FLAX DRESSING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 790, 21 September 1867, Page 4

FLAX DRESSING.

Below we give a ocmmumcation handed to us by a gentleman of standing in Auckland, and one who is in no way connected with, or interested in, the present flax dressing movement,, otherwise than the general public may be. His statements are encouraging,^ and we would certainly recommend our Southern fellow colonists to copy rather than laugh at tho example set them by Auckland in this movement, the more so since by the admission of their own members in tho Assembly and their own local press, there is greater destitution existing at the present time in every other Province in New Zealand than in Auckland. To the Editor of the Now Zealand Herald. Sir, — Being anxious to see the process of Flax Hackling, and to satisfy myself that it could be carried on at a protib, or at least to yield a fair subsistence for thoso working at it, I visited on Saturday tho grounds near Howick, on which about twenty-five men are now working, and from statements made to me by one of- them, I gleaned the following information : — The process followed i 3 first to hackle the green flax, then steep it in cold water, and afterwards dry and bleach it. The quantity which each man is supposed to bo able to hackle in a day is two hundred weight of green flax, which will yield forty pounds weight of dry marketable flax On this they are receiving from a merchant in Auckland an advance of £12 per ton, and expect to /realise at least £14 per ton net. At this rate 40 lbs per day will yield Bs. 4d. not at all a bad return for a fair day's work, and as the demand for well prepared flax is unlimited, and tho supply of the green plant may be made scarcely less so, a fine field for labour is being developed in the Auckland Province, quite as good as any ordinary alluvial gold-field. In fact in many Jrespects it is better, for though the prizes in the one case may be greater to individuuls, in the other there are no blanks, but for work done there is a certain and paying return. I observe the Southern papers are disposed to ridicule flax-dressing as remunerative employment, making statements calculated to deceive the working men as to rate of wages current in other Provinces, I think therefore no opportunity should be lost of putting prominently before the public the actual results of labour fairly employed in flax hackling. ° Truth. Auckland, September, 9th, 1867This article is assumiug something like the aspect of an important export. At the present time the Lord Ashley is taking on board 40 tons of dressed flax for transhipment from Sydney to Melbourne; the Moa also takes 10, and tho Susan 12 tons. — New Zed 1 and Herald. HoUoway's Ointment and Pills cannot bo too highly commended for the favourable influence they exercise over tho skin. In all eruptions, inflammations, and ulcerations the detergent qualities of this unguent render it so efficacious m. first cleansing and purifying tho diseased part, then inducing renewed and healthy action, as to ultimately leave the surface in the highest health. Holloway's Ointment works the most wondertully beneficial results in bad legs, chronic sores, &c, by improving and quickening the slnggish and imperfect circulation, removing all corrupt matters and increasing tho disposition to heal. Holloway's Ointment throws no deleterious drawback on the function of tho skin; it manifestly augments its evaporation and perspiration whereby softness and pliability supplant its jnoviously harsh and dry state. j