Original Correspondence. NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 14, 6 September 1845, Page 3

Original Correspondence. NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

To the Editor of the New Zealanler. Sir, — I enclose }ou a letter I have received fiom Sir G. R. Farmer, in England, relative to Flax j perhaps the publication of it in \our Journal may stimulate persons to use their energies in bringing vi hat will ultimately be the staple of our colony, to more immediate notice, instead of wasting their means in the purchdse of a common resin, miscalled Kauri Gum, Your's obediently, J. I. MONTEI'IORE. (Copy of Letter.) Chester, 24th February, 1845. Sir,— l had the pleasure to address a letter to you early last month, via Sydney, and now forward a duplicate by the same route, and a third copy, with samples of mv prepared Flax, by the "Louisa Campbell," to Messrs. Rhodes, and Co., Welliugion. This I hope will be in time for the "Tyne" to carry to Auckland. In my former letter I stated that I judged from the nou-arrivdl of Flax from New Zealand, of even moderate preparation, that the colonists are still •without efficient machinery to prepare it fit for the English market; that is, to afford them a remunerative return. The quality of the fibre since arrived by the "Bella Marina," confirms this opinion. I have procured a sample of it, and also find it is unsound. This unsouudness may be caused by some change it undergoes during the voyage, to which is attributed the great harshness and bnttlenes of much of it. A recent experiment, leads me to coincide (to a cer.ain extent) in this opinion; having brought some good fibre from the same bale as the accompanying specimens, to a similar state, weak, harsh and brittle. It the effect of the voyage be the real cause of these defects, I can easily point out a preventative, at the same time, my impression is, that the season of cutting the leaves has much influence on the strength ot the fibre. I take leave to ofttr through you, if you take the view of the subject that I do: — the following statement and proposal for the consideration of the settlers in your quarter of the Islands, interested in promoting the welfare of the colony ; and also to His Excellency the Governor should you deem the matter worthy of his notice. Previous to my knowledge of the failure of our enterprize at Te Puru, I had made an offer to Government to promulge my invention to render the fibre cf the Phormium Tenax marketable; havin» as you will read be^ow, and see in the specimens, succeeded in inventing and constructing a totally different machine to those taken out by Mr. Terry, and Colonel 'lhomas, wherewith I can thoroughly cleanse the fibre in the green leaf, from the baik, epidermis and mucdageous substance for Seven Pounds per Ton, (or I beiieve, less), of dry fibre, calculating the rate of wages at 3s 66 per day. This offer to Government was made subsequent to the receipt of a letter from Mr. Terry, dated in June 1843, giving me every reason to believe that he ami Colojiel Thomas had surmounted every difficulty, anil directing me to enter a caveat preparatory to our taking out a patent, which was done. The business proceeded so far, that in the ab-ence of specifications from Auckland, and being pressed for time, I sent my new invented model to London, to be exhibited before the Soliiiior General. At ibis period of the proceedings, I received a briff account of the flood at Te Puru, on the 3rd of the prec< ding August, fiom Colonel Thomas, and therefore stopped further proceedings. In the autumn of J 843, 1 received a plant of Phormium Tenax, from Wellington. In two>hours after it was in my possession, T was master of cleansing the fihre, these being the first green leaves 1 had to experiment with, with the exception of one or two small ones, with which we tested the model of the machiues sent out. The machines in your possession have a horizontal, mine a revolving motion. Finding that I had succeeded with the few green leaves attached to the plant, I procured a few do/en green leaves grown iv Devonshn c, they were between five and six feet lon»-, and averaged thiee ounces and a half of diy fibre each, but oS lar interior quality to that grown in New Zealand. Allowing my machine to revolve once per second, and to prepare one leaf at each revolution, and each leaf to average only two and a half ounces of dry flax, we have a return of better thans6lb. per hour. After the person who feeds the machine, has had a little practice, the velocity may be increased, and ten or twelve hundied weight or even more, maybe prepared daily. The cost of the machine made in England will not exceed Thirty pounds. It consists of three paits,— a breaker and beater, — a drainer over which the fibre passes under a stream to wash off part ol the baik, &c , and a washer which delivers it on an inclined board to couvey it into a running stream, wherein a few shakes cleanses it. It is then spread to dry by women and children, and when quite dry the dust bean n out with a st.ck. The moving power may be either water, hoise or steam. Including the expense of transit from the flax fields to the ports, and eveiy other charge, I am satisfied that it might be shipped in a state equal to specimen, No. 1, at Ten pounds per Ton. I have applied the principles of this revolver to a ,hand machine, with which these samples are piepared. It is framed of a board ten leet loni>, fifteen iaches wide, two inches thick, a small block of wood, a few two inch screws, and two days work for a common caipenler; with this apparatus, a man, his wife, and one or two childicn can prepare from half to one hundred weight of dry flax per day. Ihe man to perform the hard woik, the others to cut, cairy, wash, and spread out the fibre to dry. For about Five pounds the appaiatus may be (Ked in a frame so as to enable the same perlormers to prepare from one to two and a half hundred weight daily, according to their disposition to work, but the latter quantity will be severe labor aud the Ira me stationary. These simple but efficient ;<pparatus would set the whole community, native as well as Europeans, to work at your staple products, and prevent monopoly by large companies, for all the married Euiopeans would prefer earning 5s OS or 7s per day, wnh their families, to work in a factory for perhaps less wages.

, Compare this with the return of flux cleaned an< f wages earned, at Wade's station, by the scrapiru ( process, vu, fifteen shillings a week, and eighty lbs of Flax. j If the case be as I suspect it is, by the absence o P any well prepared fibre, I beg to offer my mechanica inventions for the preparation of the fibre in th< . green leaves, on the following conditions : 1 In consideration of One Hundred Tons of dry fiax ; of moderate quality, being delivered to my agents ai the different shipping ports, annually, for Twenty > years, free of all charges to me, — I will furnish twc. J lull sized working machines ; one to the Colonial Office and the other to the New Zealand Company) six of the hand apparatus, and two others fixed m the frame, before alluded to. This agreement, or an equivalent, to be sanctioned, and secured to me, by Government, and the machines tested in this country, but no advantage to be taken of my invention, should the Government officer disapprove of any part of my machinery. The number of Tons may appear exorbitant, but . will fall light when divided between the different settlements. The reduction in the freight alone will more than compensate to the colonists, for the pos-es-ion of the machines. On a bale I recently purchased in Liverpool, the freight amounted to £.9. Los per ton, and sold to the first purchaser at only jg 15.1 5. per ton. In New York, the holders'of the best native prepared flax ask £32. per ton, but this includes a duty of 40 dollars. That fibre would be more profitable to me to import and dress, than the half prepaiedasnow imported into this country, and sold for £15. per ton. The possession of mine or similar machinery would not only avert impending ruin, but insure the immediate prosperity ot the colony. I am informed by Messis. Willis and Co. of London, that they base seen specimens of fibre, prepared by every mechanical invention in this country, and that mine is decidedly superior to all others. Capt. Robertaou of the " Tynt,' 1 speaks most favourable of it. lam now preparing samples of my chemical process to go into Yorkshire, Dundee, and Belfast. All that New Zealand requires to ensure pi osperily, to the colonisis, is a large exportation of its spontaneous productions, properly prepared for the British manufacturer. I must repeat that this offer is confined solely to n>y machinery, an. l beg to remain, Your's, &c. G. R. FARMER. To J. I. Montefiore, Esq. Auckland.