Page 4 Advertisements Column 5

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 101, 15 January 1870, Page 4

referred to are only taken for what they are worth. That even Otago, badly fitted as it may be considered by many, might be able to raise grain for exportation we are fully satisfied ; indeed, the experiment has already been made in some parts of the province, and attended with very hopeful results. One thing at all events is certain — Otago will be able to supply its own population with all kinds of agricultural produce for the next century to come, let the increase of that population be as rapid as it may. But whatever differences of opinion may continue to exist on these points, there is one upon which we feel confident all classes will agree, and that is that the plant designated phormium tenax, or New Zealand flax, will grow and flourish in nearly every soil and in every locality within the boundaries of these islands. Various have been the pro- \ jects concocted, and the local industries initiated to make New Zealand a prosperous and go-a-head country. Its great natural resources have been descanted upon in glowing language, and its future painted in beautiful colours as the Britain of the South ; but to our mind there never was anything to warrant such a prosperous future for the country until the true value of the flax plant, which is indigenous to our soil, was ascertained and made known. In another column we give a few of the statistical returns of this valuable product, received by the last English mail. These figures show, in the most forcible manner possible, that before a few years have passed New Zealand flax will become as great a staple in the export trade of the colony as the wool trade is at present. From the statistics referred to it will be observed that the large sum of £51 has been received for flax prepared in Auckland. It is not to be wondered at that our northern friends should find the highest bidders for this article in a cleaned state, for it is well known that they have devoted great attention to flax dressing for the past few years ; whereas in Otago and the neighbouring provinces the matter is only now beginning to receive that serious consideration which it deserves. It is true we have in Otago several mills at work, some of which have been more or less successful ; but imperfect machinery, and in many cases inferior flax, have been great drawbacks to their complete success. Even with these imperfect appliances, it is so far encouraging to know that these mills have paid working expenses. Eecent improvements have been made in the machinery by which, in the process of dressing, the gummy substance can be more effectually removed from the fibre ; and an impetus has thus been given to the prosecution of this new industry, which will shortly make it a leading one .in Otago. At present the raw material is sufficiently abundant to supply all the demands of the respective flax dressers; but it is evident this supply is not an unfailing one, and the all-important question then arises as to the cultivation of the plant. Here, then, opens a wide field of enterprise for our energetic settlers, who might even now, by planting part of their farms with some of the best specimens of flax procurable, realise a better return from the raw material than from any of their cereal crops. If there is ©ne thing more than • another which should implant confidence in the public mind in the ultimate success of this new industry, it is the knowledge that the demand for flax, like that of wool, is certain to be a permanent one. The article, lately sold in the Home markets, with all its defects has already obtained preference to the Manilla flax, thus establishing, once for all, its superiority for the purposes to which it is applied to any other flax procurable. With extra care in its preparation, and with improved machinery, we are inevitably forced to believe that the phormium tenax will gain such a superiority, and be in such a demand, that ere long the Home salse will be as eagerly watched by a large class both of flax dressers and flax growers as the wool sales are now watched by the growers of that important article of New Zealand export. LOCAL AND GENERAL. The Oaniaru races will be held on or about the 23rd March. The overdraft of tho Dunedin Corporation was £2981 the other day. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of Mackay's Almanac for 1870. The English Mail via Suez will close at the Post-office, Lawrence, on Friday, the 12st inst., at 8 p.m. The stewards of the Beaumont Ferry races decided the hack race in favour of Thompson's Gatherer.