THE AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1495, 9 September 1868, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

liib usual monthly mooting of tho Institute wnß held on jlonday night in the Museum, Princes-street, the President, F. Whitakor, in tho chair. Various interosting arliclM were exhibited, among them b:i»g a small samplo of excellent cooking coal, frnm NeUou, and a quantity of various samples of fibres, as the native flax, cnbbngo tree, and pino apnle. Theao latter were exhibited by Dr. Purchas, who gave an interosting address on the 'Sew Zealand flax.

A payer from Mr. Mair was > cad on tho recent tidnl disturbances at Opotiki.

The Puksident announced that Mr. Way land, u member of tho Council, had undertaken to collect in formation respecting tho phenomena from various parts of tho Province. l)r. Pdkciias stated, (luring tlio discussion on this subject, that Messrs. Thornton, '■•mith, and Firth, had a pipe from their premises to tho "Wuitomatu, with a rose at tho end, to obtaiu water for thoir mill, and that on moro than one occasion, they had discovered tlmfc tho " rose " was higher than tho water at low tido, and the question to bo determined was whether tho bed of tho rivor was being elevated or not ?

After somo discussion it was arranged thai Dr. Purchaa Oaptuin Mutton ihould inrostigato and report on tho subject. Dr. Puhcjtas next. gavo an address on How Zoaland flax. Uo first referred to tho naturo of various vogetablo fibres, and epoko of their characteristics. Tho Buecial characteristic of New Zealand flax is its tonicity, as tho muli'i tenax danoted its power of bearing n vo*y heavy longitudinal strain. j'O spoke of tho various upos to which it can bo put, as paper, rope, cord, cloth. Tho refuse now thrown away in dressing the flax would make a very strong brown paper, and it was also found to bo very exiellont food for cattle. Tho method of getting rid of the cellular tissue, at'd leaving tho fibre separated and lit for use. freo from tho gum as it was popularly termed, as used at tho Waitangi mills, was simply that of percussion. This was found quite sufficient without tho uso of any chemicals whatevor. He had taken. a great deal i of pains and trouble in perfecting the necessary ' machinery, and . Mr. Dougall -by his skill had boon of very .great u?6iitauco and brought tho machine to ita pteßerit effective state. Notwithstanding, howover, flint the inachinG was patented, a considerable number had been made bv other parties, and (here wero now about fifty-seven at work. 110 thought this not quito fail' to thoso whoso ingenuity and labor and capital had so far porfocted tho machino. Kcforenco was inado to tho nativo moda of preparation and boiling procoss, as also that by fermentation, tho former washes oue-lialf tho flux, tho latter softens but destroys. The learned Doctor exhibited a pioee of ropo made'from Now Zealand flax, and wondoredliow it was that there was not moro attempts to utilise not only flax but other articles, and tr> produce not only tho raw material, but to manufacture it in the colony instead of Bending out that raw material and then robuying it in a manufactured state, Twoindustrics, rope and paper making, bo largely carried on in connection with tho flax, and this would add to the stability and continued prosperity of tho country. A good deal is being done in tho South in this direction, and it is surprising that moro is not dono hore. Mr. W. Buckxand thought the 11a:: industry was one of very groat importance, not inferior to that of seeking for gold; but he beliovcd it was found that ropo of New Zealand flax did not stand tho weather aj well as rhat mado from other fibre. The very host Tiori flax ought only to bo cultivated. It had a dillerent blossom from other kinds, has a. peculiar glossy appearance, and the loaves fire stiller, and stand moro upright than others. There woro thousands of acres of llax in tho Waikato that would occupv thousands of hands, and no doubt as popula tion increased tho industry would bo largely followed. Tho Maoris could now eirn seven shillings a da}' by working the best flax.

Oaprain Ecrrox enquired as to tho adaptability of New Zealand flax for making sailcloth.

TJr. Pukciias thought it was probably not so well adapted for that purposo on account of tho exposure to tho weather which it would have to undergo. Both. •Tuto and Now Zealand fl'ix failed in that rospect, and wore inferior to the Kuropcau lUx.

Mr. Stew art thought that New Zealand Ihx would take tho tar well onough and so could bo preserved. Ho had seen a cable made of tho flax, and it stood tho weather well.

fllr. Boaudmax roforred to a conversation with n gentleman whom ho had understood had used flour f acks and aleo tarpaulin mado of tho New Zealand flax, and found them to wear exceedingly well. This boing the caso, it would show that there was a considerable oponing in tho way of sack and bagmakinor from tho flax, and thoso would not bo exposed to the weather, while if tarpaulin had boon found to answer, that fact would prove that tho flax would take the tar and stand tho woatlior.

Mr. Gillies referred to £ho patent of Dr. Purcbas, and was much struck with tho simplicity of tho method pursued. Ho had formerly dono all he could to persuade pooplo in tho South to tako advuntago of it ns much as possiblo. Tho socioty had not to push any particular principle, but tho best procosscs in uso. Ho thought tho percussion principlo was tho right ono. It got rid of tho opidermus, leaving fibro; and it might reduce tho latter to tow, but this would proportionately remove tho longitudinal strength. Thoy wanted to get at tho best paying procoss. Whether to rotain this strength and havo a coarso fibro, or to havo a finer fibre and lose some of tho strength. JSach would he used for different purposes, and tho question is which would pay best. Tho proceedings wero brought to a closo by a voto of thanks being given to Dr. Purchas for his valuable and interesting remarks on this important subject.

The -Attempted Assassination op the Pkince.—The Argus of the 2Gth ultimo lias the following remarks on Mr. Parkes' revelation, a copy of which we published in our issue of yesterday : —" The Sydney Government seem to be anxious to believe that the attempt on the life of the Duke of Edinburgh there—notwithstanding the facts exposed during the trial of O'Farrell— was less the act of an individual than the result of a base conspiracy. The story circulated at tlie time of thejattack will not have been forgotten ; and now our Sydney correspondent informs us that Air. Parkes has made an extraordinary statement on the subject. Ho says that, in addressing his constituents on Monday, the Colonial Secretary stated that reliable infortion had been received by him which proved that not only had the murder of H.ii.H. the Duke of Edinburgh been deliberately planned, but also that a person who was in possession of the secret, and whose fidelity was suspected by his companions, had been secretly murdered prior to the attempt being made upon the life of flis li-oyal Highness. This statement, coming from such an authority, is very surprising; and most people will think should not have been made without the production of the evidence referred to." An important improvement haß just bean appliod to the building of yachts. Tlie maßta are surrounded in the if step," and inside the 11 partners" with India rubber springs, instead of being fastened by wedges. It is said to diminish tlie strain on tho mast, and also to increase the speed. It ia being geucrnllv applied to yachts, and would seem to bo aB useful to all vessels. How TO Find it out.—" I'll neither tell my ago for the census or the Sovereign,'' said the cook, moßfc resolutely, to her master, who was preparing for the enumerator. "Very well, then; I'll put you down sixty-five," waß tho cool reply. <l TTpon my honor, eir, I was only fifty-nine last birthday," aaid cook.