LEATHER BELTING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3892, 11 February 1870, Page 5

LEATHER BELTING.

1o tho Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. Sin, —We notice an article in your paper of tlii& date, lieacled "Tnal of Flax Machines," at foot of winch 3-0111 con espondent volunteers to expiess an opinion respecting belts and Leit leather, and at the same time to make a sweeping accusation against the tanners in the provinces which, so far as we are concerned, might do us considei-able injury if lett unnoticed. As we supply nine-tenths of the leather-belting used m tho province, not only for flax machines, but for the most powerful timber and quaitz-crushmg mills, we were considerably astonished to see such a charge made against us, that we could not supply belting "by any means up to the maik," not even for dnvmg a mill so small as that used for flax-drcssmg ; while, on tho other hand, wo hold undisputed proof that dnving-belts sent out by ourselves, and woiked by a 30-horse-power steam engine, have given gieat satisfaction, and proved more economical than any other belts used. Mr. Thomas Macffarlane's name appearing in the aiticle referred to, we called upon that gentleman with reference to the belts used, and he immediately told us that "neither the leather nor the belts were manufactured or supplied by us." Perhaps your con espondent will be more cai eful before he again makes statements m a public paper that are calculated to mislead the public, and that reiioct alike upon all taiineis in the province. It -would be just as leasonable to condemn all the manufacturei s m England as being unable to produce a good bi oadcloth, because you chanced to meet with a man who had an infenor coat, bought out of a slop shop, as to attempt to mako us answeuible for the quality of leather, and belting especially, made by other tanners. —We are, &c., Ireland Brothers. Auckland, February 8, 1870.