74 NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 



As I hope the time is not far distant when its 

 value will be more appreciated, and the preju- 

 dice, at present so much against it, will have 

 diminished, I may perhaps be excused in giving 

 an account of this valuable plant from my own 

 observations during a visit to New Zealand. 



This valuable plant is regarded by the natives 

 of New Zealand as sacred, but is probably an 

 object of veneration for its value in manufac- 



Harris was here on Monday, and superintended the making 

 of a 141 inch cable, which is to be tried on his Majesty's 

 ship Rainboio. A trial is also to be made of the relative 

 strength of the phormium tenax and hemp in this yard, in a 

 few days, for which a piece of 14^ inch cable has been ex- 

 pressly manufactured. The price of hemp per ton is £38 ; 

 that of the phormium tenax £28. Of the experiments that 

 have been made at Woolwich, by order of the Admiralty, the 

 following are the results : — 



T. cwt. lbs. 

 A 4^ inch rope of the old sort broke at a strain 



of 3 8 40 



4 inch phormium, with the solution 5 10 



4 inch bolt rope, Italian yarns, present sort, ... 4 15 

 4 inch ditto, with the same yarns, with the pre- 

 serving solution 6 8 56 



4 inch common rope 5 7 56 



4 inch hempen rope, with coal or mineral tar . . 3 7 56 



4 inch phormium, with the solution 5 16 70 



The strongest proof is thus given of its strength. Its 

 power, however, to resist wet, and its durabihty, are yet to 

 be ascertained. — Hampshire Telegraph. 



