FLAT IN OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1131, 1 March 1870, Page 3

FLAT IN OTAGO.

We (Independent) have been favored by a gentleman who has recently traversed a large portion of the province, for the purpose of acquiring information on the subject, with the following notes regarding the progress of the flax industry in Otago. It appears that there are over twenty mills either at work or in progress, in various parts of the province, at the present time, and that a considerable number are projected. A large portion of these have only one machine, but some have as many as four, and each machine is capable of turning out a ton of dressed fibre per week. The mills are distributed :— Water of Leith, 1 ; Kaikorai, 1 ; Halfway Bush, 1 ; Sandfly, Peninsula, 1 ; Blueskin, 1 ; Kakanui, 1 ; Oamaru, 2 ; Hampden, 1 ; East Taieri, 1 ; North Taieri, 1 ; West Taieri, 1, two machines ; Maungatua, 2 ; Henry's Flat, 1, projected ; Tokomairiro, 1, 4 or 5 projected ; Waihola, 1 ; Kaitore, 1 ; Helensbrok, 1 ; Olutha, 2, 1 machine each, I of 4 machines ; Port Molyneux, 1, 3 machines ; Coal Point, 4or 5 projected ; Kaitangata, 1, 2 machines, 2 more mills preparing. The production at present cannot be less thaa 27 tons per week of fibre dressed, more or less, for shipment, and this quantity will very shortly be doubled. Should the production reach 50 tons weekly at the average of £20 per ton, it will be worth over £50,000 per annum, and employ in the manufacture several hundred persons. We believe this estimate will be very greatly extended before twelve months have passed away, but the preparation has at present so much of the experimental about it as to require caution. Beginners will do well to get one machine at work satisfactorily before they order more. It must be remembered that in order to produce a weekly supply of 50 tons dressed flax, over three hundred tons of the leaf must be gathered. Reckoning ten tons of raw flax to the acre — a moderate average— it would take, cutting only once a year, more than twenty-six thousand acres of flax land to keep the mills supplied all the year round. While the supply depends on the natural growth, within cultivation, the utmost care should be used, in cutting, not to cut the young and tender shoots, and so destroy the plant as to prevent its bearing a full crop the following year. Sufficient attention, we fear, is not being paid to this consideration ; the. supply is therefore likely to run short before the mill-owners are aware of it. With regard to the different processes of preparation, much variety in detail, but general similarity in principle, characterises the different factories. Mr. Wilson's machine is the one chiefly used, though Messrs. Kincaid and M'Queen's is preferred by our informant, on account of its being more substantial and durable. The Auckland machines are in use at one factory, but we have not heard with what comparative results. Both steam and water power are in use for driving the machines, the latter of course with greater economy, where water is plentiful. Only two mills — one at Kaitangata and one at Port Molyneux — hydraulic-press the flax into bales on the premises ; but where there is much inland or coastal carnage it will doubtless be found necessary in each district to press-pack the flax before forwarding so bulky a material to Dunedin for sale or shipment. The cost of production appears to range between £12 and £14 per ton, but wages are very high at present — even boys getting as much as 255. per week. The labour is the most serious item of cosb. Very imperfect arrangements appear to hnvo been made at some of the mills for w.i'-Mng and drying. In some cases the II ix is only washed for a few minutes in running water, being stirred about by sticks ; in others it is allowed to soak for an hour or two ; while in some instances it remains in the water for several hours. We believe it would be better, if it could be trodden by the feet, so as thoroughly to loosen the fibre, and passed through several rinsing troughs, each higher up the stream than the other, so that the impurities would be carried quickly off. Then, on the drying and bleaching ground, if the grass be English grass, it will grow under and through the flax and greatly discolor it. Short natire grass forms the best bleaching ground, as it is not so succulent, and therefore does not discolor the fibre. In some mills, particularly at the Molyneux, a great scarcity of clear water is felt, and the water used too frequently, discolors the flax and seriously deteriorates its value. As winter comes on, no doubt 'proper drying houses will have to be erected and heated by steam. The prevailing opinion seems to be that it will scarcely pay to " scutch " the flax in this country. It may be, however, that if it is sent home in its rough state, it will not retain its position in the market. The range of price, as will be seen by last advices, is various, ranging between £20 155. for a lot described as rough, and £52 for the best. Messrs. GL and^T. A. Noble say in their circular of Dec. 2 : — " Some of the late arrivals were only partially cleaned at the extremity, and the flax apparently only bruised. In this state it is not suitable for working with Manila hemp, consequently values are materially altered." The tow got in the process of scutching appears to realise from £16 to £18 per ton at home, but recent sales here put it so low as to render it almost valueless. If a market could be found for the tow here, at £7 to £8 per ton, it would be worth while to scutch, and might be better to cut off the ends of the leaf where the fibre is not properly separated. A hint as to present high prices at home will not be out of place. Already there is a reaction of £2 per ton on this commodity, which proportionally affects New Zealand flax. This high figure canuot be maintained, and there is therefore need for caution and for care in preparing a thoroughly marketable article. Flax of all ages and qualities is cut on the present system, aud mixed up together ; but it is only the bright long fibre that commands the highest price. We saw one sample from the Molyneux of beautifully white flax that would, we are satisfied, bring a high figure, but it was from a leaf of not more than six to nine months' growth. It seems quite certain that, if judiciously cut, at least one full crop a year can be obtained off the wild plants. It may be quite possible to obtain two crops by cultivation. Steps should now be taken in different districts to plant a considerable acreage ; and for this purpose, it would be desirable to obtain from the North Island some young plants of the yellowflowered kind, which is said to bo much superior to the red-flowered description prevalent in this province. It may be that climate has more to do with the quality than the particular variety of plant, but the matter is worth a trial, inasmuch as it promises to produce the best results. If it be true, as we are told, that ten to fifteen tons per acre of the leaf may be obtained, equal to a produce of one and a half to two tons of fibre per acre, there could scarcely be a more profitable crop ; and, once planted, with proper management, the plants would last for years. It is clear that much has yet to be learned with respect to flax-dressing, and

we ough6 not to be satisfied until r;ome effective means of ridding the fibre of the: gum, whioh is the great objection to manufacturers, is discovered.