BELVIDERE FLAX MILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1358, 20 April 1883, Page 2

BELVIDERE FLAX MILL.

Having a apare hour or two a few days . ■ since, we took the opportunity of visit- / .■•■ - : i ing the above mil), wlpl} is situate Qn. the Mungatariri River, at Qarterto% .. on the site formerly ocoupied by Mr ■ ..v. Hooker's flour mill, the' old water wheel, dam, and race having been adapted to this/ the latest promoted of our local industries, Through the courtesy of Mr Hammerich, we are enabled to lay befora our readers a.full desci'iption of the work done at the..'., j establishment from the time the flax in : its, native state arrives at the mill • ' - yards until it leaves it in bales iq jts manufactured state for the London markets. The flax as it is brought to the yard, no. sheaf being admitted ' under six, and many measuring fifteen feet in length, is weighed, and is then transported for the stripper, where the leaf is skinned and ripped up by a'very simple process. Tvp boys p.ojployed at eacli machine, The otio above introduces the sheaf into a • funnel, and it is caught by a revolving iron drum, with V shaped bars around it, which catches it and crushes it against a roller, dropping it below torn to ribbons, where it is received by a boy, by whom it is twisted into hanks, These are placed on stakes driveri'into the race, and the heavy rush of water, clears them from all dirt and matter. ' When thoroughly they are taken from the race and carted away to the adjoining paddocks, where they are spread out to bleach, bright, warm days and clear nights effecting the process most speedily. It is next hung on fences to dry, and then carted. back to the mill to undergo the final process. Thjs is effected by a large, drum, some seven feet in length; and : five in diameter, ledge Tfith wooden bars with iron plates on them, termed a "scotcher," revolving at lightning speed in a cHanjber by itself. In ttyi wall is a trough, and ithe hanks are thrown into this, first one half then the other, the half not' being submitted.!# the operation being firmly held by the operator, and .when roughly dressed , the hanks are collected together and removed to the loft, where they are • made up in bales for thie market. The process seems simple, the whole of - the. : works being kept going by an eight ; horse-power engine, but they neyertheless, even at present, give Employment / to twenty hands—tMrteeri men afir i seven boys. The amount turned out per week so far'is 4 j tons of yarnfand about a ton of tow, but with the fresh machinery Mr Hammerich has pretty well completed, a far larger quantity will be produced in the future. Vj exporting 'to v and as a fresh .industry, using up a previous waste, Bupply, we cannot but wish Mm every success,ia the future. -