Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 651, 1 April 1867, Page 3

A recent number of the Dunedin "Evening Star" contains the following :•—" About ajtwelvemonth ago, Mr Edward M'Glashan forwarded a quantity of New Zealand flax to England, with a view of its capabilities for conversion into paper being thoroughly tested. Wo have to-day been favored by that gentleman with a sheet of the paper manufactured from it, together with specimens of the material in its various stages, in the 'breaker,' 'boiling vat,' and bleaching operations. The paper is thin, but exceedingly strong, and in both respects greatly resembles the paper used for scrip, Bankers' drafts, &o. The color, owing to the presence of the resinous gum in the leaves, is of a yellowish grey color, but doubtless this defect will easily be got rid of, if it. can be proved, as we have no doubt it will be, that it will pay to manufacture the flax in the Province up to its middle stage, and ship it in that condition to the home manufacturer. But such an i opening for the institution of a local industry should receive at once the attention of the Qtovernment, and the paper should be manufactured here." The population of Canada last year was 2,881,862. There are 2,148 miles of railroad in Canada, whioh cost 121,643,109 dola., and the receipts last year were 10,910,678 dola. <Tho length of telegraph wires is 5457 miles, There are 21 hospitals, 6 savings,* banks, a,ad. XQ bwUd* jng sec.ie.tie3 in Qanada,