NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7359, 11 July 1889, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

OPINIONS OP LONDON BEOKEBS

[By Thlsgrjlph.]

(jFaOJC OUB SPHCL4X CORRKBFOWI>«NT.]

WELLINGTON, July 10.

Correspondence from the Agent-Genera} ' upon the recent rise in price of New : Zealand flax was laid on the table to-day. It contains five letters from various brokers and merchants at Home. They simply confirm the information already published. The rise in price is explained i as being due to the rise in manila and the scarcity of sisal. All the letters insist strongly on the necessity for great care in dressing flax. On this point Messrs Binnie and Co. say:—" Most of the rope manufacturer- now use New Zealand hemp, and it will be the fault of the shippers if the hold it has obtained in our markets is any way relaxed or lost. Too much stress cannot be laid on the caution whioh we venture 'to -give, that if * baft** dressed' henfp ■' -is' &£&' dRy partly- ':;ap4aw£d. the ■ cease tObuy it wh-il the _tiarket» p_epttt» } dull, and prices recede,, Of courße> when the -market is high and firm any quantity j can be sold, but this cannot always bathe ; case, and, therefore, it ia necessary to send ; it in a _tat_ in which it will compete under all circumstances with •- manila, i.e., well dressed, with all the straw got rid of,.' as sdft as po33ible, and even in color. If this quality is maintained, we think the price we could obtain,for it would be about -210 under that for manila,"which is mu-m less difference than .that at which it has been sold lately." fj-tOl- OTTB COBS-ESPOSDKNT.] WELLINGTON, July 10. The Premier has cabled to the Agent- i General for reason*'to account for the f fluctuating state of the' New Zealand flax market, and as to the Use's it is being put tc •• ■ /■]..,['_:'':-\ [ ;'::. ■; . ■;;