ROPE-MAKING POSSIBILITIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3839, 1 September 1928, Page 3

ROPE-MAKING POSSIBILITIES.

Mr. John Kebbell writes as follows to the Levin Chronicle: — I have noticed in your paper that the flax-millers and their workmen are disputing about wages. It has occurred to me that, if the manufacturers could, make rope dressed with whale oil, it might improve matters. Years ago, before my father’s death in 1849, he was on a Flax Commission set up by the Government and had many ropes sent him to test. He did it in this way: A flour mill belonging to him and his brothers was then running on the ground where the Grand Opera House is now in Wellington, and the ropes were tested there by running over the bare shafting on the top floor and through a block near the floor, which was weighted according to the size of the rope. He tried a New Zealand flax rope made up with tar, but it lasted a very short time and cut through. The next rope tried was a raanilla, which is now considered one of the best ropes obtainable. This lasted a much longer time. Then he tried a flax rope dressed with whale oil. I forget how long: this lasted, but it drew out of the spliced ends before it parted. My father returned this rope to the maker in Kaiapoi and recommended him to send it to the Admiralty, but I heard no more about it. Possibly in the Government’records there might be something found, and the flaxmillers might' be able to make ropes and thus pay better wages to their employees.”