PHORMIUM TENAX. (From the Wellington Gazette.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 53, 20 April 1844, Page 3

PHORMIUM TENAX. (From the Wellington Gazette.)

! To the Editor of the " New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator." ' Sir, — We received per schooner Governor, from • Mr. Luke Nattras», specimens of Mr. J. J. Donlan's - I manufactures from the Phormium Tenax. or New Zealand Flax ; and as the importance of the flax as an article of export is well known to the colonists generally, and also to the British public, and every ' information relative to it must be serviceable to the 1 Colony, we beg to furnish you with an extract' from Mr. Nattrass' letter, (which we do below,) and also to enter briefly upon the subject, observing that the specimens above alluded to are for public inspection at our Btores. It is .quite evident in the first place j that the flax must be divested of its gummy properi ties previous to its being packed and shipped for exI portation, and that unless it is, that it will mildew and decay on the passage home, and be useless and valueless when it arrives. The Phormiutn TenßX or New Zealand Flax is ' applicable to all the purposes to which flax and hemp are applied, and by Mr. Donlan's mechanical-and. chemical process, it can stand and has stood successful in every respect, including cost of production, with the best foreign produce during a period of five or six years. Mr. Donlan has discovered (after many years' labour and at an expense of £3o,ooo) a process by which he can dress and prepare the Phormium Tenax or New Zealand Flax for the manufacture of articles of every description, from the finest and moat delicate fabric to the coarsest and strongest carpeting. He has secured this invention by a patent, and he is now prepared to carry out his valuable invention, should he meet with that encouragement from the friends and supporters of the Colony, which will be necessary ; for such an undertaking. Extract from Mr. Nattrass' letter. * l Mr. Donlan proposes to send machines and people accustomed to their use, in order that one ton weight shall be packed in about \i ton measure. " Qae ton mw fibre and xefusa will occupy 2£ tons

measurement. — Note. If packed close in this state, it will make fine manure when it arrives. £ b. d. Freight at £6 per ton 15 0 o Coat paid natives as per last account 15 o o Dressing fit for rope making and yarn 5 o o .£35 0 o '' This will produce 2£ cwt. refuse, 7£ cwt. tow, &c, at 12s. cwt. .... 41a a 10 cwt. costs net 3o lo o " If 10 cwt. cost £30 10s., what will 20 cwt. cost ? £61 per ton, and in which state it is utterly useless for cloth making, unless it is afterwards prepared chemically. AGAIN, 1 ton as delivered by natives 15 o o will produce, as per experience by Mr. Donlan's machines— 15 cwt. fit for sail cloth yarns, 3 cwt. fit for sacking yarns 1 Suppose this 3£cwt.tow I 5 cwt. all ' i cwt. waste J waste. " These 15 cwt. can be compressed into a space equal to 1 ton weight to li measure. Freight at £6 per ton 5 12 a Dressing in the Colony by Mr. Dun. lan's machines, at £6 per ton weight of available fibre „ 410 0 Chemical process at £7 per toa . . , . 5 5 o £Zo 1 6 which is equal to £40 10s. per ton, in which state he has offerß to purchase some thousands of tons from manufacturers, who by their experience know its value to be ;£55 per ton." The spirited exertions now being made by 6ome of our valuable colonists to prepare the Flax for exportation will tend to add value and importance to Mr. Donlan's process of preparing the Flax which would be a valuable and rery desirable acquisition to the Colony ; and in order that the colony may avail itself of Mr. Donlan's invention, we would beg to suggest to the colonists the importance of an address to our English friends, containing a detailed statement of facts relative to the progress beiDg made here, and urging upon them the importance to the Colony gen« erally, and to Great Britain, of the introduction of Mr. Duolan's invention. We are, sir, your obedient servants, WAI.LACS & Co. Wellington, March 11, 1844.