New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, July 25, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume v, Issue 415, 25 July 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, July 25, 1849.

Among the indigenous productions of New Zealand none has attracted more general at- ■ tention , than the Phormium tenax. The strength of its fibre 1 and its other peculiar valuable properties have, even in its present imperfect mode of preparation, rendered it useful as an article of manufacture, although, owing to the cost of its preparation, and the difficulty and uncertainty of obtaining a sufficient supply, it has not yet become an article of considerable export. The great desideratum appears to have been the disco* very of some process which would effectually cleanse the fibre of the leaf from the gummy and other extraneous matter, and which should be so cheap and simple as to be within the means and ability of the humblest classes. Innumerable experiments have been tried, and much time and money have been fruitlessly spent in attempting to accomplish this object ; but the gummy substance in the leaf has hitherto presented an

nn?arm"Oubfafcle i obstacre > to'tfieexperimentat, list. At length* "the difficulty appears to have been removed, and in so simple and effectual a manner as to leave little doubt that New Zealand flax will shortly become one of the staple exports of the colony. The merit of this discovery belongs to Mr. William Paterson, a settler of Wanganui, who has devoted a good deal of attention to the subject, and who four years since prepared some flax by his process which was sent to England and which, we understand, was valued _at the rate of £60 per ton. Mr. Paterson, who has recently arrived in Wellington from Wanganui, exhibited his process yesterday in the presence of several persons, and the result appeared to them most satisfactcry. The process lasted about an hour, the means employed were cheap and simple, the fibre was completely freed from the gummy matter which seemed to be thoroughly dissolved, and was separated from the other vegetable matter by being rubbed by the hand. We refrain from enteringinto further, detail at present, in justice to Mr. Paterson, who' we believe intends publishing an account of his process, but we may notice as a distinguishing peculiarity that the fibre is not in any way injured or weakened, and that the whole leaf may be used, whereas in the common mode of preparation that part nearest the root is usually rejected from the great amount of gummy matter it contains. The- ease and cheapness with which flax can now be prepared, as a marketable article of export, must cause it to engage the attention of all classes, and we hope soon to see it exported in considerable quantities. Here is a mine of gold discovered ! here are visions of prosperity which it is in the power of well directed industry to realize ; all may engage in the pursuit, natives as well as settlers, for the means to be employed are so simple as to be within the reach of all ; while the demand for the article is so great that there is no fear of overstocking the market. Mr. Patersons process appears likely to do for New Zealand flax, what Witney's machine did for American cotton, to raise it from an article of inconsiderable commercial value to be a staple export of the country. We are informed by M'Culloch that, owing to the expense of preparation, in 1792, the trifling quantity of 138,328 lbs. of cotton only was shipped from the United States ; in 1793 Witney's invention for separating the cotton from the seed (a process previously performed by hand) came into operation, and in the followingyear 1,601, 760 1b5., and in 1795, 5,276,300 lbs. of cotton were exported, while the exports of cotton from the United States in 1837 amounted to the prodigious quantity of 444 ,21 1,537 lbs. But there we hope the parallel may end. Eli Witney died in poverty and difficulties, unrewarded by his country, to whose material prosperity he had so greatly contributed, unrequited by the multitudes who were enriched by means of hi 3 invention. We trust a better fate awaits Mr. Paterson who has generously made public the nature of his process, and sincerely hope that when experience has tested its value, he will receive a recompense in some degree commensurate with the benefit conferred upon the colony.

Mechanics' Institute. — The following liberal donation of bookr was received per Mariner by the Committee of the Wellington Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute, from Mr. Samuel Cobham, of Newgate Street, London : — Mechanics' Magazine, 4v015. ; Atheneum, 2 vols. ; Punch, 3 vols. ; Lancet, 2 yols. \ Illustrated London News, 2 vols. ; Chambers' Journal, 4 vols.; the Builder, 6 vols.

A settlir of the name , of Tutchen, who has recently returned from Wairarapa by the coast road; reports the ' total wreck" in. Palliser Bay of the schooner Emily, which sailed from Nelson on the 6th June for Otago. The shore for a distance of some miles from Te Kopi was strewed with fragments of the wreck and portions of the cargo, and a box was found with the name of 'Phillips, Emily, Nelson/ painted on the lid. It is feared that all on board have perished.

Wxare informed that the Supply, whipb left Nelson for Otago with produce, was

dt'iven-pn shore during the late southerly gales in, Qjieeii -Charlotte's Sound. -She: has/however, since been got,, off, «nd- a* soon as her repairs are completed ceed on her voyage. „ ./ ' - 5 w^?