Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JAN. 28, 1896. Flay.

Manawatu Herald, 28 January 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, JAN. 28, 1896. Flay.

♦ Our late Mayor, Mr T. P. Williams, is now in Auckland, but still retains his interest in Foxton and Flax. Whilst in the northern, capital he met Mr Gihnan, a chemist in Onehunga, who has discovered a new method of dressing flax which may turn out of much advantage to this district. Mr Williams obligingly forwarded a copy of the New Zealand Herald from which we extract the following :— Mr Oilman has hit upon a method which makes him think a valuable discovery has been made. The chemical used is a comparatively I cheap one, and by the immersion of the green leaves in a bath prepared with this substance for four hours the fibres can be cleaned perfectly by passing the steeped leaf between two smooth rollers. By this means the whole of the fibre in the leaf is saved, and none wasted in the shape of tow. When the fibre is passed through the scutcher all the dust and loose matter is thrown off, and the fibre practically clean and elastic, that is, it possesses a spring in it, which is not the case with fiax dressed by the ordinary machinery now in general I use. As to the cost of chemicals , which will be required, Mr Gilman is not able to speak with accuracy, I as he has only had small quantities '

to deal with, and thug the expense , would be relatively greater than whert dealt with in quantity. At present he is satisfied it would not exceed Is Cd per ton of green flax used, but; as these bathg may be capable of being used again, and again, or kept up to their proper strength by the addition of a small quantity of fresh chemicals on the bath being re-used, the cost would practically become very little* He, of course, declines to make i known the chemical agent he uses, but his experience shows that by the immersion of the green leaves in the bath for a period of four hours, the fleshy part of the leaf becomes so disorganised that it can be stripped from the fibre ia the leaf in a condition little thicker than treacle. Mr Passmore, the manager of Donaghy's Rope and Twine Company Ld. states "In my opinion the fibre is as near perfection as is possible to get it. The only slight drawback is the color. If you could manage to improve this A. little tnore we are satisfied that the height of perfection would be reached. I am prepared to give the top market price for all the fibre you can propare equal to sample." Mr Charles Hesketh, of Auckland, says :— I have looked at a sample of flax made by your new process. It is really good flax, and except for a defect in the colour it ia better than any flax we make in Auckland. If you can make this article in the time you say, the process will quite revolutionise the trade, and bring same into commerce again as a payable product. In conclusion Mr Gilrnan says : — The advantages I claim for my process are as follows :— l. Lass cost of production. 2. Can be completed (with exception of drying) in four hours. 3. Will only take about 0$ tons of green flax for one ton of dressed. 4. The fibre is elastic, can be turned out perfect, and the full length of the leaf. 5. Much stronger than by present process. 6. Can be turned out with proper appliances equal in colour and superior in fibre to the general run of bleached flax, thus saving the time, trouble and cost of bleaching. We have still the misfortune to be ruled by a people's Government. Mr Gilman has asked the Government for tho bonus offered for a cheaper production of the fibre, but the Go vernmenfc reply that they dan do nothing until the date is up, in the middle of the year 1897 ! In a sort of manner tho Government are right, they have no power to award a prize the date for competition for which has been duly fixed, but the Government has surely the power to assist any process which bids fair to be of very much service to the colony. The sum of £1760 is so paltry for such a great revolution) that if proved a reality and not a vision, the money ought to be most cheerfully paid, so that all workers might benefit by the discovery. It appears most strange that any practical proposals to de velope the resources for the employ* ment of labour are ignored by a Government which got into power by the exercise of a great deal of bawl ing of their interest in the labourer, whilst money is spent in thousands over fads which are a curse to the poor in purse and spirit. The immediate determination whether Mr Gilman's discovery is of practical value is one of the greatest importance to this district, as, granting Mr Gilman ia right, it will pay every landowner to conserve the flax he owns. In like manner the colony is interested by the value or otherwise of the flax crop on the Assets Company's properties, on some of which much money is being spent in destroying it. We do hope that wisdom *may guide our Ministry in this matter, and, if necessary, their powers be stretched to test the discovery, and, if proved of use, to reward Mr Gilman without loss of time.

The heat at Gisborne on Saturday was intense. The thermometer registered 134 degrees in the sun and 90 in the shade at midday There has been no rain, except a few drops, for weeks, and the people throughout the district are cr.ving out for water. It was abo very hot at Timaru and at 1 p.m. the record was lOOdeg. in the "true" shade, the highest before known having been 92deg At 2 p m., however, a cold breeze sprang up. • On Friday Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a large stock sale at Waikanae. MrF. W. Sewell, Secretary of the' Manawatu Club, received Word from Christchurch to the effect that the New Zealand Polo Association had decided to hold the tournament at Palmerston North, commencing on the 18th of March. Nine barrels of oil were pumped on Saturday in two hours at New Plymouth, when the pump broke down. The oil in the well was reported to be flowing last sight. Eaoh barrel of oil is estimated at being worth from 103 to 153. The Petroleum Company start another bore oa Monday. It is now fully established that the present bore is a complete success, and that there is a great future in the oil industry for Taranaki, and property is increasing in value. Mr J. R. Why te, secretary of the Foxton Racing Club, has sent away all cheques in connection with the last meeting. The Premier on Friday paid a visit to the State farm at Levin, and made a careful inspection of the place and the work done. To morrow Messrs Gorton & Son hold a clearing sale at Killymoon, Bulls. Sir P. A. Buckley took his seat for the first time in his judicial capacity at Wellingion on Friday, when he presided over sitting in chambers. The Indian Council proposes to tax all cottons 3£ per cnt., making exemptions in regard to English and Indian yarns. Mr A. Kerr is a cash purchaser of eggs in any quantity.

Messrs Abraham and Williams hold their u c ual stock sale at Palmerston on Thursday. On Saturday they have a sale of 90 horses from Hawke's Bay. Under the amended Factories Act it has been decided that in small factories where there are only one or two employees the fee to be charged shall be only a nominal one of one shilling. Salmon breed freely with brown trout and Loch Leven trout. During last year the gold mined in and exported f»om the Colony exceeded in value the export for the preceding year by £274,325. Mr Joseph Poole died on Wednesday in Wanganui. * H. Freeman, who purchased the gate privileges at the last Otaki Maori meeting, sued the Stewards for £60 for breach of contract in postponing the races till next day. He was non-suited. The next English and European mail via Rio de Janeiro will close at the local office on Wednesday, the sth day of February, at 3 p.m. The 'Frisco mail closes at 3p m. on Wednesday, February 20th. The Wanganui Harbour Board have decided to dredge the river flats. The new Flying Squadron goes to Berehaven to await sailing orders. At our last race meeting a lady who had not been on a racecourse before, pointing to the Clerk of the Course in his smart scarlet coat, asked " What is that huntsman doing here?" She also thought that naturally all the huntsmen would be in attendance, and it would have been gayer if they had all worn scarlet. Certainly the most effective medicine in the world is Sanders and Son's Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in Coughs, Colds, Influenza ; the relief instantaneous. In serious cases and aocidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swellings — no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in Croup, Diphtheria, Bronchitis, Inflammation of the Lungs, Swellings, &c, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Disease of the Kidneys and Urinary Organs. In use at all hospitals and medical clinics ; patronised by His Majeßty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and eject all others. — [advt.] \ One of the drawbacks of country life, at least to the small settler, is undoubtedly the increased price he has to pay for any articles of clothing or general drapery, by reason of the extra charges for freight or carriage. This drawback need exist iio longer, for extra charges are done away with under the new parcel system which has been inaugurated at Te Aro House, Wellington; Under this system any of the parcels advertised will be sent to any addfess in New Zealand, post free, the prices charged being exactly the same as those at which the godfts are sold over the counter in Wellington. As may. be imagiued, however, this liberal offer is only extended to cash customers, and all orders for advertised parcels must be accompanied by cash for the amount, before the order can be executed at Te Aro House, Wellington. In illustration of the system we will give an example. Take for instance No. 7 parcel, which contains 7 yards of double width stylish fancy check tweed; 2 dozen buttons and silk and twist to matoh ; 2 yards of body lining and 4 yards of skirt lining. This complete parcel will be sent, post free, to any addres3 on receipt of 15s 9d, from Te Aro House. Wellington. •