NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 298, 8 September 1855, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

We give below from a " General Government Gazette1' a correspondence which has recently taken place between SirG. Farmer, Bart., Lord

Lyttelton, and Mr. Sydney Herbert, relating to the preparation of the fibre of the phormium tenax for commercial purposes. The correspondence was forwarded to the Officer administering the Government by Mr. Sidney Herbert. Bideford, 24th January, 1855. Sir., —I have the honor to inform you that I have indented machinery to prepare the fibre of the phormium tenax, when in the green state, so as to render it available for every purpose of manufacture to which hemp audflax are applicable. I beg to enclose a circular, to which I respectfully solicit ?your attention. It was issued by me to merchants, capitalists and manufacturers, with a view to induce parties to embark capital to carry my plans into operation in New Zealand, as I had been informed by the Board of Trade that " this is a matter which must be left to private enterprise to develope." For the reasons stated in the report of the Wellington (N.Z.))Society of Arts, parties otherwise disposed to employ capital in this way are deterred from doing- so. Thirteen years ago I sunk a considerable sum of money in machines pent to that colony for this purpose. Those machines were the invention of another person and different from mine in every respect. I was misled by a person returned from New Zealand, who shewed me some tolerably well prepared New Zealand flax, and assured me that it had been prepared by the Natives, with the shell. This person brought an introduction to a Liverpool house from Auckland, and thus I became acquainted with him. I do not now possess funds either to go to New Zealand, or to make machines to send there. I would, therefore, humbly suggest that if I was appointed to an official situation in that colony it would enable me to instruct the Natives in the use of the machines, and how to make them. The introduction of this valuable fibre in large quantities into the home market would be of inestimable advantage to the colony and to the toother country. There may not, perhaps, at this time be any office vacant to which I could be appointed ; but it is possible that my name could be added to the list of Legislative Councillors for this special purpose, and a fair salary attached to my appointment, to enable me to execute my plans, and to support me while in the colony; my whole attention being devoted to the subject of the fibre and its uses. On my proving to the satisfaction of the Governor and Council that my machinery is as efficient as I represent it to be, I may reasonably expect to be compensated for making my invention public property instead of protecting myself by patent law. This compensation may be provided for in two ways, viz. :—by an annuity to be paid out of an export duty, for a specific number of years, or by a grant of land in the colony. The benefits that would accrue to the colony and Her Majesty's Kingdom in general from the introduction of a sufficient supply of New Zealand flax, to reduce the price of Russia hemp and flHx,jiow and hereafter, are so obvious, that it is unnecessary for me to enumerate them. Five thousand natives employed daily with my hand machines, and each to produce only 56 lbs. of dry flax per diem, would yield upward of 35,000 tons per annum, a sufficient quantity to reduce the price of European hemp materially : the quantity of the latter imported into the United Kingdom in 1553 being 63,142 tons, according to the parliamentary returns. By permission of the Lords of the Admiralty, a few weeks since, I improved a small quantity of the native prepared fibre sent home by the Wellington Society, by passing it through my machine, and had it manufactured into iwine and cordage at the Devonport dockyard. The quality of this specimen of flax was originally so very inferior that it cannot be (and was not by Her Majesty's officers) considered a fair trial, although every justice w.^s done to it by the Dockyard officials and workmen. Some of it was rotten when discharged from the vessel in the London dock; but so scarce has this fibre become in this countiy that I could not procure any other in London. Inferior as was this specimen,, the masterattendant '(Mr. Mills) also the master ropemaker are satisfied, that if hemp of superior quality can be obtained from the same source, it can be used for hemp in the Royal Navy with great advantage to the public service. This inferior New Zealand fibre was tested against rope made of the very best Russia and Italian

hemps, which circumstance ought to be taken into consideration. I understood from Mr. Mills that he had been on the Sydney station when afloat,and had seen very superior cordage made of the New Zealand fibre—and that he entertains.-a very favourable opinion of it as a substitute for Russian hemp in the Royal Navy as well as the Mercantile Marine. This gentleman's report to the Board, of Admiralty will only.be as to its relative strength to the best Russia and Italian hemp. His opinion on this hemp can be obtained through the Admiralty. I take leave to enclose the report on some of the same lot,of New Zealand fibre as that sent to Devonport, made by a vopemaker in this: neighbourhood. The Russia hemp he uses is inferior to that used in the Royal Dockyard, and places my New Zealand in a better point of view. My invention is applicable in the present state for the preparation of all fibrous plants producing fibre in the leaf; and, with the addition of only a pair of rollers, wiH be suitable for plants containing fibre in the stems. I am informed by the Secretary that the Court of Directors of the Honorable East India Company is prepared to take the expediency of sending to India for trial a few of my machines as soon as I am in a position to furnish them. I have also had communication on this subject with parties interested iii introducing into this country fibres from South America, the West Indies, Africa and China. I beg leave to enclose a letter from the Earl of Aberdeen, addressed to my deceased friend and brother officer in 1835 on his recommending me to his Lordship's notice for a colonial situation. I can add that my eldest son now in Van Diemen's Land, where he has filled a small Government situation, can assist me in New Zealand. I have, &c, (Signed) Gko. R. Fabher, Bart. The Right Honoiable Sir George Grey, Bart. &C, &c.