New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, November 21, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 449, 21 November 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, November 21, 1849.

By an Advertisement in our Journal we perceive another attempt is about to be made, by the formation of a Company, to give a practical value to Flax, as an Article of Export. The great end to be gained is the | attainment of some simple and inexpensive j process, by which the flax indigenous to j this country, may be prepared with facility and in large quantities, so as to become a staple article of Export. This has always been a subject of extreme interest and importance ; ever since the formation of the colony the New Zealand flax has been counted on as likely to become one of the staple exports of the country, as soon as some plan could be devised for preparing it by a cheaper and better process than any at present in use ; various plans have been at different tiroes .suggested, but they have invariably failed, and' >tb,e preparation of the' flax has still remained almost wholly in the hands of the Natives. The supply has consequently been fluctuating and uncertain, and for the most part unequal to the increasing demand. The present w therefore a favourable opportunity for revivingthe consideration of this question, and we hope that under the judicious direction of those who have the management of the present scheme, some useful practical plan may be arrived at.