FLAX COMMISSIONERS.

41

G.—No. 4.

28. Dugald, Waikato. Hank from mill. Stripped with Price's machine, improved by Dugald. Chiefly long swamp flax. Actual cost of fibre delivered in Auckland, £16 per ton. Average strength, 74. 29. Jenkins, Mere-mere. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland, 1871Average strength, 61. 30. Constable, Waiuku. Sample from the manufacturer (not taken from the mill). Average strength, 57. 31. H. Williams, Waiuku. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland, February, 1871. Average strength, 64. 32. Matthews and Butler, Mongonui. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland for £11 on sth May, 1871. 33. Sinclair, Riverhead. Wet-scutched. Hank from bale exported to SydneyPrice in Auckland, £20. Average strength, 65. 34. Vause, Raglan. Hank from export bale. Average strength, 53. 55. Leitham, Pokeno. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland in February, 1871. Average strength, 56. 56. Albert Potter, Henderson's Mill, Auckland. Not scutched —put through stamping-machine. Sample procured at the mill. It requires eight tons of leaf to make one of fibre. Average strength, 76. 37. J Clarice, Waikato. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland. 38. Riverhead Mill. Ordinary machine dressed. 39. F. W. Hutton, Waikato. Not scutched. Made from common swamp flax. Price in London, £19. Average strength, 70. 40. Reed, Waiuku. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland, February, 1871. 41. Murray, Mauku. Procured at the mill. Not scutched. Sells for £20 at Auckland when finished. Stripped with Price's machine. Seven tons of green leaf to one of fibre. Actual cost, £19 a ton, delivered in Auckland. This includes 30s. a week for rent of mill. Green leaf, 225. a ton. 42. Murray, Mauku. Sample showing fibre contained in immature leaf, rejected at the mill as too short and weak. 43. Dixon, Hokianga. Hank from parcel sent to Lloyd's mill to be hackled. Valued at £12 or £13. Average strength, 55. 44. Dugald, Waikato. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland for £22. Stripped with Price's machine (improved). Actual cost, delivered in Auckland, £16 per ton. Cost of green leaf, 16s. per ton, but wages below the average. Average strength, 70. 45. Dugald, Waikato. Hank from bale sold by auction in Auckland, February, ° 1871. Similar to 44. Average strength, 73. 46 G. Twidle, Pukekohe. Wet-scutched. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland, 1871. £22 a ton. 47. Walker and Douglas, Waikato. Hank from bale sold by auction at Auckland, February 1871. 4S. Hamlin Brothers, Waiuku. Hank from mill. Stripped with Dugald's improved Price's machine. Average strength, 77. 49. Richmond Flax Company, Whakatane, Bay of Plenty. Rolled, prepared in 12 hours ; bleached with sulphur fumes. Average strength, 48. Centeal Disteict. 50. Eees & Richardson, Rangitikei. Sample from the manufacturer. Prepared from leaf three years old. The flax is classed for age and length ; passed through Gibbon's or Price's machines ; dry and wet-scutched ; then passed through rollers weighted to three tons ; bleached, again scutched and baled. 51. Rees & Richardson, Rangitikei. Prepared from leaf two years old. Sample from the manufacturer. Same process as No. 50. 52. Rees & Richardson, Rangitikei. Sample from the manufacturer. Prepared from leaf six months old. Same process as No. 50. 53. Rees & Gibson, Rangitikei. 54. Rees & Gibson, Rangitikei. 55. Nelson Brothers, Napier. From a bale as exported. Stripped with Price's machine and squeezed between wooden rollers. Steam Power. Actual cost delivered in Napier about £16 per ton. Cost of cutting green leaf, 12s. per ton. 11