NEW ZEALAND FLAX—A CAUTION.

Southland Times, Issue 1197, 18 January 1870, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FLAX— A CAUTION.

(cOMMTTOTXiATED.) Those who are interested in the dressing of New Zealand flax would do well not JtjO^place too much,, dependence upon any future rise in the price of tbe manufactured fibre. The supply hitherto in the home market has been so limited that all that has yet been offered may be said to have been taken up for experimental trial. -... For such purposes manufacturers at home would be willing to give enhanced prices. A somewhat similar article called Mexican fibre was some years ago introduced and imported largely to Liverpool. This fibre for a time fetched fabulous prices, and very great hopes were entertained of its utility. Agaiu, many will have heard of the Chinese grass fibre, which closely resembled silk, and was capable of being manufactured into dresses. Fabrics of this article were in great demand for a time, until it was discovered that the socalled Chinese silk, when once creased, retained the creases; that one unlucky defect decided the fate of the fabric. We all know that a single flax fibre has at least one weak point, viz., that of breaking at the least strain when kuotted. We may rest well content indeed if no worse fault is hereafter found with it. At present our flax-dressing industry rests on a very unsatisfactory basis. It has not yet been clearly shewn that (in Southland, at least) flax can be profitably cultivated. What we do know is that the native supply is very limited, and scattered, and that when cut in winter time the plants are often killed outright, and that the present system of drying and bleaching cannot possibly be carried out ia the rains and frosts of our Southland winter. If cultivation of flax can be profitably engaged in, the North Island will produce largely, having large tracts of warm, volcanic soil near the seaports admirably adapted for this purpose. The idea of over-production is generally scouted, but I notice that " Devitt & Co," of London, state 200,000 bales as the quantity of Manilla hemp annually imported into the United Kingdom and United States. This is a comparatively small quantity, so that unless New Zealand flax fibre proves to be applicable to very varied uses, it will have to enter into competition with Manilla and Jute, and prices of all must recede. It must be remembered, also, that at present New Zealand flax in the home market is in a very few hands, and is likely to be so for a long time to come, and therefore the price will be very liable to great fluctuations through speculative transactions.

There has been a fresh outbreak of the cattle plague in Southern Russia, and in Galicia the disease still prevails. At a recent church collection for missions, in America, the preacher feelingly said, " My good brethren, lefc me caution those of you who put ia buttons not to break off the eye. It spoils them, for use." ' " ' The income of the United Kingdom Temperance Alliance amounts to £13,566. A new " Soper direct action breachloading rifle " has been fired sixty times in one minute. There are 16,229,000 horses in Russia — which is at the rate of one horae for every four inhabitants.