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Star (Christchurch), Issue 699, 19 August 1870, Page 2

" The flax can be dressed as fast as boiled, one boiler full being cleaned while the other is getting ready. " We have, as yet, only been trying experiments, but expect to be in full work in the coarse of a fortnight, when we shall be happy to see any of your committee, and afford them any information in our power ; in the meantime we shall be glad to see your report on flax prepared by our process. " If we (should be in a poaition to communicate anything further we shall not fail to do so. '• We have the honour to be, Sir, &c, " Pbkbin and Co., " Kaiapoi." It was resolved " That Mr Perrin, of Satopoi, be requested to inform the committee when he is in full work, in order that a member or members of the committee may visit his works ; and that he be thanked for hia specimens already sent in." It was decided that the Quarterly Meeting should be held on Sept. 8, at 3 o'clock. A package of samples was sent in by the Manager of the N.Z. Loan and Agency Mercantile Company, showing the description of flax fibre turned out by the various mills in the Wanganui district. The samples were accompanied by the following letters :— " Kaitope, June 10, 1870. " Dear Sir, — I have great pleasure in sending you the accompanying sample of flax, dressed at my mill, and I shall now state the process it has been subjected to. The leaves were cut about eight inches below the " fork " and then passed through one of Price's machines, driven at about 1200 revolutions per minute; the fibre was then at once thrown into a small cißtern, which holds about twenty hanks, and water nearly boiling applied to it for three or four minutes, and well pounded all the time with a hand stamper. This process appears to take the gum out almost completely and leaves the water of a yellowish green color ; the water is only used once and then let ont of the cistern, and the fibre is carefully washed in cold water ; it is then spread on the grass in the ordinary way and is fit for drying on the wires in about four days, as the hot water appears to " kill " the vegetable matter at once. I leave the fibre at least a week in the house before it is scutched, and I am of opinion that it improves in softness for nearly a month after it is first put in the house. lam able to produce flax of the same quality as the sample at £17 per ton, and I think it could be dressed for £2 per ton less in summer, as the fibre does not then take so much work in the field. If you require any more information on this subject I shall be ready to give you all I possess. " Youra, very sincerely, " Henbt G. Mussen."