AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume IV, Issue 282, 20 September 1843, Page 2

AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

Wednesday, September 20, 18 43. '..EXPORT. OF FLAX. It is a happy coincidence, that in the same* week in which the news arrived here of a favourable change in the Government, the. first of a number of vessels which will sail from hence loaded with the proper exports of this country .leaves the port. The Nelson. carries to England a full cargo of oil," bone, and flax ;. and conveys to those who -take an interest in the affairs of the- Colonists, the cheering intelligence that their efforts at production and export are beginning to be crowned with success. The importance of the manufacture of Flax, and the increasing interest with which its progress is deservedly regarded, as probably tbe most .extensive manufacture for export which this country will possess for many years to come, will justify our reverting again to the subject.

Ten or twelve years ago, Flax, to the extent of several hundred tons per annum, (prepared by the natives) was taken off the coast of New Zealand by Sydney traders, and served to make up a cargo for England ; but the native finding they were not sufficiently paid abandoned the trade altogether.

They have now been persuaded to resume it, under the inducement of a better price. And, we believe, it is not exaggerating to say that many hundreds of them are at present employed in preparing it on the shores of Cook's Straits, and as many thousands might be set to work on different parts of the coast if due encouragement were given them.

Flax as now dressed has only recently been exported. As prepared hitherto, it demanded more labour than the natives are prepared to bestow upon this article, while the shippers are of opinion, that in its present state it is really more available tor the purposes of the manufacturer, than in the condition, in which it used formerly to be exported. The first shipment of Flax, as now prepared, was made in the Clydeside. She went to Sydney to fill up with wool, and while there, the sample was estimated to be about twenty pounds per ton. . A ton was taken by the Sisters to Hobart Town, and sold readily at twenty-six pounds. . The Lady Leigh has taken about thirty tons to Sydney, but no report of the price obtained could have yet reached the Colony. The Sisters, on- her last Voyage, would have taken a considerable quantity, but was nearly filled while here with cargo for Nelson. She, however, took about three tons for Hobart Town, her final destination. The Nelson has on board about five tons, shipped by Messrs. Ridgways, Guy ton, and Co., arid we hope pur friends in England will liasten to inform tKe Colonists the reward they may expect to obtain for an article of the kind, and the probable extent of demand which .may be expected there. The obstacles which are. in the way of- the Phormium Tenax becoming "a. large and ira-

Ist. The uncertainty of^its yaluHn England, and *•"" !; 2ud. The heavy expenses attending the shipment arising out of the want of really .powerful machines with which to compress the bales, before and after- shipping them.

. In addition to the supply from the Natives, several machines for preparing the fibre are successfully at work, such as Mr. Henderson's at Nelson, Mr. Kebbel's at Manawatu, Mr; Mathieson's at Port Nicholson, and several others. The samples made by these machines closely resemble one another, and we believe have been worked into rope which has been approved of.

. The- cost of the hemp made in this way we do not exactly know, but it is not likely to be greater than that of preparing any other fibre.

Arrangements have been in progress and are now completed, by which the flax when prepared by the Natives is pressed and packed so as to arrive in England in better condition for working up, , and at a less expense of freight than was formerly the case. A little more public attention to the subject, and the assistance which co-operation would easily afford, will procure for the colony the full advantage of a very extensive export.