PHORMIUM TENAX.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXII, Issue 13574, 21 October 1904, Page 2

PHORMIUM TENAX.

AN INTERESTING EXHIBIT. [Fjiom Our Oor-itEsroitDENT.] WELLINGTON, October 25. A very promising exhibit was placed, during the course of yesterday morning, in the lobby of tbs House of Representatives, where it was the object of attraction to many members of both Houses. It consists cf a number of samples of phormium fibre in various stages of preparation for textile purposes. First are some hanks of fibre that have been, passed through some sort of stripping machine. A " stripper," the inventor says, it can bs called if anyone chooses to so call it, but the machine is ji-ofc the ordinary stripper as known in the mills of the colony. The sample is bright, firm, clean and strong, and above all things soft. It seems, in fact, to have reached the desideratum of getting the- necessary softness without sacrificing tha fibre.,. This, at all events, is the appearance. The next process is samples of different colours, to demonstrate that the fibre takes dyes as well bs any other fibre. The dyes are common, and there is nothing very striking about the samples, except that they preserve their attractive appearance. The best of tha samples aro tho»3 that show the fibre after it has been through the carding process. Here is a fibre of the softest description, silky almost in character, and very strong and bright. At this point, unfortunately, the exhibit, stops. The inventor tells you that this carded stuff is fit to be made into linen. He is quite sure of the point, and dilates on the magnificent substitute for Irish linen which he has found, ■ all of which may ba true, so far as the appearance of the material is (concerned. There does not seem to be any reason for disbelieving that the process has turned out a thorough aucoeas, but the display of a few samples of the textile fabrics actually made out of the stuff would do mor« to push the invention than all the word 3 of all the inventors, and all that, can ba said is that the invention of the Messrs Lavery, of Nelson, looks very promising. It is very probable that when the members have done with it, steps will bs taken to have the fibre manufactured into something, so as to complete the information required to place the new product on. the market. s