NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Southland Times, Issue 1166, 17 November 1869, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

The following letter, dated London, Sept. 10, and addressed by Mr Selfe to a gentleman, in Ghristchurch, has been banded to the Lyttelton Times for publication : — " I sent a copy of your questions about flax to Devitt and Hett, 16, Mark Lane. They seem to know as much about the subject as any one. The following are their answers : — 1. " New Zealand flax is never used in the manufacture of linen, but classes with hemp in all its uses. 2. " We suppose this question (referring to flax grown in the South of France) is to a very superior kind of flax, totally different from that grown in New Zealand. Mr Marshall is well known in this trade, and deals largely in all kinda of flax except New Zealand. 3. "We fear we cannot [supply any information about the machinery used in dressing the leaf in France. We are juat now investigating a machine which has been invented, and which seems to promise well for dressing all kinds of fibre, bat i

we cannot at present give any report or recommendation upon it. 4. " About 200,000 bales Manilla hemp are imported iuto the United Kingdom and United States annually. The price for fine white (quiiot ?) is 755, and for good roping, 51a to 525. " We have had our attention drawn to a sample of grass, which comes from New Zealand, of which your friends would do well to ship a small parcel as sample. It is said to be prepared from common tussock grass, being beaten on wood with an ordinary hammer. The value would be £40 to £45 per ton. We enclose small sample. " This sample, Mr Ottywell is sending by this mail to the Provincial Secretary for general informatioa, and also a copy Devitt and Co.'s letter as above."