CALEDONIAN G.M. COMPANY. Auckland, June 5. THE FLAX BOOM. A SUGGESTED OPENING FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 375, 8 June 1889, Page 4

CALEDONIAN G.M. COMPANY. Auckland, June 5.

THE FLAX BOOM. A SUGGESTED OPENING FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.

The annual statutory meeting of the Caledonian G.M. Company was held at 11 o'clock to-day at the Company's oilice, New Zealand Insurance Buildings. Mr J. M. Lennox occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance of bhoreholdors. The Chairman read the advertisement calling the meeting, Btating that the business of the mooting was to elect directors for the ensuing year. Mr Jas. Reid proposed the re-election of the retiring directors, namely — J. M. Lennox, Jas. Dickey, R. C. Bavstow, H. Green, J. Browne, J. R. Gray, who were unanimously le-elected. The Chairman thanked the shareholders on behalf of the directors, and stated that a short time back they had visited the mine and were very much encouraged with the prospects. It seemed that mining consisted of alternate hopes and fears. They had seen some splendid reefs on the occasion of their visit and gold that would havedone no discredit to the Caledonian in its palmy days. Since then they had had a very di&couragin? crushing, and no\v,dated Juno Ist, they had a report from their mine manager which was of a most flattering nature. They could rely on Mr James, their manager, for a fair report, but this one was most certainly of a very encouraging character. The directors had had hopes of the reefs proving paying, and had so far refrained from making any calls, but they might now be compelled to do this. But He, however, trusted that the Company would soon be ■in a position to pay some dividends. This concluded the business. The report to which the Chairman of the meeting referred appeared in our last issue, and was indeed of a most flattering description.

It has been suggested that at pi'esenb prices the preparation of New Zealand flax could be made profitable by hand labour, the ackles which were used many years ago being employed. The following de3crip. tion of this mode of preparation is from the pen of a Waiuku settler, who has had great experience in working flax :—: — " In the first place ib will be necessary to describe the requisite appliances :— The hackles in use in 1867 were made by Masefield and Co.. and the cost, I believe, was JC3 each. A strong frame on which to bolt the hackles is required. This can be made by sinking firmly in the ground strong posts of somo hard wood and securely spiking thereon a sawn plank of nine inches by two inches ; the length varying in proportion to the number of hackles to be fixed, the height being 2ft. 6in. or 2tb. 9in. To render this frame firm ib may be braced by cross pieces to the uprights of the buildings. "To generate steam a large oil-drum, of fifteen to twenty gallons capacity, was formeily used, laid on its side and embedded in stone work. The most convenient plan is to make an excavation in a bank or hill-side, larger than the ' boiler,' and fill m the space between the latter and the eaith with sbones and rubble, so arranged as to leave, say, three- fifths of the surface exposed to the action of the fire, and at the same time prevent tho unnecessary oscapo of heat. Room for the fur nace and chimney would, of course, have to be left; the former requiring an iron grating to increase the draught. This boiler was fitted on the top with an aperture for filling, a simple contrivance to allow the escape of superfluous steam, and in the front end a waste tap, by which dirty water and sediment could be removed. Two steaming boxes are needed for each boiler, in order that one quantity of flax may be undergoing tho steaming piocess while the other is being hackled, it being especially essential to speed in woik that the flax be used while as warm as the hands can bear it. These boxes should be about four feet squaie and from six to seven feet high, made of T and G timber, with steam-tight joints and closely fitting lids, and strengthened by a ' ribbon ' at top, 1 middle, and bottom. The steam is conveyed into these by means of a pipe connected with the boiler, and entering the boxes between the true and false bottom, the latter being of strong lattice work. The flax requires to be in the boxes irom two to four hours, according to the quantity of steam and the nature of the material, which differs very much in this respect. It is then, as mentioned before, taken hob from the boxes, and rapidly passed through the pins of the hackles, the ends of the flax being occasionally reversed, until the pulpy vegetable matter is removed. It is then, before the gum has time to harden, thoroughly washed in a running stream, and spread on fern to bleach and dry. After a week or ten days' exposure to the weather ib is brought in (the dust and loose vegetable matter shaken off) and packed for market. "Such, at least, were the plans adopted in the former hackling times, and under the circumstances then existing, ib is just possible that a number of hardworking, persevering single men, under the control of a capable head, might have faied better at this work than they would have done by loitering about Queen-sbreet looking for a job. At that time, the hand-made article had not been superseded by the machine-made. Flax on unalienated (Jovernment land was plentiful, and to be had for the cutting ; firewood could be easily obtained, as the settlers were glad to have their land cleared of waste timber. " At present bhe fibre, as then sent bo Auckland, would be quite unsuitable for the market. Doubtless the qualiby was good — more silken and sofber to the touch than the machine-made is, but it was unfinished, iuasmuch as ib was not scutched, nor properly baled. These two processes would entail a serious outlay for necessary appliances. A scutching machine needs power — steam or water — to drive it to obtain the requisite speed and force uf blow, and this necessitates, if water only is employed, the erection of a wheel, with intermediate gear and belting, etc. To bale the flax in a style to ensure market quotations a Powerful screw-press is required, and this means a large expenditure. " To-day there is no flax on open lands ; ib having been destroyed by fire and cattle. Miles may be travelled and not a blade be seen. The only flax available now is in private hr»nds, and has become very valuable ; the owners charging a high royalty for the right of cubbing. The raw material is now worth 17s per ton, and will be XI in a few days ; it would not pay hacklers to give that price. They want the flax free of cost, or ib would not answer their purpose. Firewood would now have to bo bought, as settlers can readily dispose of it at good prices. I speak of my own neighbourhood and adjacent disbriebs ; other localities may be different. Having been for the past twentytwo years more or less connected with the flax industry in all its various forms, from the crude ' three-fingered- jack ' of the Provincial Government, to the latest improvements in machinery, I could nob, with what I have learned on bhe subject, recommend a return to the hand hackle. Nevertheless, as some may feel inclined to make the experiment, I beg to suggest that the following elements will be found to be absolutely assential to success :— (1) A market for the hand-made fibre. (2) Reliable means of subsistence until fibre be sold. (3) The means of purchasing and transporting plant, etc. (4) Steady, industrious, sober mon, who will work well together, under the guidance of a competent principal. (5) Raw flax and firewood free of cost. (6) A running stream, and area of short, clean fern for bleaching and drying flax. (7) Close proximity to a railway station or ready means of water carriage. [8) Materials handy for erection of whare, hackling shed, steaming house, and shed for storage of prepared fibre. " Given all these conditions, there still remains the scutching and pressing difficulty. Unless tho fibre bo properly scutched and baled ib will nob suit the export brado. Possibly local ropomakers may be able bo utilise ib, and become purchasers at a reduced price."

Referring to the market for cheese in London, the last circular of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company says : — The market has been depressed during the past four weeks, and with pressure to sell on the parb of holders of American, values have further receded. The shipments per Kaikoura arrived in good condition and have been disposed of at from 46s to 52s per owl The markeb closes quiet. We quote : ) Prime American, 54s per cwt ; New Zealand, 50s to 52s per cwt. Importations from New Zealand during the past four weeks amounted to 1,189 packages.