NEW ZEALAND FLAX MADE AT LAST AVAILABLE AS AN EXPORT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 25, 7 October 1843, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND FLAX MADE AT LAST AVAILABLE AS AN EXPORT.

• ' I come, 1 come ! ye have called me long." In a recent number of this paper, we treated at some length on the various resources of New Zealand, we however, purposely omitted to enter into the consideration of Flax as one of our exports, not because we did not deem it one 'of the most important and most valuable, but because we felt so much had baen written about v Flax, and so little done to make it available, that people were, from the "deferred hope," becoming heart-sick of tho subject. In fact, Flax was being despaired of, and looked upon as almost a useless plant, or at least, nierely intended to supply the natives with mats, fishing nets, and potatoe baskets ; it is true that every now and then, something was heard of new machines and other inventions, but they came to nothing, and people became day by day, more and more confirmed in the belief that Flax was unavailable ; even the natives themselves, abandoned the business of Flaxdressing, finding other occupations much more profitable. It would bo foreign to the object of this article, and an useless waste of time either to give a description of the plant itself, which is so well known, both here and at home, or to enter into a particular account of the various plans proposed, and the various, but unavailing efforts which have been from time to time made to render Flax an articlo of export. Most of our readers are aware that the most effectual plan was that practised by the natives themselves, the tedious and clumsey process of cleaning certain portion's of the leaf by means of a shell. This plan was not only so slow, as not even to remunerate the labour of the native, but the work was so badly performed, that the Flax was, comparatively speaking, of little use after being so dressed. The proportion of Flax obtained from the plant, was ateo extremely small, not r certainly, more than two or three per cent, and the loss in hackling was at least twenty per cent on the Flax so prepared. But independent of all this, the Flax, itself, was so ill prepared as to be almost useless to tho manufacturers, besides a large portion of gum and other vegetable matter, which was supposed to promote the decoirfpositio-n, or decay of tho fibre. The epidermis, or skin of the plant was very partially removed, and the adhering part could not by any after process be separated from the fibre. In all tho samples which we have soen, of New Zealand cordage, or sail cloth, a groat portion of the epidermis still remained, marring the colour and the texture of the cloth or cordage. So- that the flax as prepared by the natives, had three p'ositivo defects ; in the first place, there was an immense loss of the raw material itself, so much as even oighty or seventy per cent. 2nd. Tho process was so slow and tedious that tho quantity produced could never compensate the labour bestowed. 3rd. The flax so dressed, was' of a very inferior quality, and almost unfit for- manufacture ; besides, the quantity of vegetable matter, gum and epidermis, which no after process could remove, there was a loss of twenty per cent in the hackling, and the process itself, was so difficult, that one hackler could only produce s6 much as one man' could' spin. Under these disadvantages, New Zealand Flax fell into great disrepute, both at home and -in, the

adapting mechanical contrivances to the eaj? after-process of washing and cleaning. Thjf is a part to which wo are certain thai' machinery will easily and effectually be at! plied. The machinery used in the flax mi]$ at home will, we are perfectly convinced, ]| found to answer every purpose as far as ft! after-process of dressing is concerned. M trust some of the Mechanics will make fi themselves machines on a small scale aftj these models. And we certainly hope that til people will sincerely and earnestly commend the preparation of the flax. If they do so, i| are persuaded that such improvements \4 be made as shall enable this Colony to espol New Zealand Flax at a limch cheaper rail than Russian Hemp can be purchased if England. There is no occasion for keepinf secret any of these improvements. Ti£ more flax that can be prepared in this couc try, the greater will its value become. Enr land pays yearly about Two Millions ( pounds sterling for Russian Hemp, and 1> fore we can supply flax to that amount, on population must be considerably increases Any man who can dress New Zealand fli needs no patent or protection, competitie cannot injure him. '

Martin was led to adopt this plan in consequence of the well known fact, that both in Scotland and Ireland a process very analogous was used for the preparation of lint, with the difference of soda being used instead of potash. The advantages of this plan are the facts that it is easily practised, the flax perfectly clean, the fibre uninjured, and the expence of the process is trifling. The very ashes of tho firewood used in the boiling, as has been proved by subsequent experiments mado by Mr. Wright and Mi 4 . "Whitaker, being perfectly sufficient to prepare the flax. | It may also bo stated in favour of this process, on the evidence of Mr. Robertson, Rope Manufacturer, that this flax has a' manifest advantage over native prepared flax ; on several accounts — besides being perfectly free from epidermis, it contains none of that gum which imparts a peculiar and glos- , sy appearance to the native flax, but wliich \ certainly tends to cause its decomposition when made into cordage ; it has also the de1 cided advantage in another respect — on the hackling of the native flax there is a loss of 20 per cent., and one man can only hackle as much as ono man cari spin. On the flax prepared by Potash, the loss in hackling is not moro than 2 per cent., and one man can hackle at least as much as six men can spin. In a subsequent experiment the quantity of green flax was accurately weighed before being boiled, and the quantity of flax produced was also weighed, which was found to be as near as possible ono sixth of the green, so that for every poumLof the green flax, taking tho whole leaf, top and bottom, the prepared flax'will be in the proportion of one to six, whereas the natives only produce in tho proportion of one to seventy or eighty. If potash were used in the boiling of the green plant, the expence for every pound of flax so produced would be about half a farthing for the alkali. In an experiment mado on a large scale by Mr. Wright it was proved to be much less, but ffom perhaps the small quantity of potash used in the experiment, and other circumstances, the flax was not so easily dressed. Mr. Wright placed about f 3 Cwt. of indifferent flax in a large boiler, with about 90 gallons of water and 1 ft) of sub- carbonate of potash, it was kept boiling j for five or six hours ; the lower part of the flax-leaves was perfectly softened and easily dressed, but the upper portion was very difficult to clean. But it must be stated that the process took place in the open air, during a rainy and windy day. The fire-place was badly constructed, and there was much difficulty in bringing it even to tho boiling point. The boiler itself, was very thick and covered with rust. Tho colour ofthe Flax was consequently bad. The trial however, was in many respects, satisfactory. With the same boiler, a subsequent experiment was made, with about one hundred weight of green Flax f and about fifty- gallons of a solution made from wood-ashes, in this case, the fire was more steady, and the heat better applied, in about three hours after boiling commenced, the Flax was perfectly fit for washing and dressing, and easily separated from tho epidermis and gum. Much care however and some experience are required in adapting the strength of the solution; to the quantity of flax to be dressed ; if the solution from ashes be made too strong, the fibre will be injured. This may to a certain extent arise from tho presence of other chemical compounds. A solution of wood-ashes appears to have a much more corrosive effect than that of potash itself. Iron boilers appear also to injure very materially the colour of flax — copper or tinned iron pots should always be used. From the result of all these experiments, it ha 3 been satisfactorily proved :—: — Ist. That Flax can be well, properly, and cheaply prepared by boiling in a solution of potash, or wood-ashes. A solution of lime and soda, will also, most likely, serve the same purpose. 2nd. That the lower half of the Flax leaf will only require one hour's boiling, while the upper half requires from two to three hours. 3rd. That Flax so produced, is of a whiter colour than the native Flax, nearly-, if not equally strong, and much more easily manufactured into cordage. 4th, That while the quantity produced by the natives, is about 1 in 70 or 80, it is 1 in 6 by this process. sth. That the plan is so simple" and so cheap, that every man, woman, and child, in the whole colony, may occupy themselves in the dressing of Flax, Gth. That Now Zealand must henceforth advance rapidly and prosperously, and become a great commercial and manufacturing country. In concluding these remarks, we camrot help congratulating our fellow-colonists on ; the prospects of this week, compared to the ! last. Instead of fear and gloom, the countenances of the people exhibit the cheerful and joyous symptoms of hope. Every man is testing the new plan for himself, and the more ingenious of the mechanics are already

colony, until its preparation was nearly, if not altogether, given up by the natives. It was hoped by many, however, that some Very simple process would sooner or later bo discovered, whereby the Flax could be so cheaply, and so plentifully supplied, as to make it the staple export, and the staple cultivation of New Zealand, and although f(jr a long time, this very simple, and very cheap and perfectly practicable plan, has been undiscovered, we are now happy to in* form all our readers, both in England, America, and the colonies; that the riddle has been solved? The simple and perplexing mystery is revealed ! ! New Zealand Flax is made available i 1 1 and whatever benefits the [discovery of this invention may yet confer upon New Zealand, it must be acknowledged that it is perhaps as much the result of chance (like many of the other benefits conferred upon mankind) as of any special exerciso of ingenuity' or skill. It may, and doubtless will be said, that the same plan was known, and the same means applied hy others before now; but the only- answer to this is the simple question : why did' they hot make it available? Why was the discovery, if made, kept socret ? Every rational man will say, because it was not made. When MacAdanx discovered the new plan of making roads and streets, there were some who affirmed that the plan was not new, but there were none who could say, that any other than Me Adam made it available. The same may bo the case with the Flax. We do not deny that many may havo been more industrious, that many may riot havo made more experiments, but we deny that i any others have discovered, at all events, divulged, a practicable plan for rendering the preparation of Flax available and remunerative- as an article .of export. It may have been equally well, or nearly equally well prepared by others, and by other processes, but they were all too expensivo, and consequently useless. But it matters littlo by whom, or through whom tlie discovery has been made. The benefit is great and general, and the person or persons whose lot it has been to propose, and to discover the first means of making New Zealand Flax available, seek' no benefit from the discovery. They are satisfied to share in tho general welfare of their adopted country, and they have therefore, as soon as discovered, made the secret as 'publicly known as possible, believing, that if the country prosper, they will partake of its prosperity and happiness, if not in means, at least in the feeling that good has been effected. . The attention of several gentlemen in this district -has been for some time back directed towards the discovering of a plan whereby flax might be prepared at such a cost as to make it an article of export. Mr. Terry and Colonel Thomas havo been assiduously performing experiments for many months back. They have produced several small samples of prepared flax, but at such a cost and so little superior to the native, as to give but very small hope of ultimate success-. The process adopted by them was principally boiling in water and steeping for a considerable time, afterwards passing the flax through somo machinery ; but independent of the time, labour and cost, the flax produced in this manner was bad in colour and of a hard and wiry texture, not by any means equal to the native prepared flax, and more expensive in the production. Mr. Wright and Mr. Whitaker next took up the subject of flax in connexion with Mr. Terry, and upon his principle various experiments were made to test it, and after several trials it was considered so unsatisfactory that these gentlemen began separately to make other experiments. The most successful of which was that made by Mr. Wright, who discovered that by boiling flax in soap and water for six hours, the skin and the gum could be separated and a very fine fibre produced, but we fear much the cost of production must be such a& almost to preclude the possibility of making by this plan a profit upon the dressing of New Zealand flax. In consequenco of these trials, however, the attention of other persons was directed towards the preparation of flax, Dr. Martin made some experiments which, we are happy to say, havo turned out favourably, and incontrovertibly proved, that flax of a superior colour and quality, and of equal strength, and better adapted to' manufacture than the native flax, can be produced at a very small cost, so small in. fact as to ensure its becoming a most valuable and profitable export. Tho plan- adopted in this case is exceedingly simple, such as every person may try for himself and prove to be sufficient for the purpose, it is simply that of boiling the flax in a weak solution of potash. — The first experiment was made with an indefinite quantity of both the "flax and the potash, "but it provod eminently successful, the cuticle and gum were completely separated from the flaxy fibre, which, with a little beating and washing in tepid water, was rendered perectly clean and white. We believe that Dr.