FLAX PREPARATION

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2618, 7 April 1866, Page 3

FLAX PREPARATION

On Thursday, Mr. McMillan made experiments in the preparation of New Zealand flax, in the presence of the Superintendent, Dr. Pollen, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Owen, Dr. Goldsbro', Dr. Corbett, and other gentlemen. The process is already well known, and the experiments were successful. Mr. McMillan used a common oval boiler, and the flax was boiled, with an admixture of cow-dung in water, for about two hours. It was then taken out, find rubbed between the hands in cold water, which effectually stripped the fibre, leaving it clean and marketable, fit for cordage manufacture.

It has now been demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Superintendent, and those gentlemen who looked in during the experiments, that a first-rate sample of New Zealand flax may be produced, in quantities sufficient to pay fair wages, by any person willing to work. The only things required are a pot or boiler, fuel, and a small quantity of cow-dung. In this country fuel is plentiful enough, and the other things are not hard to be obtained. There is no doubt whatever that a hundred-weight of flax might be prepared by one person in a day, if the boiler or boilers were large enough ; but supposing that a quarter of a hundred-weight was produced, at 2d. per lb. the earning would be 4s. Bd. per day which is fair wages at the present time.