G.-tfo. 4.

78

APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

Hawkeswood's foundry in Chapel street. The machine consists first of a strong wooden frame, upon which the moving portions are fitted. In front of the workman is an iron feeding mouth, about 3in. broad by half an inch deep. This leads close to a pair of horizontal fluted feed-rollers, about 6in. long. These work into each other, so that the flax blade is thoroughlv bruised before it comes to the stripping horizontal cylinders, two in number, and which are immediately behind the feed-rollers. These cylinders are about six inches long, with an equal diameter. After being adjusted in a turning lathe, grooves are cut along their surface, about a quarter of an inch deep, and at an angle to the length of the cylinder of about 35 degrees. There are about three grooves to the inch, and the outer surfaces of the ribs thus left are about one-eighth of an inch wide. These cylinders are placed one above the other, and revolve outwards from the feed-rollers at the rate of about 2,200 per minute. The feed-rollers revolve at about one-eighth of this speed. Hence, after the leaf has been subjected to a thorough bruising by the feed-rollers, it is next subjected to the stripping action of the cylinders, which clears both sides of the leaf at once. Both cylinders have a slow reciprocating action, and thus the possibility of a hollow being worn out in the centre of the cylinder is prevented, the reciprocating action causing them to be worn evenly. When the angle ribs on the cylinder have been worn down the grooves can be re-cut, and any irregularities in the wearing of the cylinders removed in the lathe. Thus, at small cost, partly worn cylinders can be made as good as new. The necessary gearing to produce the different motions, and the reciprocating action of the cylinders, is fixed upon the shafts of the two cylinders. Under each of the bushes of the lowermost feed-roller is placed a vulcanised indiarubber spring, so that the rollers bruise both thick and thin leaves of flax equally without injuring the fibre. After the flax has passed through this machine, it is put into one consisting of a pair of plain feed-rollers, and two circular hair-brushes. These strip off all the fleshy matter of the leaf which the ribbed cylinders have brought to the outer surface, and pass the fibre out very clean. The fibre is next passed between another set of plain feed-rollers, which guide it between two smooth cylinders, having a rapid reciprocating action. This is found to divide the fibre into very fine filaments, and to make it particularly soft. These two machines can keep four of the first kind in constant work. The fibre is next soaked in water for some time, thon taken out, dried, baled up, and is ready for the market. This is Mr. White's whole process of flax-cleaning. To many it may seem a somewhat cumbruous system but it necessarily looks more so from a minute verbal description than seeing the process carried out. Although the cost of producing a ton of fibre by this process would be somewhat greater than by many of the more imperfect machines now in use, it will be seen that the cost cannot be very great when leaves travel through the machine at the rate of 200 feet per minute. It must also be remembered that flax dressed on this principle is valued at a high figure. By the last British mail Mr. White received advices from several extensive manufacturers in Scotland, to whom samples had been sent for valuation, stating that if flax equal to the samples sent could be supplied in quantity, it would readily sell at from £70 to £120 per ton. This then is a figure which will allow a handsome profit upon careful preparation. Wo were glad to learn that one of these machines had been sent to the Piako district, and that orders for three others must be executed this week. A few leaves, as they came through the first machine, and which have neither been soaked in water, shaken, nor rubbed, but are just as they are turned out by the machine, are now on view at our publishing office, where those interested in the matter can see them. There are two samples : No. 1 is from leaves cut in the Domain on the morning they were dressed ; and No. 2 is from leaves which had been lying cut from a month to six weeks and were comparatively dry and hard. Mr. White has promised to furnish us with three other samples, showing the condition of the fibre after the brushing, the rubbing, aud soaking processes, which, when received, will be placed on view at our publishing offices. On some Expeeiments to determine the Powee required to Woek the Flax Machines in common use in Auckland.- —By James Stewart, Assoc. Inst. C.E. —Read before the Auckland Institute, 11th July, 1870. The following investigation was entered into with the hope, not only of being able to determine exactly the power absorbed by the flax machines, but of comparing in this respect those of two rival makers. It was also intended to ascertain the full indicated power of the engine, and evaporating power of tho field boiler, by which it was supplied with steam. So far as a comparison of the machines went, the trials had only commenced when it was seen that even had a considerable difference of power really existed between the two designs, the variation in the size of flax leaves would render it difficult of exact determination, unless a number of machines of each kind, sufficient to take up nearly the full power of the engine, were run together and repeated diagrams taken to insure a fair average. The machines under trial were —one made by Messrs. Price, of Onehunga, and two by Messrs. Fraser & Tinne, of Auckland, and were of the designs in common manufacture by those firms in the beginning of this year. Both firms have, however, made considerable alteration in their designs since then. The maximum power of the engine and boiler was left undetermined, as the three machines above were all the apparatus then fixed in the mill ready for use, aud it was evident that in driving these the engine was working considerably within its ultimate power. i The cylinder of the engine is 6 inches diameter and 10£ inches stroke, cutting of steam at 6~TfT inches, opening the exhaust at 8f inches, and beginning compression at 9f inches. The valve is set so that in both up and down strokes the same distribution of steam takes place exactly, with the exception of the lead, which is 5-inch at the lower end and nothing on the upper end. This variation being necessary to effect absolute equality in the more important points of the distribution. The maximum pressure of steam is 120 lbs. per square inch. It will be seen that the highest indicated power obtained with three machines is 10*5 horse-power. The mill is that of Messrs. Thomson Brothers, of Purapura, Lower Waikato, and is now furnished with four machines and two scutchers.