sent a large expedition to Wapganui and Taupo under Major |£emp and Topia. At Opotiki they took some prisoners and followed Te JLooti. This was an aggressive measure, but it was, I think, a proper piie. But to say that their policy differs from that of the late Government, while each was determined to jjunt down Te Kooti, dead or alive, is scarcely correct. Let us call filings by their plain proper names, and say that it \n the conquest of peace which the present Government are following. Gentlemen, they profess a defensive policy, and yet they send Qtyt the largest body of men which has ever been sent out. I jjonpr them for being bolder than their professions. Bu t do not let us suppose |hat the professions tljey made are in accordance with the course they are pursuing. There was another cardinal point in their policy. They were to be supported by the presence pf Imperial troops. That is a carjimal point that has disappeared not altogether by their own acts, but by {he authority outside, which I took leave to predicate last year would turn a deaf ear to their appeal; and I should not be surprised if another pardinal point did not also disappear, nainely, the loyal force attempted to jje raised for .£70,000 a year to the pountry for five years. If I thought the Government werelikely to change their opinions upon Provincial matters as they have done with regard (,0 native affairs, I should be one of their strongest supporters, but I believe they dare not do it. They are supported by the majority of the Superintendents and Provincial Executives, who come up at the rate of three and four at a time, and they are bound to govern as the strings are pulled by their friends. The present Constitution is that you will not have from the Government any change. If yon do not wish to any change, of course your purpose shpuld be greeted to maintain them |n office. There is no question re Jating to the Ministry that is capable pf more comprehensive views. If it not been for their associates, they would have adopted a somewhat liferent policy, and I should not be surprised at finding that next session they will advocate a, line of policy wjjicft although their colleagues may approve of it will not give effect tq.* They are I think strongly inclined to kick over the traces, as bejsg favorable to a wider anc[ more liberal policy than at present. Gentlemen, J haye put before you, what | {\\[i&k 4ft what is possible

Speeds upon yourselves and the rest pf" the .constituencies in New £ealand, Not upon you alone, because you are only a part of the cpuntry, and have only a comparative influence in its legislature. Many con stiiaencies fall into the error of thinking what they are unanimous upon amongst themselves they have only to wish and their wishes ..will be .given effect to. But you must not forget that your representative has to encounter a number of men who hold different interests to those you would like carried out. You must therefore be patient, You must try unsuccessfully half a dozen times—nor do I believe there was ever a man who made a mark in the world but was beaten several times before he succeeded. My opinion, is that success cannot be achieved until defeat haa been experienced, It is absolutely necessary to train the mind to success. Gentlemen, you certainly must not expect toomuch. You must not expect to .see any change even if you are absolutely in earned, without a prolonged struggle, and without doing your best to enlist the sympathies of people outside your own district. It is one of the results of Provincial legislation to produce jealousy and discord, and this in consequence of the different interests involved. Even as between communities themselves, there must almost necessarily be differing interests. I told you with what gratification. I introduced a bill last year, that was unfortunately not carried, as a protest of your determination not to be content with the political system so far as it affected you. 1 do not wish to be placed in the position of being afterwards accused of changing my mind when I tell you that I do not think the system which it would have initiated would have been the best for New Zealand, and that unless the Provincial system is to be maintained, 1 am not prepared to ba a strong advocate in future of such a measure. I want to see a wider and much more general system. I T*ant to see the Geneial Legislature and Government of the Colony take possession of the arterial works, and local affairs, such as branch road*?, where local informa tion i>s required, managed without going to any provincial centre or to the General Government. That would be preferable to having an additional number of provinces created in the countiy; but, if the Provincial system is to be maintained, I shall be found raising my voice as high as I can raise it in support of the wishes of the people of Timarn, in the direction in which they may desire to go, as I did last session. [Applause.] I am not aware that there is any other subject of large importance that you wish me to advert to, and 1 am really suffering from such hoarseness that I do not addre>s you with that pleasure that I otherwise should do. I shall, however, be happy to answer any questions you may submit to me. I have again to express my deep sense of the honor you fyave conferred on me, and trust that, so lung as I hold the position I now do with relation to this important district of the Middle Island, you will give me credit for acting honestly and conscientiously upon any subject that may come before the Hou.«e of Representatives.—[Prolonged cheerin S-J