PAPER MADE FROM HOPS.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 236, 13 November 1873, Page 2

PAPER MADE FROM HOPS.

A DISCOVERT has been mado by a French firm of pnper manufacturers which teems likely to interest Engluh hopgrowers. At the last general assombly of French papermakers, M. M. Jourdeuil Parizot and Gusseo submitted some samples of a new textile portion of various vegetable fabrics to the Congress. The high price of rags has for some time past given rise to serious efforts to utilise the textile portion of various vegetable fibres. Thus wool, straw, Esparto grass, nloes, alpha, phormiura, and various other vegetable products have been pressed into the service, but have not proved entirely satisfactory. Among other drawbacks the fibres obtained from these are short, not sufficiently supple. Such faults do not exist in the new product, which has hitherto been regarded a* useles — namely the textile sheath of the hop-slalk. By removing this outer skin and subjecting it to a certain chemical process, a textile substance possessing the qualities which make rags so valuable in paper making — length, suppleness and delicacy of texture — has been produced. The invention is patented, and further protected by the novel character of the chemical process. It seems one tlmt should be noticed in a country which requires much paper and grows hops in abundance, and which may do something to compensate for tlio proverbially precarious nature of the top harvest.

A retired Editor—"* successlul brother of the pen, with no need or intention of further effort," at he styles himself —has discorered " a great want and a mont magnificent opportunity " in the field of newspaper literature, anJ, far from imitating the fabled dog ia the manger, has made known the discovery for the benefit of those who, differing from himself, hare not been successful with their pens, and who, unfortunately, have need for further effort. It is a remarkable fact (the writer declares) that with all the energy and all the talent nnd enterprisn of the British Press there is scarcely in all England a single newspaper that thinks fit to put such corficlence in the general public as systematically to write the simple truth upon the ordinary topics of the day. The obvious want thereof is that of a London morning paper " adopting a lino as yet singularly left vacant by existing journals." Throughout our whole social and national system, the blissful Editor-retired goes on to argue, there are indications of a flagrant want of simple devotion to the cause of Truth, and tho nation is consequently threatened by great and varied dangers. " A newspaper calculated for wide acceptance and general confidence should, above all things, be absolutely truthful, outspoken, vigorous, and independent. It should calmly and temperately discuss every principal topic that arises, in pure judicial spirit ; saying honestly and with perfect candour what it thinks, and bolding itself studiously aloof from the meanness of partisanship, or tendency to favour any individual, any creed, class, or country. It thould keep jealously clear of all compromising entanglements of whatever kind, and, as utterly fatal to its position, avoid the merest suspicion of any form of ulterior object," The nickname of Saturday Reviler, by Mr Bright, and that of Saturday Sadncee,by Mr P. Baynen, gives to a famous weekly paper, has been supplemented by the not xevy felicitous designation, the Savage squaw Review; the latest sponsor being Mr George Augustus Sala. Calling names, on the part of newspaper editors, and those especially who occupy the fore-front of journalism, is an action by no meann digninVd or commendable — Printers 1 Register. Kussia owns only one hundred newspaptrs, while Goruitnr claims twent.T-three hundred.