FLAX.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 283, 6 July 1860, Page 4

FLAX.

(From the Wellington Independent.) It is now four years since the Government offered a reward of j£4ooo for the discovery of a method by which to render the flax of this country a permanent marketable commodity. Hitherto that reward has apparently failed in its object—iio one having complied with its conditions; but we have reason to hope that the increased attention, which seems ■lately to have been given to the dressing of flax, Will eventually and ere long result in" success!: Probably this success may not at first answer all the expectations which the colonists have for many years formed; but, as in most other discoveries, the defects will gradually give way before the hand of practical' science, until the phormium tenax' of New Zealand is placed in the first rank of textile productions. ..•■■■•■■• •■■■■<■■■'■>; :,-. ;

• The gratifying results of the operations at Nelson, are stated to be fully equalled' by our friends at Auckland. A notice has been published in the Gazette; by a Mr. Purchas, of his intention to apply {to the General Assembly lor any Act to protect a discovery he has made; and Baron de Thierry has lately exhibited specimens very far in advance of any he has hitherto produced, The preparation by this new process occupies from four to five days, and will allow both good wages to the workmen and a remunerative profit to the shipper. "By the Baron's new process" says the Register " the raw material is prepared without the application of machinery or chemicals; it is entirely freed from the gum, and has a soft and ' flexible appearance unlike the harsh; stringy aspect, chalactercstic of most of the previous samples. Some of the samples we last saw were as smooth, as soft, and quife as glossy as silk; some bore a general resemblance to Riga flax; and some Were put up in locks, twisted in the same way as' curled horsa hair, and so crisp and elastic in quality as seemingly to offer an admirable and economical substitute for that" valuable commodity." ' .'■'';'■

/Wellington, we are happy to say, is not likely to be behindhand in this matter; but bids fair to claim the honor of ranking foremost m .the value of her discoveries. Mr. Stuart, of the firm of Kinross and Stuart, has obligingly shown us .a sample of very excellent .quality prepared in this town, by a process at once simple, expeditious,'and of small cost.! On Friday last, that gentleman waited' on the Superintendent in company with Messrs. Bentham and Giesen, who claim the merit of discovery. The samples submitted were perfectly free from all gummy substance, and partake largely of that soft silky feel which characterises first class samples of Russian flax.'.,

The Superintendent uhdetodlt to introduce a bill into the forthcoming session of the General Assembly, with the view to confer the usual patent rights, and until this has been; done it will Be easily understood that no-particulars of the mode of preparatisn can' be published. It must be highly satisfactory, however.to our readers to learn that Mr, Bentham's process is very simple and a perfect miracle of expedition.1 , ' ' : :.'..' . . ;' , : . ...

Mr. Brandon, who happened to be present at the interview above mentioned, offered some leaves of the cultivated plant, which on being procured, were dressed, and the fibre .in its marketable state was submitted to his..Honor, in three hours. Thisaugurs well for the process, and raises our hopes that the discovery will open up "to the colonists of this county an export which, combined, "with thaCof.wool, will: render New Zealand of incalculable1 value to the Mother Country, and lead to that amount of 'protection" and' fostering care being extended -towards her, which, owing to "native difficulties, she; so much needs. . , Some time since, several samples were very carefully examined in London, under the microscope. From the report, ,we learn that it was found that each of the long fibres consisted of an external tissue made' up of long filaments jointed like a bamboo, and evidently of complicated structure. These filaments stick closely together, and are as easily broken at the jo\nts as separated , from each other. They enclose a bundle of thin colorless hollow tubes of great length similar to those found in ordinary fiax, but thinner and apparently not so strong. The tubes are not attached to one another, but are held together in .the strand by the jointed filament which surround them. It is well known, continues the report, that the fibres of the phormium, though capable of withstanding a great strain in the direction of their length, are easily broken by a transverse strain, as for instance, ■when a knot is made upon them.'This is founci to be due to the external covering of jointed- filaments which cannot bend sud-' denly at right angles, without breaking at1 some of the joints To render it more, capable of bending, the action of several chemical v agents r were, employed, nitre' proving the ; most 'successful, but not en^ tirely so. The appearance of .the, fibre was very silky, but was "still harsh, and broke when knotted the harshness.being attributable, not to' any gummy substance, but to the structure of the outer filaments them.'selvesv. It,seems probable ijiat;this^harsh--ness is considerably lessened by, cutting the plant at certainages,.as'a more:managable fibre than the one- reported on is frequently obtained^ otherwise itcould not ;;&ave: been used for the;fine purposes to which we have Been;it iappiiecl.' .' <' '■;*.' .. ', '.':.",-. ...,'::: \ 'The value of New Zealand Flax'for. jhe manufacture of paper is : ;attracting attention ■in England j; and a. process.' for ;i.t .to; ';pu|^%^-patented some/;fimfe^ago^;by ;Mri ..aSjuthat,it Jg isimpl.e' ; an4,linekppnsiy.e,,'. J3ut will not'payin consequence:;of'the freight! &c, on the flax, rendering it ;imore costly pose. J' tj!l?, i hoW^er^lie iJarJ|)ar:aiWs i;iWere 'M

up in the' colony, the pulpiwotild prove a valuable export. We shall be obliged if some of our merchants will entriist their correspodents to make enquiries as to the cost of 'Mr. Haughton's machines, and favor us with the result for general information. . '.."'■■.'