Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1152, 13 May 1870, Page 2

New Sample of Flax.— We (Lyttdton Times) had the opportunity of inspecting a sample of flax prepared by boiliug and scutching, which is certainly equal, if not superior, to the general run of machine dressed flax. A Mr. Pegg, of Oxford, first tried the experiment/ and Mr. Dunierguo has since followed it up. The great merit of this system is its cheapness, as flax of very fair quality can be produced for something like eight pounds per ton. Specimens can be seen by those interested at Messrs. De Bourbel and Co.'s offices. Native Timber. — At a recent meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, Mr. W. H. Clayton, colonial architect, wrote stating that he had rend, at a meeting of the society, that black birch was said to be useless as timber. In contradiction of this statement, he mentioned that the dining room furniture of the new Government House at Wellington was to bo made of this wood, which was recommended by a manufacturer of furniture. It was resolved—" That the thanks of the Council be given to the colonial architect for his communication, and that ho be requested to supply the botanical name of the tree he designates as black birch, and a twig with leaves and flowers, or fruit of the species of tree from which the wood forwarded as a sample to a gentleman in Dunediu was taken ; the same with regard to Hinau."