Flax.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 695, 15 August 1870, Page 2

Flax.

New Zealand flax, judging from the following correspondence forwarded to us by Messrs Miles, Brothers, of 79 Gracechurch street, London, seems to labour under grave disadvantages now and then. The circular commences : — "For the general information of those concerned in the importation of the Phormium tenax, or New Zealand flax, from New Zealand to this country, and more especially of the underwriters of such risks, we think it right to send you the following copy of certificate of master and first officer of barque Helen, of 282 tons register, lately arrived at this port with a cargo of flax only; also copy of Captain's letter to Miles and Co., Now Zealand, which we hope may tend to dissipate the prevailing notion that this article is liable to heat on the voyage, and therefore a more dangerous risk than wool." The enclosures consist of, Ist—" We hereby certify that we have brought home, in the ship Helen, a cargo of New Zealand flax from Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand, to London, and, although we carried some bales that had been rejected by other ships, thert

was no appearance of heating or sweating on. the rojage ; and to the beat of onr belief, there is less danger in carrying flax than -wool, and are perfectly ready to take a similar cargo again whenever we have the opportunity. (Signed) William Norrie, Master of barque Helen ; James Menzies, First Officer of barque Helen." 2nd enclosure — " I hereby certify that I hare superintended the discharge of the barque Helen, Canterbury, New. Zealand to London, laden with New Zealand flax only, and that such cargo has been discharged in perfect order, without any sign whatever of it haying heated or sweated on the voyage. (Signed) F. Green, Warehousekeeper, Wapping Basin, London Docks." 3rd enclosure — •' Messrs Miles and Co., Christchurch, Canterbury, N.Z., Gentlemen, I am happy to inform you of our safe Arrival here on the 14th instant after a very long protracted passage of 130 days" ; we made Cape Horn on the 4th day of February, and crossed the Equator on the 20th March, I arrived on the 14th May, and finished discharging this day. Your friends here request me to fulfil my promise and write you out. Well, after so much talk in Ly ttelton about it (the flax fibre, I mean) taking fire and so on, I was anxioup to get my hatches off as soon as I got into good weather, and was glad to see all was in the same good order as when battened vp — no steam, no sweat, and no signs of fire ; so, to air the cargo and also the ship, I had the hatches off very often until I got into a northern latitude, when they were not off again for about thirty days before I arrived here, and now we are all discharged, and no damage from any cause whatever. You know how I was examined by your Chamber of Commerce in Christchurch — what i then said I can now fully substantiate ; and you know I had cargo in the Helen that was discharged from the Hydaspes. I can safely say there is nothing in the flax to cause any drawbacks or any fear to be entertained regarding fire. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, (signed) William Norrie, master of the barquo Helen, of Dundee." The above documents bear date May 25 and 26. The Home News goes on to say — " The flax is in very limited demand just now, and at low rates. Out of 1000 bales offered on the 15th June, only 400 found purchasers. The very common parcels brought £15, half cleaned £16 to £21, the better prepared lots bringing from £27 to £31. It will be seen from this range of prices that any care bestowed on the preparation of the flax is far more than repaid by the increased value of the article. The various lots offered differed very little one from the other, bo far as original character irss concerned, that it may be fairly said that the difference in price, between the highest and the lowest — more than one hundred per cent — is attributable to the extra care in dressing bestowed upon the best samples, not to the original character of the plants. Surely this leaves margin for extra care in dressing. Ysg* Colonial Butteb. 'vThe Home News says :— " Colonial butter is making its mark in the English market. A parcel from Canterbury, ex Hydaspes, consigned to Mr Tallerman, is being rapidly parted with by that gentleman at from lOd to Is per lb. The parcel in question is in unusually good condition, and if it could be followed by others of similar quality, the whole could be placed at good prices. Butter is a very questionable commodity here just now, and anything bearing the impress of the genuine article is eagerly sought after. With butter, as with all other colonial products, the great necessity is that it should be well packed, be of good quality, and present as sightly an appearance as possible. A great deal of money is lost through carelessness in this latter particular.