NEW ZEALAND FLAX YARN, AND CLOTH.

Colonist, Volume XV, Issue 1501, 13 February 1872, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FLAX YARN, AND CLOTH.

{From the New Zealand Herald February 9.) Ottb English exchanges apprise ua of the fact that through the exertions of Mr. 0. Thome, 16, Mark Lane, London, the value of New Zealand flax for the manufacture of canvas and similar fabrics, had been successfully tested. We have before ua samples of the result of these experiments, iv pieces of cloth and "bundles of yarn, pure and mixed. The samples were forwarded to the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland, for exhibition.

No. 1 is a sample of bleached yarn, made from pure New Zealand flax fibre, extracted from the dry leaf. The gum having beeoine thoroughly hardened, was difficult to dissolve. The yellow marks ia the yarn show the straw retained in the gam. This sample, but for the defect stated, is very superior indeed; the lusture of the yarn is pure. It is a sufficient proof that the fibre will bleach as white as ordinary linen yarn,

No. 2 is a sample of unbleached mixed yarn, made by a mixture of 75 per cent. Eiga flax, and 25 per cent. Jfew Zealand flax. The color of tho yarn is darker than the unmixed bleached sample (No. 1) ; but the two fibres appear to spin well together. No. 3 is a sample of bleached yarn, mixed in the same proportions as sample No. 2. There can be no doubt of the superiority of this yarn over No. I.

No. 4 is a sample of cloth, mide from unbleached yarn of pure New Zealand flax. This is the first attempt, we believe, at weaving pure New Zealand flaxyam; the oloth was woven in a jute loom. The oloth is very well suited for bags and saoks; and doubtless, after a few experiments will be improved upon. It is sufficient to show, however, that New Zealand may manufacture from its own raw material, all the corn sacks and wool packs it requires, besides doing something to supply Australia and California. We may say that the consumption of corn sacks is very great in California, and that the greater part of the material used in their manufacture is imported from Dundee.

No. 5 is a piece of cloth made from bleached pure New Zealand flax yarn, similar to sample No. 1. This sample ia a decided improvement on No. 4, both in closeness of texture and color. Mr. Thome intimates that he expected to have some good oanvas in about ten days, woven from yarn similar to that of No. 1. The oloth cf sample No. sis really well made, and could be put to many common uses. ' No. 6 is a piece of drab oloth, woven out of unbleached yarn (No. 2) mixed in proportions of 76 per cent. Eiga flax, and 25 per cent. New Zealand flax. It is very much closer in texture than either of the samples of cloth manufactured from unmixed New Zealand flax.

No. 7 is a piece of cloth made from bleaohetl yarn, mixed as in preceding sample. It is really a piece of excellent canvas.

Mr. Thorne deserves the thanks of the colonists of JNew Zealand for his enterprise in this matter; and we trust that he will be able to apply to the Government for the reward promised for the manufacture of corn sacks and wool packs. It is clear from the samples that New Zealand flax fibre mixes well with lint; and doubtless this fact will not be lost on manufacturers. But Mr. Thorne has also demonstrated that it bleaches well, and can be made into cloth of a reasonably fine texture without any admixture with other fibres.