CANTERBURY FLAX ASSOCIATION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3118, 8 February 1871, Page 3

CANTERBURY FLAX ASSOCIATION.

The " Lyttelion Times " says a meeting of the "sub-committee of this association ..was held at Mr Bird's office, yesfeftray afternoon. Present — Messrs Richardson (in the chair), De Bourbel, Sheath, Loughnan, Johnston, and Bird (hon. secretary), A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary stating that the Government was prepared to receive samples of flax for the purpose of forwarding them to Wellington to compote at the flax exhibition to be held during the next session of the General Assembly. The hon. secretary was instructed to advertise, requesting flax dressers to send in samples to tho association, in order that they might be exhibited previous to being forwarded to Wellington. Mr Johnston moved — " That a sum not exceeding £ — be appropriated for car rying out a series of experiments by retting green flax, to be conducted by — ." The matter A-as postponed until a future meeting. Tile chairman drew the attention of the meeting to the following paragraph, copied into its commercial columns by the " Lyttelton Times " :— The Anglo- Australian in the "European Mail" says :—•• The agent for Canterbury, who is sending out a large quantity of Manila rope, is taking great pains to ascertain that it is not manufactured with any mixture of New Zealand flax, the prejudice against the latter being very great here, except for certain purposes " He considered that this was a most extraordinary announcement, because nothing more detrimental to the flux trade here could have arisen. He thought, therefore, that the association should write to the Government, making enquiry in the matter. (Hear, hear.) Mr Deßourbel moved — "That the secretary of the association be requested to write to the Provincial Government, asking whether the report in the " European Mail," relative to the importation of Manila rope to this province, be true, for if such is the case, the sub-committee are of opinion that the importation of rope by the Government is detrimental to the success of | the association, and to the flax industry and the province at large." The motion, on being seconded, was unanimously agreed to. Mr Journeaux submitted several excellent specimens of flax prepared by his process, at the rate of ! £19 11s, or at the outside £13, per ton. Mr Journeaux had an interview with the sub-committee, and explained the various items of expense attaching to the production of prepared flax according to his process. After some discus sion it was agreed by the committee that £136 should be handed to Mr Journeaux on his producing two tons ef flax according to sample, together with the machine used in its production. Mr Journeaux said he would see a media nical engineer on the subject, and give an early answer to the committee. Mr De Bourbel brought under the notice of the committee three samples of the cottonised flax, prepared by Mr Raddon, of Ohoko, near Kaiapoi. It wns resolved — "That Mr Raddon shall be allowed the sum of £5 for the purpose of helping him to cottonise flax according to samples, provided he produces at the rooms of the Association a parcel of not less than 50lbs in weight, and that the cost of manufacture be stated ; and also an extra sum of £5 if he is enabled to card it by a carding machine." The ' committee then adjourned.