PHORMIUM TENAX.

Southland Times, Issue 1278, 12 July 1870, Page 3

PHORMIUM TENAX.

Snt, — -The future of this article for ..some- time-to. come seems to be very uncertain. : The present barbarous process of backing and hewing was heralded into r 'existence- is a triumph of genius over "difficulties"; but the real difficulty has ■ 2*yeiiit<febe:mei;»nd overcome —no brushing ye or dreeing has yet been, sufficient to •"^produce -an article^ of the description ;;. required Ifor weaving, or of a durable - l nature .for rope, &c. ; the gum is still »* there, and the perishable nature of that '■-' gum insures the destruction of the fibre. ; 'lf the .gum will harden when used for : ;*eattng ! ', leiterir, or like purposes, and in water, what must be *--" the conditioir"of~the"flax'when dry, and jl mast Jfcr not;- then be more difficult to remove than when in a green state ? Our mistake lies in the hasty and ill-judged manner in which the article has been got up and seal; to market — quantity (not <juality) the only aim. This inferior dressed material has injured the character of the flax, and the effect of the long-warehoused stuff that is now coming into use in Q-reat Britain will, I fear, still further deteriorate that character. I believe that if stored where it is at all affected by damp, it will quickly be found «o much injured that it will be available for but a very limited number of purposes, and the impression of what New Zealand flax is supposed to be will be gathered from these samples, and, stored in the garners of memory as a caution for the future; and this failure (the result of which is to be attributed to bad management more than the real qualities of the flax) -will for years to come tell disadvantageously to the sale and use of it for many purposes. The workman who has tried his .skill and failed, may not perhaps judge as to the true cause— he condemns and will not forget it. The merchant and manufacturer who have suffered will be cautious ere they venture again to deal largely in the article, and the laxity of demand will prevent the preparation of the raw material in this : country. .But flax still retains all its — * : gooa^&ffifie& : "The requirement is that ' it shoald ( be prepared by akilful, and as nearly -as i "possible, ' uniform treatment throughout NeW^Zealand, so that New * ■ Zga&nd £ax should bear some sort of ' 'JEu&T semblance in quality and appear-V.-iCfW^ti -'•■:" •' ■'■ ■'■• ■ TSe question «t issue is— lst, How can n -tliis deiirable end be brought about? Can 4 \fiai be dressed so as to remove the gum ...^ueuL. leare, the fibre uninjured at a moderate cost? . This question I would tiYWMWBr in the affirmative. I believe it <am. =B^ ! !2^rir^ can *be done • why should it Wftie dose at once ?

I see that some considerable offers of purchase of flax are making in Dunedin lor the American market. Is it wise thus to run on regardless of the future, and influence the minds of men in another country against the fibre ? Let us rather take steps to reestablish confidence and in some measure retrieve the mistake already made ; and where can we begin so well, or with such hopes of success, as in our own country? — Yours, &c, Observer. i