Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY,- JANUARY 27, 1891. Something like a Future for Flax.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 27 January 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY,- JANUARY 27, 1891. Something like a Future for Flax.

— ♦ The great difficulty in dealing with the Phorniium tenaoo has been its gum. By costly chemical processes the gum has been softened, and the ultimate fibre (that which is enclosed within the long harsh thread obtained after dressing and scutching) obtained, which in its turn has been spun and woven into linen fabrics. Why has this process not been continued ? Because the cost has exceeded the profit. Yesterday, however, we had a visit from a gentleman who claims to have discovered how to remove the gum on commercial terms. We had heard that such a J one was travelling around the district saying so, and also selling soap ! We did remark that we feared soap was uppermost. We are glad to say we were wrong. But it is difficult to understand how the possessor of the

knowledge of how to free our flax from its gum, should care to bother about ought else. A s we earnestly desire to see practical effect given to Mr Haycock's discovery, we hope he will give his attention solely to this business of preparing our chief local production into merchantable articles. It is but a short time ago that Mr | Thomas Haycock, while riding along i a country road in Nelson, observed a large stock of tow. He had been some years previously « 11 ax dresser in Patea, and; not .a fortunate .one. Something connected with his present occupation led him tQ feel assured that lie could convert the waste into a useful product. He asked the owner, our old friend Mr Rutherford, if he could have some, he was told he could take as much as he liked. With the quantity that he took he experimented with, and showed, a few days later, a sample of roofing felt. A sample he has kindly handed to us, with others, which our readers can see for the remainder of the week, when we have to return them. The felt is not tarred, but can easily be, the gum not being present. That the gum has been dissolved is evident to anyone understanding flax. The felt is soft and its parts easily identified. »Mr Haycock claims that this can be manufactured and tarred cheaper than the imported roofing felt. If so, there is a large business in front of it, and it proves that the difficulty of freeing the gum from the flax can be accomplished at a small cost. Once that the gum is mastered, a number of openings for the use of our flax is seen. Mr Haycock has produced a lint, one which doctors and chemists highly approve of, being clean and soft. Another sample left with us, a wadding, showing how fine the dissolution of the fibre can be brought to. We asked Mr Haycock whetherhis process reduced the flax to the one state, or if he could vary it ? He replied by showing us a sample of paper like parchment, tough and thin, which when prepared by paper makers will be of great value. He also said that he could treat the gum as needed, that is to say, he could soften the long strands, or, as in the case of the wadding, roduee the fibre to its shortest state. Mr Haycock is going to "Wellington to interest Hie Government, and we hope capitalists, in his discovery. The fact that such a large source of waste, can be profitably utilised, is one of the best pieces of news yet to' hand for this important flax dressing industry. We only hope that energetic efforts will he taken to bring it into uso.