NEW ZEALAND FLAX.
The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report, under date March 25th, as follows .
Rather more business has been done since our last report, and hi some instances an advance of 503 per ton has been obtained. Sales, however, are not large, which is in some measure to be accounted for by the general depression of trade ; bufc a3 we continue to have a more favourable opinion of the working of the Flax, we hope soon to be able to report a better demand. Large quantities have been offered this week, the bilk of which, however, has been withdrawn for want of competition. It is quite certain that the secret of dressing the fibre properly has not yet been discovered. We, however, acknowledge it as our firm conviction th it there are properties in this article which will some day be developed, and will raise it to a very . high position amongst fibres; bufc in the present unsettled state of affairs we must recommend shippers fco use great caution, and on no account to send home any bufc the very best dressed sorts. Tow realised Ll ito Ll4 per ton. One of the first rope making firms in London is of opinion that fche New Zealand flax will not come into general use for rope making ; that it is strong, but rather coarse looking when made up ■ and that it will not be nearly so durable as Manilla. As yefc however, they have scarcely had sufficient experience to justify them in speaking positively of ifc in that respect. They think that it will wear better tarred than white, and that the latter should be made up in fish oil. They do not see that it is more suitable for one sort of rope than another, but would recommend that it should not be used for falls. They are fcryiag it for driving bauds, and will be able, in the courae of a few weeks, to form an opinion as fco its use for general purposes. Messrs James Morrison and Co, London, report:—
Flax has nofc maintained ita high value. Its preservative qua'ities in water are nofc quite proved yet. On this point; there is more doubfc than there was, some of the consumers having announced that their experiments have proved unsuccessful. The consequent slackened demand has produced a steady decline in the value, and we are now some Ll2 to Lls below our highest Eoint. L32toL 35 is still obtainable for the est sorts, and we cannot doubt that even these prices will be eatisfactory to tho prodacer.
NEW ZEALAND FLAX.
Otago Daily Times, Issue 2588, 24 May 1870, Page 2
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in