FLAX AND NEW LIFE FOR SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1379, 15 August 1885, Page 2

FLAX AND NEW LIFE FOR SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —If you can find a limited space in your columns at this season of political harvest, 1 will venture a few passing remarks, which I consider of more importance to us locally (if not to all New Zealand) than all we shall obtain from the superabundant elocution daily wasted in Wellington. I refer to passing events at our own doors, which, in these times of depression, should rouse everyone to make an effort, and co-operate with the few who are determined to give new life to our dyspeptic neighborhood—even against the wishes of those who are daily crying out for a remedy to relieve the wheat, oat and barley nausea, but who cannot be persuaded to grow a few acres of flaxj to contribute their mite towards the establishment of an industry which will yet figure conspicuously throughout New Zealand. 1 need not tell you that I refer to the farmers generally, bat luckily there are a few exceptions, who evidently intend to foster the new industry and test its merits. What a pity it is that all farmers within a reasonable radius of our established works cannot see the vast importance-to the rising generation “of nursing every new industry that would give employment to large numbers of them.” This could have been done, and still can be done, effectually by every tiller of the soil selecting as clean and suitable a b'oek of land as he has at command, and properly preparing

it for receiving the seed by the end of this month, August. Whether it were one or fifty acres it would be a contribution that would insure raw material sufficient to keep the existing dressing plant, and weekly-expected spinning machinery in continual work, if not to employ so large a number of hands as will doubtless be required when its advantages become fully appreciated. It is rather in'oresting to know that Temuka will have the first spinning plant in Australasia capable of working into marketable threads, twines, etc., (he lint and tow of European flax. Thanks to the efforts of the few abovenamed, I understand that a month or two may suffice to put the whole in motion, and I should certainly advise every occupier of land to contribute a limited area to its careful cultivation. One would naturally suppose that the large percentage of North Irish farmers settled amongst u* would insure the growth of p'enty, as they can all talk eloquently on its advantages as a crop in Ireland ; but, alas 1 from past and present experience I fear that if our Temuka Flax Company depends on them to set the example small will be their stacks next summer. They tell farmers who are doing their best to help that their land is unfit, that they cannot grow linseed and fibre, and that the idea of harvesting it with a machine is absurd ; while, by reading, they would find thousands of acres are now grown in Ireland for seed and fibre, and cut by machinery instead of being pulled. I trust some of them will feel a shame in not having contributed before, and now strike in time to secure seed while it is to be had. I hear our Otago cousins are enquiring for all we can supply. A long experience has taught me that a clean piece of lea land, or after turnips eaten by sheep, is not to be surpassed for the ■ growth of flax. This land should be sufficiently drained to prevent the accumulation of any surface water after rain. If weather is favorable no time is so suitable as the end of August for depositing seed, as it insures a rapid start, which is all important with flax. No time should be lost in ploughing land not already prepared in neat, well turned, compact furrows, say 10 x 6, with well finished furrows, as shallow as possible. Indeed, all striking out and finishing should be effected by a single plough. What a blessing it would soon be if our colonial ploughmen could be induced to use a skim on all their ploughs and thus prevent the growth of any weeds between the furrows; its benefit would be specially visible in a flax crop. When ploughing for flax is completed the surface should be liarrowed to a fine mould in dry weather. Immediately following, a heavy roller should make a smooth surface, it being of great importance for the successful growth of flax that the land should be firm as well as of fine level surface prior to seed being deposited. Without loss of time the drill should follow the roller, depositing the seed (10 pecks per acre) in rows about 3 inches apart by J to deep, which leaves the best of all surfaces for receiving clover and grass seeds when required. These should be sown up to drill every day, followed by roller, which covers everything, leaves a smooth surface, and insures the rapid germination of all seeds. Under these circumstances flax will show green in 40 hours and get an unchecked start, which is all important. All this is easily accomplished since the introduction amongst us of English drills, with patent double shoes or coulters to be used instead of the corn shoes, and which are now owned by drill owners in the neighborhood. Where the whole surface of a large paddock is not suitable for flax, b»rley or oats can be drilled on such parts, and seeds sown as with the flax, as they will be ready, harvest soon after the linseed is cut. It will be palpable to any practical farmer that with laud rolled as level as a table, flax may be cut, with a “ tilter machine” close to the surface, and insure no loss in length of fibre, as the root and inch above it is useless. Some may say, “ the roots weigh ” (which they certainly do, as well ns the dirt attached to them), but will this extra weight make the difference between the cost of pulling and cutting by machine ? To insure success in harvesting extensive areas of flax, the machine must be used—as it is in Germany, and even in Ireland, at the present day.— I am, etc., Weil Wisher. WAIHI BUSH.

A WOODBURY MAN PLEADING TO SAVE HIS NEIGHBORS FROM RUIN, TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Woodbury is a township built by the inhabitants at the foot of the downs, close by the Waihi River. Its people are industrious and thriving. You do not see any of them idling about when yon go through the town. They nil find plenty to do and are as comfortable as their neighbors. Times are not so good as they used to be, but they seem to thrive and get on by their labor. The people of this little township try to make their homes happy. They have a dancing class for young ladies and gents to pass their evenings away. On the evening they meet they make the township all alive with their music. It is held at the top of Church Street, and they have a very nice hostess. The Woodbury people can boast of a member of the Road Board living amongst them, and he has worked hard for them. He is a man of sense, he knows what the people want, and he will not give up till he has got it for them. He has had hard work sometimes, but he has always worked on sure ground and stuck to his part till he got what he wanted for the working class. He is a working man Lirnself and he knows their wants. I think all farmers and tradespeople have by this time learnl a lesson which thev will never forget. We must have new machinery get it in good working order and get it into its proper place to work for the people, or else they will be lost. There are a good many people now laying sick in this country who want healing. A mau lias been induced to come into this country—a very great physician—to In al the sick, but he wants a new machine, and we must all try and get the one he wants. It will take all of us to get it, but we must have it. Now the Government make laws for the people. There an laws fur the Banks of this country to send forth paper money to pay for labor and everything else : all that is sold or bought is paid for with paper. You do not see much besides p if or money used in New Zea-

land. Now I will ask a question about this East and West Coast Railway whioh is talked about so much. A man is to come from “abroad to do it and find the money, and he is to be given land for so doing. Now, there are plenty of men in this country able to do all the work that is required to make this line, and wo have got plenty of paper to make the money to pay for it, but we want the Government to make a law to stamp it, so as to make it to buy and sell. Thoiman who wants to come will only have a cheque-book to write cheques out for bis men. The men will go to the Bank and get paper money for their cheques, because it is the law in this country. The law says, Do it all with paper if you like. Now, why not mske a law so that we might save our lands and its people from ruin. If they make it legal for one party to do it they can make it legal to do it themselves, and then they can do their own work with their own men and pay them with their own money. I hope some friends will take this great question in hand for the poor. Teachers of the people of New Zealand should call the people together and see what can be done to save them from poverty and ruin, for it is their duty to see to the people's wants.—lam, etc., A Woodbury Mah. INSURANCE, TO THE EDITOR. Slß,—-With the exception of the Australian Mercantile Union Company all the Insurance Companies have raised their rates by 25 per cent. I should like to ask the agent of that Company in Geraldine Ist. The number of shares the Australian Mercantile Union nominally has ? 2nd. How many of those shares have been taken up by the Public I 3rd. The amount of capital called up ! 4th. What proportion of that capital has, according to the statement made by their own shareholders at last meeting, been lost 1 If the agent will kindly give the above information through your valuable columns it will enable insurers to decide upon the advisability or otherwise of transferring their business. —1 am, etc., Farmer. Geraldine, August 14tb, 1885.