FLAX.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 461, 6 November 1869, Page 2

FLAX.

_: <» The following letter dated London, Sept. 10, and addressed by Mr Selfe to a gentleman in Christchurch, has been handed to the Lyitelton Times for publication :— I sent a copy of your questions about flax to Devitt and Hett, 16, Mark Lane. They seem to know as much about the subject as any one. The following are their answers : — 1. New Zealand flax is never used in the manufacture of linen, but classes with hemp in all its uses. 2. We suppose this question (referring to flax grown in the South of France) is to a very superior kind of flax, totally different from that grown in New Zealand. Mr Marshall is well known in this trade and deals largely in all kinds of flax, except New Zealand. 3. We fear we cannot supply any information about the machinery used in dressing the leaf in France. We are just now investigating a machine which has been invented, and which seems to promise well for dressing all kinds of fibre, but we cannot at present give any report or recommendation upon it. 4. About 200,000 bales Manilla hemp are imported into the United Kingdom and United States annually. The price for fine white (quilot ?) is 755, and for good roping, 51s to 525. We have had, our attention drawn to a sample of grass, which comes from New Zealand, of which your friends would do well to ship a small parcel as sample. It is said to be prepared from common tussock grass, being beaten on wood with an ordinary hammer. The value would be £40 to jE4S per ton. We enclose small sample. This sample, Mr Ottywell is sending by this mail to the Provincial Secretary fotj general information and also a copy of Devitt and Co.'s letter as above.

The following is from the European Mail, just received: — New Zealand must look to its laurels in flax-growing. A circular has been issued by a gentleman in Wiltshire, inviting respect- i able families to join him in forming a colony in the River Plate district for the purpose of growing wheat and flax. The scheme is said to be supported by the authorities at the River Plate, and is likely to be very profitable if properly carried out. We have heard nothing as yet as to how the proposal has been received in this country.