NEW ZEALAND FLAX ROPE

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1165, 28 June 1870, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FLAX ROPE

Capt. J. G-, Morduo, of the barque Maori, had recently an interview with the Canterbury committee for the purpose of affording information upon his experience in connexion with New Zealand flax rope, and submitted the following letter to the chairman : — " Christchurch, June 14, 1870. ** To the Secretary of the Flax Committee. " Sir, — If my testimony as to the merits of New Zealand flax, for mercantile purposes, should be serviceable, I beg to state, so far as my own experience goes, I should use it for running gear in preference to Manilla rope. In May, 1867, I had mado in. Auckland main braces, of 3| inch rope, for the Southorn Cross, then bound for London. We used them on the voyage home (104 days), also on an outward voyage to Molbourne, 97 days, as also a couple of months on the home voyage from Melbourne. " We have rove at the same time Manilla rope for main topsail braces. "In the wet weather, going round the Horn, we found the New* Zealand flax rope much more pliable than the Manilla ; in fact, when the Manilla rope was quite hard and wiry, the flax rope was as pliable as tho Europe hemp rope. "I must not forget to add that the flax ropo had a slight touch of tarring. The rope-maker in Auckland said it would not answer well for nauticalpurposes without it. " I beg further to state that Captain Roberts, of the ship Caduceus, now in port, informs me that in towing up the Thames last year the tug steamer's tow rope was made of New Zealand flax. The Captain of the tug said it was most splendid rope. — I have &c., "J. Cr. Mc-RDTJE, ** Commander Barque Maori." Captain Mordue further said he did not remember who made or dressed the rope ho got iv Auckland, but Mr. Cruickshank, of Messrs. Cruickshank, Smart, and Co., of Auckland, no doubt would. Tho rope wore quite as long as Mauilla, and did not, as had been reported, snap wben twisted round belaying pins. He was aware that ]^ew Zealand flax was re-baled in Liverpool, and sent ofF north as Manilla. Captain Mordue further stated that he had no doubt a combination existed among the rope-makers at home to keep down the price of New Zealand flax. The chairmau thanked Captain Mordue for his information. The following interesting letter on the same subject has appeared as a letter to the editor of the T^yttelton Times. Sir, — Seeing in the last Home News an article headed, " New Zealand flax is in the shade," aud that rope makers say it is not adapted for maritime purposes, I ask for space in your journal to give my experience of it. I spent some years afc sea, and from having seen it used continually then, and since in vessels of my own, I can say thafc rope well made of clean New Zealand flax is, for running gear, nearly, if nofc quite, equal to Mauilla. Ifc wears soft, stands the water, and is very durable, especially if tarred, which it readily takes. Tho greatest objection I think which can be raised against it, is thafc it stretches more thau Manilla. I remember when whaling was carried on more extensively than now, thafc Now Zealand whale lines were very much used. This is sufficient to prove the quality of the material, as none bufc the best are fit for the purpose. I noticed somo time since that the English rope makers had attempted to mix it with Manilla hemp. If that is the test of its utility I think it a bad one, as it is a well known fact thafc the New Zealand stretches more than the Manilla, therefore the two cannot go together, as the latter would have all tho strain ; it must be made up alone. I do not fear for the ultimate value of New Zealand flax. It only requires time to prove its efficiency as a rope-making material ; besides, there arc so many other purposes for which it can be used, for instance, wool bales, corn sacks, and paper. Why cannot these articles be manufactured in the colony ? Surely tho saving of freight to England upon the raw material, and the same oufc again upon the manufactured article, to say nothing of the import duty, would be a large margin in favor of the colonial manufactures, and would far more thau compensate for the extra wages, which would be paid in the province. The demand for the above articles would be always on the increase, as year by year we hope to produce more and more to fill the bales aud bags. — I have, &c, J. T. Peacock.