THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 25 February 1909, Page 3

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

AN INVENTION.

Invercargiee, Feb. 19

A local invention that has been causing considerable Interest amongst flax-millers was given a very successful trial yesterday at Mr Blomfield’s mill (near Invercargill), The machine, which is the invention of Mr Samuel Graham, of Wendon, constitutes an entirely new method of washing flax, and is calculated to effect quite a revolution in this department. The system is simplicity itself, and consists of a revolving drum with seventy-five hooks, on which the hanks of flax fibre are placed. The drum revolves, and the flax is submitted to a substantial flow of water and the pressure of rollers for a quarter of an hour, wheu the fibre is automatically discharged from the drum by means of a “crib” on to a travelling table, and thus removed thoroughly washed. As the washing department is the principal feature of a flax-mill, the invention is a most important one, and besides its simplicity and thoroughness, it requires only a feeder and a boy to remove the fibre from the travelling table, as against the four required under the old system, In addition to turning out an improved article, it can deal with seventy-five hanks with two men in fifteen minutes, as against the present average of forty-four hanks with four men. Another salient feature is that there is absolutely no waste —not a fibre — while it is a well-known fact that from icwt to 2cwt is lost out of every ton treated under the old system. One of the leading millers of Southland, who was present at the trial, expressed the opinion that the product of the new machine would gain 18 points out of the possibie of 20 awarded by the Government graders, as against the present at erage of 12 to 14. The inventor was the recipient ot general congratulations on the simplicity of his invention,— Dunedin Star.