Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1997. Fibre Extraction.

Manawatu Herald, 31 July 1897, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1997. Fibre Extraction.

Wiß are in receipt of papers detailing Ihe advantages of Ramie as a fibre, issued apparently by a syndicate anxious for the greater development of this plant, no doubt with thn laudable intention of reducing its price in vi buying market. We belieVe it Would be possible to grow Bamie in portions of this colony, as it is possible to grow it in any moderate climate, but as it is a native of the Malay islands, China, and Japan, we do not see where the wisdom j would be shown in cultivating a crop which would be in competition with similar crops grown by the cheap ' eastern labour. There is no doubt but that the fibre obtained from the Bamie or China-grass, is the best produced, and is coming into use as fast as the supply will allow. It can be epun fine enough for lace, and is also used in the manufacture of sailcloth, being both light and almost untearable. We are not, however, desirous of noising abroad the virtues of Bamie, but as this fibre has proved to be most difficult of separation from its covering, the processes now adopted to obtain it appear partly adaptible to our phormium tenaot. When the late Mr Pownall estftbtisVkfcd Vbe fitst fhrc-urift in Fox ton, about the year 1870, he had in view the possibility of inventing a machine that would strip the fibre from the Bamie, a3 he stripped the green covering of the leaf from the flax, he, asserting, that the two plants were similar in the obstacles to clean stripping they presented. The Bamie grows like a raspberry cane but is not prickly, and is from three to five feet in height. The fibre is in the bark of the stem. This bark has to be stripped, and, till lately, by hand. The fibres are agglomerated together by a strong gum peculiar to the plant. We have thus the phormium tenax in comparison. The inventor of the machine and processes for treating the Bamie makes no secret of what he does. The fibrous bark is first boiled in a large square tank heated from underneath by means of an ordinary furnace. The tank contains perforated rotating cylinders, into which the material is put and kept continually on the move. After j three hours the boiled bark is placed in a chlorine bath, where it remains for an hour or an hour and a half. The fibre is then put through a " drawer " and "softener." Through these two last machines the fibre goes through wet. What has been done for Bamie, has yet to be done for flax, and it is thus that we have always urged upon the Government to offer a large reward for any discovery. The enterprise of the Indian Government appears at last to be meeting its reward, and we hold that our Government should have acted more promptly and more liberally. The Bamie, in its home, is a weed, the flax, here, is a weed, and we are justified in doing all we can to utilize a waste product though we might not be justified in simply seeking mechanical or chemical means to work an imported artiole. We do not think Bamie, good as it is, is likely to affect flax disadvantageously, for Bamie appears unlikely for some years to be produced as quick as there is demand for it. Not only is the Bamie fibre adapted for rope and sails but, as we have said, it can be spun fine enough' for lace, so we can make sure that our enterprising manufacturers will not lose sight of a yarn which can profitably, and not noticeably, mixed with materials of greater expense. The public like the eye pleased by the appearance of an article better than its true wearing value.

The Works Committee of the Borough have had the Avenue, started on theßeoord Reign Day in the Viotoria Park finished. Mr B. Gray having been entrusted with the work. It ia the intention of the Com* xnittee to have the walk gravelled, and the gates shifted. We again remind oontraotors of the work offered in clearing 600 aorei of flax on the Motoa Batata. The mysteriouß disappearanoe of the man Satherley at Blenheim has gained additional interest by a rumour published in a Nelson paper, to the effect that, while at Blenheim, a Nelson lady saw two men, whom she would again recognise, carrying a body to a boat lying on the river. Plain* Clothes Constable Cox has been in Blenheim for the past few days making enquiries. The In?peotor under the Factories Act is at present in Wanganni, and has, we hear, notified blacksmiths (who have not hitherto done so), that they mast observe one half-holiday in eaoh week. The fixing of the day will be a matter of arrangement between the firms in the trade, who will probably close on Saturday — the artisan half-holiday throughout the oolony. If blacksmiths come under the Aot, why has not the Inspector taken aotion before ?— MmM.

Mr R. H. Barber ia having a large addi- I tion made to his residence, and * "^ Btar j has been made by M; EftßtO n f ß who hft9 l !lt Oon'ract. Aooordiog to IS Echo Dea Mines, Paris, bullets of paper covered with aluminum are the latest thing in ammunition.- This invention, made by a French officer, tends to do away with the seriousness of wounds made by lead balls, or those with steel coverings, owing to the rupture of the bony parts. According to the patent granted to Kichard Luders, of Gorlita, the precision of fire is in nowise affected, but the passage made by the projectiles through the body is absolutely straight and permits of a rapid closing of the wound. As the number of wounded will be a? forge a s formerly, ar.i in most cases their incapacity will he as complete, we ought to look upon this discovery as calculated to satisfy the sentiments of humanity. But never, theless the innovation has BmaU chanoe of sucoese, for we must recollect that, in war, unfortunately, the end sought is to put the largest number of men possible into a condition whero they will be unable to bear arms for the longest time. At Reefton on Tuesday night Mrs Mitchell asked two men named Hudson and H^pgood to convey her husband to the hous' , as he was lying intoxicr.ted by the roadside. They did so, and Mitchell became very violent, and stabbed Hudson several times with a pen knife, who fainted from the loss of blood. On recovering they went to get their horsei, whioh Mrs Mitohell had taken ahead, when Mitchell chased them with a billhook, threatening to kill them. They then took the woman to her parents and Mitchell was arrested. The wounds are not serious. Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a stock sale at Falmerston on Thursday. The owners of the Whangaroa got her off the Spit yesterday and she now lies safely at the wharf. We congratulate the owners on the success of their operations. She goes to Lyttelton for an overhaul. At the annua 1 meeting of the parishioners of All Saints Church, Falmerston, Mr Bryant, the People's Churchwarden in speaking to the Report referred in touching terms to the removal of the Rev. R. Young " who had " he said " such a unique personality as to leave a warm place in the hearts of the people for many a long year to come." The ladies of All Saints Church are requested to meet at the Vicarage at three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. The Rev. R. Young will conduct services at Foxton to-morrow as follows:— Early Celebration at 8 &.ta>, ua<L usual aerrisift* «& 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.