FLAX ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 687, 5 August 1870, Page 3

FLAX ASSOCIATION.

An Ordinary Me sting of the Sub -Commit tea was held jit. their offices in Cashel street, yesterday afternoon. Mr E. Richardson presided, and there were also preeent, Dr Barker, Meßsrs. Sheath, Johnson, Pavitt, Wa'ker, Loughnan, and Bird (hon sec). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that Mr Fisher, of Auckland, bad sent down some samples of the flax (from bulk), prices of which were quoted at the last meeting. The flax was exhibited on the side-table, as also were : three hanks of that prepared by Booth's (Dunedin) machine, and which had been—scutched by- Mr Todd, under instructions from Mr T. M. Hassal. Mr Johnson submitted three hanks of Booth's machine-prepared flax which had been hackled. They originally weighed 21bs 12oz, and bad lost 3oz by the process. Mr Walker exhibited another sample of £he.same flax, which. had been operated upon 0* Messrs Benn and Walker's works: He plso , further exhibited one hank of flax entirely prepared upon these premises. It had been put through Price's (Auckland) machine, then washed by their own process, soaked in cold water, and dried. He had intended sending a 1 cwt bale in for inspection by the Committee, but the recent heavy weather had f topped work at tbeir mill. The cost of pre paration would only be about 103 per ton more than by the process hitherto generally adopted. This sample of flax excited considerable interest. It was clearly superior to any of the samples prepared by Booth's machine, and' subsequently operated upon by the mem-bers-referred to above. Several present expressed themselves to this effect. , Mr Longhnan remarked that the flax, as prepared by Booth's machine, was not much approved of. The Chairman said there was top much "greenlef t with the fibre. . The Chairman informed the committee that only one sample of flax, prepared by chemistry, had been received in competition for the premium of £10 offered by the committee. This was from Dr Florance, and did not comply with the terms as to weight, being only 55lb§, instead of 1 cwt. After some discussion, the Secretary was instructed to inform Dr Florance that this deficiency prevented the committee from entering upon the merits of the sample, as 'bearing upon the premium, and to ask that {gentleman to compete again in the terms of an advertisement to be issued after next' meetiDg. Dr Barker exhibited two small samples of flax, which he had prepared simply by heating to 190 in a solution of adipocere and bi-carbonate of potash, and then brushing with an ordinary brush. He said the heating made. the. leaves bo soft that they could Jse thoroughly cleaned from any vegetable matter with the greatest ease, and he urged that the principal argument in favour of the process was, that it ' rendered unnecessary Any crushing or hammering, which must necessarily injure the fibre. All the advantages of hand preparation were thereby secured. *.-■•■ The Committee pronounced the sample remarkably clean and free in the fibre, and enquired as to the probable cost of preparation, but Dr Barker said that the preparation of the ; adipocere being an invention of his own, he had not yet calculated its cost. He would, however, be able to do so in a short time, and would then communicate with the Committee. He then submitted two sketch designs for brushing machinery, which were also examined by the Committee. The thanks of the Committee were tendered to Dr Barker for bis valuable information. Mr Loughnan referred to the desirability of making or : encouraging experiments in the manufacture of twine from flax, with a view to procuring an outlet in that direction. He knew that Mr Xennan, Colombo street, had made tome which would be well adapted for sewing wool bales. The Chairman replied that it bad previously been deoided not to attempt any experiments until the arrival of the bulk samples of flax from Wellington and Auckland. The meeting then adjourned.