The Flax Industry.

Manawatu Herald, 20 December 1904, Page 2

The Flax Industry.

A NEW PROCESS. Flaxmilling has become such an important industry in the Manawatu that any discovery which will improve the present process of manufacture and thus produce a finer and more valuable article, is sure to be welcomed by the community. One of the disadvantages possessed by New Zealand fibre is that no process has yet been brought into use in this country which would enable the gum to be extracted, although the New Zealand Government some, years ago offered a bonus for a process of this description. The announcement of the Government attracted the attention of a lady named Mrs Jacob, residing in Germany, and it was reserved for her to discover a new process for the treatment of flax, which accomplishes all that is desired in the matter of gum extraction and produces a finer article. This process Dr Rockstrow, who has just reiurned from a visit to Germany* is about to bring under the notice of fiaxmillers in the Manawatu. On' Dr Rockstrow’s arrival in the Fatherland a few. months ago, the discovery made by Mrs Jacob, who is a resident of Saalfeldt, was brought under his notice by Dr William BritzkdW, of Bremen, an authority on chemistry, l who aided her in her investigations, and an interview was arranged accordingly. The discovery. was made by Dr Rookstow they had experimented with New Zealand flax, and he was even more surprised to learn that the fiax tlSed Was grown irom seed which he took to Germany on a previous visit in 1868. These seeds were merely planted for ornamental purposes, but they have already played a part in a discovery which may prove of great value to this colony. Dr Rockstrow has in his possession samples of flax manufactured by Mrs Jacob’s process, and these were submitted for inspection by our representative. Whereas the New Zealand article is brown in appearance, Mrs Jacob’s patent produces a fine, white fibre, having the resemblance of silk. There is not the slightest trace of gum in the latter, and the patent has the additional advantage of enabling the work of manufacture to be conducted more expeditiously, while fibre possessing greater stability and consequently of greater value for the purposes for which it is used, is produced. After feeling satisfied that her discovery was a valuable one, Mrs Jacobs patented the process, and subsequently communicated with the New Zealand Government and also several firms in this colony, but nothing definite was decided upon, as the latter wished to be informed of the nature of the process, and naturally Mrs Jacobs declined to divulge it. The lady, however, being anxious that the process should be brought into use in New Zealand, appointed Dr Rockstrow her agent in this country. He has been made acquainted with all details connected with the discovery, and has a free hand to act as be thinks best in order that its value may be widely known. The process, we are informed, ia a very simple one, and although it will not be divulged at the present stage, Dr Rockstrow is prepared to furnish sufficient information to induce flaxmillers to test its capabilities. Offers have been made in England for the patent, but as it is intended for use in working New Zealand fibre in a raw state, the inventor preferred .to place it in this colony first. The process also has the advantage of enabling the offal of flax to be utilised for the manufacture of rough paper and pasteboard for roofing purposes. A sample of the latter in Dr Rookstrow’s possession has a very serviceable appearance. It is not easily broken, being hard and durable, and has been highly spoken of. It may be of interest to mention that Mrs Jacob’s process has been patented in England, Germany, Australasia and New Zealand. Judging by the foregoing there are great possibilities in store in connection with the manufacture of New Zealand fibre, and in the interests of the industry in the Manawatu it is to be hoped that millers will interest themselves in the matter so that the patent may be thoroughly tested. —Manawatu Standard.