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Manawatu Herald, 17 February 1898, Page 3

4 London correspondent writes : •r Although no tangible result has accrued as yet from the offer by the New Zealand Government of a bouus of £1750 for some batter m thod of preparing Now Zealand flax, or phormium tenax, for the fibre market, the matter has not yet been abandoned by English inventors, $?veral of whom are still actively Ipgegcd in the endeavonr to discover jto improved process in which they g*ft tanguine of succeeding. As' the oov*-rnment'B offer of a bonuf of 41750 has expired, applications have been sent out for an extension oi time. It seems to me highly advisable that this, should be conceded as th#\ benefit of the colony, -in tbe event of success being attained, *ifou)d be almost incalculable in in liagnitade. 'I learn from Mr John Holmet that as one gratifying result of the information he has been able to give fkboat New Zealand flax, several substantial orders have been cabled tp jfcw Zealand to-day at improved brides. In this connection I alsc [faro that Mr Parkinson, the well known manufacturing chemist who by the way was born io Nev, "* $ a aland, and is a son of an Englisl oglcer-bas been experimenting foi some timt** as to the preparation o New Zealand flax. Mr Parkinsoi Claims to be tbe original inventor o f. the process now euceessluHy need ii the treatment of rhea fibre. Also i)r' domes*, representing the Rhei Fibre TVa'-ment Company, has beet fsp'ritne-btinff for a long time wit) Hew Zealand flax, and had aim *-s given it up. Bat having been showi by Mr Uolmee aeveral mats am other manofaetorea of the fla

dressed hy the Maori**, Dr Gomess, was encouraged to take up tbe matter afresh, conditionally on the New Zealand Government renewing for twelve months their offtred bonus of £1750.