FLAX ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2985, 5 August 1870, Page 2

FLAX ASSOCIATION.

An Ordinary- Meeting of the Snh-Commit-tee was heldattheir offices in Qateil '-etnet, yesterday afternoon. Mr E. Richardson presided, and there were also present, Dr Barker, Messrs. Sheath, Johnson, Pavitt, Walker, Loughnan, and Bird (hon sec). The minutes of the previa— meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that Ur Fisher, of Auckland, had sent down some samples of the flax (from bulk), pricoeof which were quoted at the last meeting. The flax was exhibited on the side-table, as also w.ere three hanks of that prepared by Booth’s (Dunedin) machine, and which bad been scutched by Mr Todd, under instructions from Mr T. M. Hassal. Mr Johnson submitted three hanks of. Booth’s machine-prepared flax which had I been hackled. They originally weighed Slbs 12oz, and had lost 3oz by the process. Mr Walker exhibited another senile of the same flax, which had been operated upon at Messrs Benn and Walker’s works. He also further exhibited one hank of flax entirely prepared upon these premises. It had been put through Price’s ( Auckland) machine, then washed by their own process, soaked in cold water, and dried. He had intended sending a 1 cwt bale in for inspection by the Committee, but the recent heavy weather had stopped work at their mill. The cost of pre paration would only be about 10s per ton more than by the process hitherto generally adopted. This sample of flax excited considerable interest. It was clearly superior to any of the samples prepared by Booth’s machine, and subsequently operated upon by the members referred to above. Several present expressed themselves to this effect. Mr Loughnan remarked that the flax, as prepared by Booth's? machine, was not much approved of. I The Chairman said there was too much green left with the fibre. The the committee that only one sample of flax, prepared by chemistev. had been received in competition for the pilmimn of £lO offered byJ&ftjCQmmittee. This was frooußr FlpranoeJnbd did I not comply with affair weight, being only 551ba, instead of 1 owt. After some discussion, the Secretary was instructed to inform ur Florence that this deficiency prevented the committee from entering upon the merits of the sample, as bearing upon the premium, and to ask that gentleman to compete again in the terms of an advertisement to bo issued after next meeting.

Dr Barker exhibited two small samples of flax, which lie had prepared simply by heating to 190, in a solution of adipocere and bi-carbonate of potash, and then brushing with an ordinary brush. ’He said the beating made the leaves so soft that they could be thoroughly cleaned from any vegetable matter with the greatest ease, and he urged that the principal argument in favour of the process was, that it rendered unnecessary any crushing or hammering, which must necessarily injure the fibre. All the advantages of hand preparation were thereby secured.

The Committee pronounced the sample remarkably clean and tree in the fibre, and enquired as to the probable cost of preparation, but Dr Barker said that the preparation of the adipocere being an invention of his own, he had not yet calculated its cost. He would, however, he able to do so io a short time, and would then communicate with the Committee. He then submitted two sketch designs for brushing machinery, which were also examined by the Committee.

The thanks of the Committee were tendered to Dr Barker for his valuable information.

Mr Loughnan referred to the desirability of making or encouraging experiments in the manufacture of twine from flax, with a vicir to procuring an outlet in that direction. He knew that Mr Lennan, Colombo street, bad made some which would be well adapted for sewing wool bales. The Chairman replied that it had previously been decided not to attempt any experiments until the arrlvalofthe bulk samples of flax from Wellington and Auckland. The meeting then adjourned.