INTERIM REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

Southland Times, Issue 1256, 27 May 1870, Page 3

INTERIM REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

< - - (Continued.) MANUFXCTTJEE. The information received In reply to the queries issued on this branch of the enquiry is rather limited, and not very, important. The reason of this is, that up to the time the circulars were issued, comparatively few had engaged in the preparation of . flax, and fewer still knew anything about the matter. At present,, therefore, only such remarks will be made as will be useful to those interested in "the manufacture' of "flax." " T&e~ cleaning processj with a few exceptions, is pretty much the same all over the colony. The entire leaf is crushed between rollers, one or both of which are fluted. But as the Auckland made machines are fully described hereafter, nothing further thereon need be said here. The exceptions referred to are those of ' Messrs Pownall and Co., of Manawatu, and Chalmers; of, Lyttelton. 1 The former 'is -patented, having been made in London, and said to last 20 years. The latter was made- by Mr Williams, of Christchurch, .but as it : has since been altered to "the Auckland design, it will be unnecessary to notice it separately. In the.appendix_(No. V.) will be found a description of Messrs Pownall's process. The crushed flax is afterwards washed, with the/ view of; removing the gummy and dyeing matter in the leaf. The usual way of following out this process, is to immerse the flax in water, (running if possible) , and after rinsing it well, to send it to" the green to bleach. '. This process, however, does not remove the .coloring matter from the leaf, the butt ends of which are red, even after two' or three ; week's bleadhirig. 'This Jdefect in the washing is obviated by soaking , the* flax in water for about two hours, according to the season, of the year, temperature, .and; quality of the water.j In dry weather more soaking is required than m rainy. A little > experience will guide the manufacturer in this matter; but it may be taken for granted that the soaking %ill remove all the gum and red coloring' matter from the butts of theleaves, and will make the flax, after being scutched^ very soft : to the touch, without in- the .least injuring the fibre. The crushitig of the leaf breaks the cells tfhich contain the coloring matter in the butt, and allow that matter to spread amongst the fibre. It is, therefore,' of importance that the leaf should be in the water as early as possible after being crushed. The soaking process, as already stated, removes these coloring matters^ but the sooner the flax is in the water the t shorter time it requires to be there, and the less time it requires for bleajeh-' ing. - : Various modes of soaking are. in operation at present. ' ' ' 1. Hanging the flax, over. ; ropes, fixed in the stream — up and down. 2. Ohperpendicular poles— hank : above j hank. Mr W Arthur, of Southland, thus j describes that process^ — "Taking [for granted there is a running stream near thj&jnUl, with bends, in.its course.. -There is ,a ' race' cut across the bend, which is : lined, Tjoth sides and bottom; with one inch or two inch boards, and in the .bottom are stuck as many wooden pins as may be considered necessary. The flax from the rollers is doubled across the pegs, and the current playing upon; it washes it better than any other way. It has this advantage also, that one boy can do a great amount of work by this mode of washing, as all he has to do is to throw the fibre round the peg and let it alone." 3. On horizontal poles, across the millrace, or, 4. Placing the flax on open frames, drawn into the stream."" Perhaps the last is the most convenient mode, as a considerable quantity can be placed on each frame, and taken to the dam and hauled back without twisting the flax. It is possible, also, that the ' flax might be tramped on tEe~frames,' so as to squeeze or press the coloring matter entirely out. These frames might be so made as to be lifted out of the water and carried to the green without touching the flax ; or, if it has to be carried any distance, they might be placed on -a dray or truck, and taken to the green. It is advisable that the flax, whether taken, off. the frames at the water side, or carried to the green as above, should be allowed to drip some time, as it is then more easily spread. It may here be remarked that green flax should always be stored standing on its butt ends. In fact, the nearer its position is to the perpendicular, ,thei longer it will keepy and if its butts are amongst water, it will keep still longer, perhaps 8 or 10 days. It should not be wetted, as this occasions heating and discoloration of fibre, more especially if laid on its side and piled up. For the same reason, it should be shaded from sun and rain.. Mr Chalmers, already referred to, washes by hand as the flax comes from the mill. Each hank is then slightly twisted, and laid; in a sheaf or bundle, which on being loosely tied is laid in a pool of "still water, not stagnant, but fenced ; off from the running water to prevent too much motion. The wet bundles are afterwards lifted by tackle and dipped in the mill-race, to remove any earthy sediment that may have adhered in. the still water, then left some time to drip before being spread but on the green. The time the flax should be in the water, in order to remove the red coloring matter, and prevent the color getting dark, is from one to two hours. Mr Chalmers says -that the cost of his process is not appreciably more than the ordinary system of washing. . Bleaching is, perhaps, the most important part of the process of manufacturing flaxj arid too much attention cannot be bestowed on it. It is decidedly best to bleach on grass, as the flax can be spread thinner ' and more regularly, is easier turned, catches less of wind, and ; more, of the dew that falls during the night, the dew settling on fresh flax. The fibre is

thus submitted to ft process resembling the dew retting of the Irish flax* In winter and rainy weather, wires or poles are so far necessary ; but they should be avoided as much as possible, on account of the waste in putting the flax on^ and taking it off the wires). In fact it is scarcely possible to bleach on poles. The time for bleaching; as well~as for turning the K flax when on the green, is so entirely dependent on weather, time, place, and circumstances, that it is scarcely possible to fit a period. The color should decide this— care being taken to have the flax in before the color begins to get dark. It should further be kept in view that , when flax is dried quickly, ■: without exposure to the rays of the sun, as in ovens, or where thickly hung on poles, it always retains a green color. Even those parts that may dry yellow* often become green .again when wetted. How long it will retain this green color is not yet known ; but it certainly cannot be taken as a proof that flax is damp or that it has been stored damp. Five tons of green flax can be spread on an acre and a quarter of land. This will give about one ton of unseutched flax, so that a mill of two machines ought to have about, five acres of drying ground. The flax when taken off the green should be piled up inside, and allowed to remain, about eight days before being scutched. During this period it undergoes a heating or sweating process, which has the effect of 'still further pulverising the gummy matter that may still be in the fibre, and greatly iacilitates the scutching operation. If scutched on being taken off theground, the flax will break off short, and make too much tow, on account of the gummy matter still in the fibre. There are .two kinds of scutchers in use, so far as yet known — the Arm Scutcher and the Barrel Scutcher. ; The former mode makes more tow than the latter, and does not dress the article so welL : Some manufacturers don't scutch at all, but hackle instead. This appears to be a mistake, as the process of scutching is cheaper than hackling, and if the former is well done there "will be no necessity for the latter. The ordinary quantity of tow in a ton of -scutched Elax is between three and four hundredweight.. Many of the mills, it is understood, have given up scutching, and opinions are divided as to the best way of getting up the flax for the English market. But when it is considered that the cost of scutching is only 25s per ton, and that unseutched flax from its bulk, must pay at least that sum more in freight, and that a much lower price will be received at home for the one than the other, the obvious inference is in favoring scutching here ; and though the tow will assist so far to lessen the difference, it is thought the wisest and the cheapest course to scutch here. . The packing is another important part of the process, as it is certain that a wellpacked article will always command the best price, all other things being equal. Care therefore should be bestowed on this part of the process, and proper presses procured for this purpose. ' Messrs Price make a small press capable of making a bale of flax; containing about 2cwt,. ten of which make a toncost about £15. This, however, requires to[be filled and pressed.dbwn twiceV ' Messrs IVaser and Tinne make a screw seven feet by three and a half inches, which can press a bale down at once. The case must be made by others. The whole may cost about £30. : One of these presses is in operation in the Province of Auckland, having two boxes or cases, the one capable of being removed from under the screw and filled again, while the other is being screwed down ; thus making one screw Ho for two cases, and other ways expediting the operation of packing. i Messrs Price can supply three machines — water-wheel, all pullies, scutcher, and everything necessary to start a mill, 'except buildings and receptacle for waterwheel, for £180. - In a large manufactory a hydraulic press should be used, as it saves repressing before being shipped. lndeed, but for the expense, -it Bhould be in every mill. " ' ! :- Captain Hutton, of the "Waikato; bales with three strand galvanised wire, instead of flax : lashings. He «ays that with 12 bales to the ton, and four wires on each bale, the cost of the wire (including carriage to the mill) is 6s 3d per ton of flax. ' His reasons for preferring wire are^-- '•■';' ' ' .-': : ':"" ". '-' ' • 1. Qiiickneas.— He " can. turn out two more bales per week than -with flax. : 2. Strength and non-elasticity. ; 3. Safety in case of fire, from ttieae lashings not being liable to burn. ; He puts four shingles at each corner to prevent the wire cutting the "flax, though this is scarcely necessary. Shingles are also used for branding bales, but when;the ordinary flax lashings are used these shingles fall * out when the bales ! are handled in the ship, and those having the contents of each bale marked on them, get mixed or lost. It is a better way to mark the contents of each bale on a slip of leather, fastened to the lashings. (To be continued.) Hoixoway's Pnaß. — Nothing preserves the health so well as an occasional alterative in the changes of weather, or when the nerves are unstrung. These Pills act admirably on the stomach, liver, and kidneys, and bo thoroughly purify the blood that they are most efficient in warding off derangements of the stomach, fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, and other maladies, and giving tone and energy to debilitated constitutions. Ail who have the natural and laudable desire of maintaining their own and their family's health, cannot do better than trust to Holloway's Pills, which cool, regulate, and strengthen. . These purifying Pills are Buitable for all ages, seasons, cUmatesj j and constitutions, when all other means fail. They are the female's best friend. ~ I HottowAs'B Oistmsst. — Turn which wayyou will, go where you please, persons will be found who have a ready word of praise for this Oinlment. For chaps, .chafes, scalds, bruises, and

sprains, it ia an invaluable remedy^ JbaJtad lagij caused by accident or cold, it may "be confident!? relied upon for effecting a sound and permanent cure. Incases of swelled ancle VeWlipala*, gout,! and rheumatism, Holloway's Ointment gives the greatest comfort by reiucing^ the incarnation, cooling the blood, soothirf? the neiraa, adjusting the circulation, and expelling the impurities. Th's Ointment should have * place ia every nursery. It-will cufle the loafj.lfet of akin affections which originate in childhood and gain strength with the child's growth- s