PHORMIUM TENAX AND ITS MANUFACTURE INTO PAPER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4448, 22 June 1875, Page 3

PHORMIUM TENAX AND ITS MANUFACTURE INTO PAPER.

TO TUE EDITOR OF TUB NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib —Among the many industries, the- establishment of which would add to the prosperity of the city, that of paper making stands first.* It was the custom in former days to erect paper mills on streams of water, to supply the motive power required to drive the machinery but the introduction of the steam-engine and supply of water to towns, has obviated that necessity. I have been in many large towns at Home, but never saw such a waste of material suitable for the making of paper as may be -found on the rubbish heaps of Wellington, and I have no doubt that from two to three tons of rags may be collected weekly, were there any demand for them. The manufacture of paper from the native flax has long occupied my attention, and I have no hesitation in asserting that paper as good as that on which your journal is printed can be produced from it. The flax may be readily and at a small cost reduced to rough stuff, ready for bleaching, at places where flax yynii« are all ready established, the requisite machinery being very simple and inexpensive. The cost of erecting a paper mill of moderate size, with engines, boilers, pulping machines, bleachmghouse and other buildings, &c., would be about £10,000; and considering that the Government offers a -bonus of £SOOO for the manufacture of the phormium into paper, I think the matter deserves the attention of capitalists, as a properly conducted papermill is sure to pay a good dividend, while it would assist in developing the resources of the colony, supplying its wants, and affording employment to many persons.—l am, &c., .An Engineer.