FLAX ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 729, 23 September 1870, Page 2

FLAX ASSOCIATION.

*, The fortnightly meeting of the sub-com-mittee was held at their offices, Cashel street, yesterday afternoon; present —Messrs E. Richardson (chairman), De Bourbel, JohnstoD, Loughnan, and Bird (hon. sec). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following documents were read :— "Oxford, Sept. 9, 1870. "J. A. Bird, Esq. Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of yours of the Bth inst., in which you state that if I will forward drawings of the improvements mentioned in my former letter, that the Association will consider what course they will pursue. I shall be very happy to do so, but as the said drawings may possibly pave the way to other improvements not yet perfected, I must request your signatures to the following agreement. If you will return the agreement signed, I will at once forward the drawings required. " I have the honour to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant, " Henderson Gordon." " Oxford, Sept. 9, 1870. "We the undersigned, being members of the Managing Committee of the Canterbury Flax Association, hereby agree not to use, divulge, explain, or otherwise make public the improvements contained in the drawings to be for frarded by Mr Henderson Gordon, in case the said drawings should not be approved of by us. We also agree, in case the said drawings should meet with our approval, to advance the said Henderson Gordon the sum of ten pounds (£10) towards completing the said improvements, and should the said improvements be successful, we hereby agree to pay to the said Henderson Gordon the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds (£150) as a reward for his invention." After a brief discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Deßourbel, " That the Secretary write to Mr Gordon and state that in answer to his letter, the committee can only agree to advaqce the sura of £10, provided that they consider the drawings of his new machines satisfactory." The Secretary also read the following letter:— " Christchurch, Sept. 14, 1870. " To the Canterbury Flax Association. " Gentlemen,— l have been engaged for a considerable time in designing a flax machine. I conclude, by the practical experiments I undertook, that this machine is superior over any I know of. " The advantages are — " 1. The number of revolutions are 300 to 400 per minute. The driving power is considerably less than that of the general strippers, and the wear and tear greatly reduced. " 2. The feed rollers will take, at that number of revolutions, the leaves as fast as a man is able to feed. I calculate, therefore, on I.J ton of fibre per week. The machine beats the leaf from both sides, and the machine wants no setting of the rollers. The machine is very simple, is easily taken to pieces, and produces a good sample, also, if the bearings are shaky, or if the number of revolutions are a few only. " A washing apparatus, easily fixed below the machine, and the two processes of dressing and washing done in one. " I include a sample (1), which the machine dressed and washed and which was exposed to bleaching and drying on a line for eight dayi. " The same sample (2), exposed to a retting process for eight days, and dried in two hours. " The machine is not in proper order as yet, and I include these samples only to prove the principle as right. " I propose to make the necessary alterations, if you will assist me with a sum of £20 to cover the necessary expenses. I would be able to give you a public trial in 14 days, perhaj s sooner, and be prepared at that time to take orders for machines at £20, and, if completed with washing apparatus, at £24. " I remain, gentlemen, " Yours obediently, " O. Peez." The Chairman and Mr De Bourbel both spoke strongly in favour of the promising character of Mr Peez's machine, which they had seen at work. Mr De Bourbel also pointed out that the alteration required was a slight widening, which he felt assured could be done for less than £20. Mr Johnston moved, Mr De Bourbel seconded, and it was agreed — " That the sum of £12 be given to Mr Peez to help him in altering his machine; the suggested alterations to be made to the approval of the Chairman and Mr De Bourbel." A letter was read from Mr F. Pavitt apologising for his inability to attend the meeting. The chairman referring to the question of freight for flax mooted at a previous meeting of the committee, aaid that last week, himself an.J several other members went round

to the merchants who hare the shipping in their hands, with a view to obtaining some definite statement of the rate of freight to be adopted for this coming season. At the time no decisive answer was obtained, but were informed that in all probability some definite answer would be returned that day. He accordingly went round again that morning, and was informed that £4 per ton had been decided upon by the merchants as a fair rate of freight, an;l they hoped to be able to get it established as the rate for the coming season. The members of the association who waited on the merchants, immediately replied on being informed of this that £3 10s was quite sufficient for the freight, and they would not cease agitating to get it reduced to that. However, if they got the rate down to £4, it would be a very great concession on what it had been before, and much to be pleased with, but at the same time he would point out that manufacturers of flax had only themselves to thank if they did not get the amount down to the desired sum, £3 10s. The chairman laid upon the table a number of samples of flax exported from Canterbury last year to England, and returned to Messrs Miles and Co. by last mail, labelled in such a manner as to show the comparative prices for which the different manufactures were sold. Two specimens of floor matting, manufactured from flax were also submitted for examination. They had been made in Timaru, and could be sold at 23 6d per yard. Both samples were in coloured patterns, and appeared of a most serviceable character. Five samples of flax prepared by different processes in Otago were also laid upon the table. The meeting then adjourned until Thursday week.