APPENDIX TO REPORT OF

G.—No. 17.

6

iudstmst went, it certainly was a fair specimen. On showing it, however, to Mr. Larkworthy Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, he expressed a decided opinion that this sample was far under the average quality of the hemp that fetched the highest price. At my request he then submitted this sample to two reliable fibre brokers in the city for valuation, and 1 have just now received a letter from him to the effect that they report it worth not less than £36 a ton in the present state of this market. I mention this because it is important that you should know the exact value of the nbre m tins condition of preparation.

(No. 217.) Dr. Hector to Mr. W. L. Buller, London. —Bth June, T872. I have the honor to acknowledge your letters of 28th March, reporting on the bale of Phormium prepared by the Cape Egmont Flax Company. . The opinions expressed by the brokers are very satisfactory and encouraging, and will, no doubt, stimulate manufacturers to produce a superior article. Your letters of 7th March, respecting a new method of preparation of the fibre by Messrs 1. and C. Nichols, and of 28th March, enclosing sample of the Phormium that fetched the highest P™e mthe London market, are also to hand. The latter is put on exhibition m the Colonial Museum that exporters and manufacturers may have an opportunity of seeing the quality of fibre required. With regard to the former letter (7th March), I shall be glad to receive any further information on the subject ot the invention of Messrs. Nichols. The samples forwarded appear very fair, but a little harsh. _It is not possible however, to judge of the probable success of the process while I have so little information respecting it. Messrs. Bennett, of 8, St. Mary-at-Hill, City, have requested samples of raw Phormium, which J will be obliged by your forwarding to them on application.

(No. 190.) Mr. Morrison to Dr. Hector.—lst September, 1871. ■ Adverting to my letters (No. 230, 29th June, 1871, and 267, 27th July, 1871) having reference to the preparation of Phormium tenax by Mr. C. Thorne, of 16, Mark Lane, I have the honor, m continuation thereof, to transmit herewith a specimen of cloth which has been manufactured from a mixture ot Phormium tenax, prepared by Mr. Thorne, and the best Riga flax, in the proportion ot 251bs. of the former to 75tt>s. of the latter.

(No. 228.)— The Agent-General to Dr. Hector.—l4th December, 1871. I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of letters, dated as per margin,* which have been received from Mr C. Thorne, of Mark Lane, respecting the Phormium tenax, and I beg to inform you that the samples of yarn, cloth, Ac, therein referred to are forwarded per sample post by this mail to your address.t

16, Mark Lane, EC, -p. «tr_ London, 30th September, 1871. Agreeably to my promise, I now send you a few samples, which will probably prove interesting to your friends in New Zealand. On the 7th June last I handed you a sample of the fibre extracted from dry leaves of the Phormium tenax imported from New Zealand, and I then explained to you that owing to the gum in the fibre being dry and very hard, I could not thoroughly redissolve it, yet I had succeeded in rendering the fibre sufficiently soft and fine to adapt it for spinning purposes The samples herewith form part of the same batch of fibre from which the samples referred to were taken, so you will be enabled by this means to follow my progress. No lis a skein of bleached yarn made from pure New Zealand flax. You will observe the gummy matter remaining on the fibre has retained portions of the straw, hence the appearance of the yellow ™ar No 2is a skein of unbleached mixed yarn, made from 75 per cent, of Riga flax and 25 per cent, of New Zealand flax. This has been subjected, since spinning, to the process known as " twice boiled to render it better adapted for weaving. This is thought especially well of by the manufacturer, as the New Zealand flax has increased the strength of the cloth without in any way altering its genera appearance. No. 3 is a skein of mixed yarn as above, only subjected to a "full bleach" instead of being "twice 6No 4is a piece of cloth made from unbleached yarn of pure New Zealand flax. This was the first attempt'made by mv friends in using New Zealand flax. They told me I ought not to show this specimen as, in making it, they were really only feeling their way, and finding out the treatment this fibre required. Nearly all fibres have some peculiarity, which makes it necessary to adapt machinery for their special treatment. This cloth was woven in a "jute" loom No. sis a piece of cloth made from bleached yarn of pure New Zealand flax. See sample No. 1. Although an improvement on No. 4, it is far from perfect. No 6is a piece of cloth made from unbleached mixed yarn. See sample No. 2. No 7is a piece of cloth made from bleached mixed yarn. See sample No. 3. No 8 is a sample of fibre extracted from leaves of the Phormium tenax grown in the gardens ot the Earl of Shannon, at Castle Martyr, Ireland. These leaves were kindly forwarded to me in the *30th September, 1871 ; 17th October, 1871 ; 27th November, 1871 ; 11th December, 1871. \ The samples mentioned have been placed in the Colonial Museum.