NELSON. [From the Nelson Examiner, March 16.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 489, 10 April 1850, Page 2

NELSON. [From the Nelson Examiner, March 16.]

Flax. — We stated a few weeks ago, that preparations were being made by a gentleman in this settlement for cleaning flax for exportation, and we have now the satisfaction of saying, that Mr. Nattrass, the gentleman in question, has succeeded in producing very excellent samples, at a cost, we are told, which leaves no doubt of the success of the process adopted by him. We are not acquainted with the process which Mr. Nattrass practises in cleaning the flax leaf, nor do we know whether or not he makes a secret of ir, but if be can prepare flax similar to what we have seen dressed by him, so that the price at which it will readily sell, either in the neighbouring colonies at home, will be remunerative, it is clear that he has removed the only difficulty in the way of this indigenous and valuable article becoming one of our largest exports. At the same time that efforts are being made by so many colonists to render flax available as an export, we are glad to see that there is a revival of the trade among the natives. Large quantities are constantly being brought to Wellington from the coast which has been prepared by native labour, and we perceive that the canoes which * frequent our own settlement are constantly bringing flax here for sale, part of which is worked up into bagging and rope on the spot, and the remainder is exported to Sydney, where there is a large and growing demand for it.