38 CORDAGE FIBRES 



the American Civil War, when there was a general scarcity of 

 textile fibres. Until the year 1860 any fibre which had been 

 placed on the market was extracted in a primitive fashion by 

 the natives. A few years ago the New Zealand Government 

 offered a bonus of 1,750 for a machine or process for ex- 

 tracting the fibre by clearing away the bark and gums and 

 producing the best quality and quantity of clean fibre. A 

 further bonus of ^"250 was offered for a machine or process 

 for treating the tow or waste, so that it might be used for 

 textile purposes. Various machines were offered, but have 

 proved failures in regard to coming up to the requirements of 

 the New Zealand Government. Notwithstanding this, New 

 Zealand fibre as at present extracted has been of late years 

 more and more utilized, and its exports from the Colony 

 have increased annually, last year amounting to no less than 

 ,"900,000 worth. 



Land-owners charge a royalty of 128. per ton for the right 

 to gather leaves for extraction purposes, and the cost of pack- 

 ing and baling comes to about another 2s. The plant yields 

 in New Zealand from 12 to 18 tons of leaves per acre of 

 uncultivated land per annum. On cultivated land a yield of 

 about 50 tons may be expected. 



As exported New Zealand hemp is a coarse fibre only suit- 

 able for ropes, binder twine, &c. It is classed as "good fair 

 Wellington," " fair Wellington," &c. Quite recently the New 

 Zealand Government have issued bye-laws with reference to 

 the grading the fibre and controlling the industry. These 

 rules are briefly as follows : 



(1) All New Zealand hemp for export shall be packed in 

 bales of the following dimensions, or thereabouts : 



Length after leaving press ... ... ... ... ... 4 ft. 



Width after leaving press ... ... ... ... ... 2ft. 



(2) No bale shall contain any hank exceeding 5 Ib. in 

 weight. 



(3) Each bale shall be securely bound with five ropes made 

 of the fibre. No rope made of tow to be used. 



