Original Correspondence. To the Editor of the New Zealunder.

New Zealander, Issue 502, 5 February 1851, Page 3

Original Correspondence. To the Editor of the New Zealunder.

Sib,—l brg to say by way of conclusion to my former observations, that toe value of tt>e New Zealand flux is mainly dependent upon its adaptation to a variety of useful purposes, and various qualities may be raised if deniable from the Game plant. The rigidity of fibre in the flax at dressed by the natives is obviated by taking out more or less of the gum, and by a further reduction of the fibre into Us finer parts. Ihe quantity of flax found in the leaf u surprising! its it length is remarkable. Its adaptation for cordage and other fabrics l> indisputable; it has not only been manufactured into cordage but into lace. Whatever competition there may be in other productions as exports in this article we are without a rival. A market is opened to an unlimited extent, nnd one Dot likely to be ever closed. Unless our population is augment- d dairy produce must inevitably decitne iv value. A maikt-t is essential to prosperity. The Californiuii market is not sure. The oeighbouiiug cown es requite not our (arming produce. The increase oi p sturd^e wi.hout a corresponding increase iv consumption will produce disastrous consequence*. (The keeping vf theep with the view ot laismg woul may be considered as an exception in the above remaiks.) \ considerable pitrt of our population engaged in the cultivation anp

dressing of flux would remedy the evil named, and ? furni'hing an export would save large sums «f moufj to the colony in paying for in import*, which would c enlarged while the revenue would be proportional W increased. The flax plant of this country has Dot bee n inappropriately designated " the gold mine of New Zealand." May it speedily be opened. 1c is a matter of no ordinary importance to engage (he industry of the nat*e aborigines in the procuring and dre-sing the flax. This I am persuaded is practicable and should as early as possible be brought to b^ar and would prove an immense source of export in tins article Large tracts of land ate gaid to be covered by the fl >x plant growing spontaneously ; these are at once available for dressing could the natives be induced to drebs the leaves by putting the machinery into their hands in its simplest foim. The present employments of the natives occupy but a imull portion of their time. A people divided into petty tribes and warlike in their character are not long likely to be in a peaceful swte unless virtuously employed. The carrying oui of tuch a trade would be reciprocally beneficial in commerce with the neighbouring colonies, and would be doubly advantageous to the Mother country. An immense sum yearly might be saved to the British nation ; an export of this country might be ■übititute < for Russian produce, and an additional manufacture mignt be established producing a new description of goodi peculiarly suitable, lor the summer season and (or the inhabi'ants of warm climates. It requires no great effort of imagination to anticipate the period as not far diktant when tl.e manufacture of cordage as already establishrd in New Zealand shall be extended to fabrics of a finer texture. Ibe success of an effort to bring out Hie resources of New Zealand in the arlicle-of flix ia piincipally dependent upon the application of power. European fttx may be dressed by mere manual labour with a small return to the lnbourer, the same deficiency of return when wrought by hand will »pply to the New Zealand flax. The day it past to bring out large and telling results by the labour of the hand on rlux it) competition wiih power ai Applied to other fabrics com po*ed of cotton, wool, &c. Any thins accomplished on the more imperfect system must be regarded as only a temporary anangetnent done in inconvenient circumstam es to be dispensed wiih as early as possible Is it not disgraceful to the Biittsh r<ice colonizing the islands of New Islands to allow so Hue a plant as the Phormium Tenax to proiluce it s flax, its leaves, and to permit them to rot and | eriMi.. With many tkanks, Mr. Editor, for the interest you take in this public question,— I am, fee, Joseph Robtnson. Tamaki R«>ad, Jan. 22. 1851.