NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Southland Times, Issue 1248, 10 May 1870, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

The Ly Melton Times of the 30th ult. publishes an extract from a letter received by a mercantile tirrn in Christchurch so far back as the year 1862, written by Mr Guild, an American fibre broker. "What is therein stated might is well have been penned two years ago, 'so far as the advance made in developing the industry during the six intervening years is concerned. As the opinions expressed con* firm the view we have always taken on; the subject, we believe that flax-dressers may even now take heart of grace and go on in the firm conviction that the i temporary difficulties in the way of a large demand ft the fibre will shortly be triumphantly overcome. Mr G-uild says : — " Now, if you will not think me presumptuous, I will tell you what course ought, in my opinion, to be adopted by the people of New Zealand to introduce their really valuable flax into notice and large use. They must force it on ike English market in quantity, either cleaned or uncleaned; but with the strong spines removed. " Manufacturers and spinners are looking everywhere for new materials. It is true New Zealand flax is not new, but it has never come in such quantity, or in such regular supplies, as to warrant merchants in constructing machinery specially adapted to it. It is a much more valuable fibre than jute. Dr Forbes Watson in a lecture delivered 9th May, 1860, before the Society of Arts, gave a very valuable set of tables, from which I extract, that whilst the average price. in London of ( jute for the ten years ending 1851 was £16 6s per ton, and for the period from 1852 to 1859, £19 15s per ton, the price of New Zealand flax ranged from £17 to .£29 for undressed, and from £25 10a to £39 for dressed, from 1850 to 1859. The price of jute had been as low at one time as £9 10s and £10 per ton ; but still the supply did not fall off, on the contrary, increased. From the same table we find the importation of jute in 1831 was 356 tons, average price, no .record ; 1841, 2988 tons, average price, no record ; 1851, 28,235 tons, average price, £L 3 10s ; 1859, 53,064 tons, average price, £18. The reason why the price was and is so well maintained in face of such an enormous increase of raw material is, that the spinners in Dundee (induced by the low price) adapted machinery to spin the article. At first it was only put into the coarsest Nos. of yarn 4s 6s and Bs. Now it is regularly spun into 20s and even 30s, consequently employed in a wider range of fabrics, and thence an increase in demand. "Now, your New Zealand flax must follow the laws of trade. You have a splendidjmaterial, t which yon find devisable into very fine fibres, and you wish it put to its ultimate use at once. This can't be done now, but will be done. Only assure our manufacturers of a constant supply, cleaned the best way you can, and at a moderate price for the first few years^ and you will find men who have tha. energy, skill, and science to make the most possible out of it. The mechanic and chemist will find a means of getting rid of the excess of gum. Even as I can clean it it can be spun into a coarse yarn, and used for the light grounds of the beautiful variegated mattings, made so largely in Dundee. And, as soon as I can lay hands on a bale (for there is not one in London now) I will clean some, have it spun and wove, and show you what may even now be made. I can clean the fibre from the dried leaf by Sandford and Mallory's dry machine for less than £3 per ton. The last price of the undressed here was £17, and of the dressed '£26 — a margin of £9. There are no greater obstacles to overcome in the case of New Zealand flax than in the case of the rhea. Two years since its price was £40 to £45. It was a harsh and gumtnjr,; but strong fibre. A means was discovered of making it soft and silky, arid now the same article sells at from £95 to £100. If the, course I have indicated is pursued, I have no doubt but that in five years the phormium tenax will advance in an equal ratio, and be perhaps sent back to New Zealand in the shape of fine linen for your Antipodean wear."