FLAX MANUFACTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 826, 19 January 1871, Page 4

FLAX MANUFACTURE.

Tbe following, which will be read with great interest, is from tbe Auckland Herald of Jt.n 9 : — We have previously alluded in our columns to an invention just patented by Mr Ollivier, formerly of Canterbury province, and at present residing in Auckland, f»r tbe preparation of flax. Our readers will remember that specimens of the various species of flax prepared were exhibited by Mr Ollivier, at a meeting of the Canterbury Flax Association,' and won the highest praise from everybody It was then stated that n no other previouslyexhibited samples were the gummy aud chaffy matt rials so completely removed. Mr < >llivier has for some time, lately been travelling through this province, and experimenting upon our various fUxes ; and on Saturday he called at our otlice with a number of samples, some of which undoubtedly surpass in every respect anything that bas yet been brought into Auckland. That some method would eventually be discovered for preparing flax to com and a high prije in the English market we have never doubted, and we are really inclined to think tbat Mr < tllivier may safely cry " Eureka I " It is well known that one of the moßt fatal drawbacks to a sample of flax in tbe English market is the presence of any red colour in the fibre. We may at once say that, from one end of the leaf to the other, the samples shown to us were as white as possible. In the process of preparation we are informed that there ia not a particle of waste. The fl >x is not scutched and therefore no refuse is formed in tbe shape of tow, which, in most casts, amounts to a third of the whole weight of the fibre. A solvent is used,*.but We understand that it is of such a nature as to have no effect whatever on the fibre. We inspected samples of fibre from the following varieties of flax : — Tukura, tuharu (this kind the Natives have never been able to work np, and by them and Europeans considered valueless ; Mr Ollivier's method turns out an extremely fine and soft fiore suitable for weaving) ; tapoto (this is a splendid sample, soft and elastic, long, white, and even) ; awanga (one very fine and white); paritaniwha, and one or two coarser varieties. Besides these was a sample of cabbage-tree fibre, very strong and fine, and the tow from which resembles horsehair in its feel, snd would, we should imagine, make excellent s tuning for beds, 'lhe toitoi grass put through the same process looks like fine straw, and the inventor believes that it will prove of great value for tbe manufacture of paper. We shall watch with anxiety the development of ao invention which promises to be of such great value. Competent judges pronounce the sample of tapoto to be worth at least £25 a ton in Auckland at the present thte. Asa proof of the high opinion entertained by , the natives of the invention, we may say that a deputation of twelve influential chiets waited on Mr Ollivier, at Tauranga, accompanied by Mr C. O. Davis, and endeavoured to negotiate with him for instruction in biß system. They stated tbat no Maori method of cleaning was so complete. It is said that £30 a ton was offered for 100 tons placed on board ship alongside the wharf. . :