FLAX.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3222, 13 November 1867, Page 5

FLAX.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Ckojis, g IE) A few days ago, I saw in the Ceoss an article concerning the preparation of and probable gain from the phormium tenar, or New Zealand flax ; and from the report of its selling price in the other colonies it would appear to be becoming of some value in the market as an article of export. # As there has been so much said in the public press about it,and as there have been such varied gtatements of its worth, a good many of the people in Hamilton toot up the trade, and went to -work with a will for a time ; but when they wanted to sell they could find no on* to buy it from them, and consequently many persons gave gave it up in disgust, saying that the papers only cried it up to suit their own convenience, the same as they did the goldfields (which turned out a failure), and a great many have left the settlement altogether, as the most they could obtain was lid. to l|d. per lb., which

they said could never pay any man. There is not a fabric from a coarse rope to the finest linen but the flax-plant will furnish the material for, as the four different samples sent down along with this can Bhow. All of these were from the same root, at the same time ; but, do their best, no man could make them all one fineness of fibre; so that there should be different prices for the different samples which can be produced, as the finest is worth more than double what the coarseit can be.

Perhaps you could, through the medium of your valuable paper, make known where^ a market could be found, as the writer of this could find 2cwt. or 3cwt., which he would dispose of. When he inquired at this place, he was told there were no buyers of flax m the place now: and I must say it holds out very little encouragement to erect machinery if it cannot find a ready market, as I cannot live by prospects. I must have a ready market so that l can get a speedy return, having a large iamily to support and nothing doing here. If some of the Auckland merchants, who take any interest in it, were to establish an agency here to purchase for them, I believe it woula tend to encourage those who are engaged at flax-dressing to pursue their course as they are now doing; and I believe a good quantity might be obtained in that way, so that it would not be a losing speculation to them. If I can get anything like a price for the article now before you I shall do my best to get as much as poisible, as I shall erect machinery on purpose for the finest flax, to turn it out in quantity. At all events it would be worth while to have some one here to purchase from the producers, as it is not easy for a poor man to get his flax to Auckland ; but if it were purchased on the spot it would become of some value to the purchaser, as he could, by gathering up the small quantities produced at the different places, soon send it down to Auckland by tons, while the poor man would have nothing to tear, as his labour would be paid for and he would be able to live. „ . I want to fcnovr— Ist. Can. flax be sold in Auckland.andto whom ; or who are the buyers ? 2nd. What is the article before you worth, or what will the Auckland merchants give for it ? 3rd. It is worth while to go on with it or not ? Does the market promise to hold out, or is it only a brush at this time to try to get something to export ? If you would answer these questions in your valuable paper, you would confer a benefit on more than myself, as there are more waiting your answer than I.— l am, &c, G « T - Hamilton, November 2, 1867.