A PAPER MANUFATORY.

Colonist, Volume XIII, Issue 1339, 26 July 1870, Page 3

A PAPER MANUFATORY.

{From the New Zealand Herald.)

It has been suggested that paper of good quality ! might be manufactured from our flax, and since the flax market is uncommonly dull in England, perhaps we could hardly choose a more suitable time for try- I ing an experiment in flax paper-making. As far as the consumption of paper in New Zealand is concerned, the item is very large indeed, and a local manufactory would therefore be a direct monetary benefit to the Colony in that respect, as well as in the extra employment of labor and consumption of material otherwise frequently wasted. We feel sure that, not only in the matter of flax, but in rags required for the manufacture of certain descriptions of paper, there would be no difficulty in obtaining a sufficient supply. One needs only to traverse the. by-streets to see what an ample field exists for tbe energies of the ragpicker. The flax fibre would be an excellent manufacturing material, there can, we think, be little doubt, and an opportunity herein exists either for individul enterprise or the formation of a company. In fact, it is a matter for surprise that something of the sort has not long since been established. A gentleman in town furnishes us with the following, reoeived from his Home correspondents :— "It is not easy to give you the cost of a complete plant of machinery for making paper, as the position of ground and space to work on is often of great importance in estimating the cost. " The following is an approximate cost of a mill, to make from twelve to fifteen tons of paper weekly, driving the paper machine at an average speed, and makiDg sixty inches of finished paper in width): — £ One Rag or Waste Cutter 60 Four Eag or Esparto Boilers ... 300 Six Beating Engines 780. Gearing to drive ditto, and Castiron Beams 480 ! One Paper Machine.........: 1600 Paper Cutting Machine ......... 130 Water Pipes and Connections... 200 Total £3540 " You will observe that these prices only include the working machinery required for the preparation and making of the paper, and you will require to take into consideration steam engine or water-wheel, tanks, and such utensils as may be required according to the, way you have to work your mill. The prices quoted include packing'and delivery, and all foreign orders are subject to special terms of payment." The above figures and comments may form a useful guide to any individual or company that may contemplate the establishment of. any such industry, in this Province. We trust that the idea may find good backers, as we are confident that an excellent opening is here presented for the employment of capital.