27 



A drawing was also shown of tlie rare and beautiful Argentine 

 (Sco2}elus), that was captured in Milford Sound, by the author, which, 

 under former classifications, would have formed a fourth Salmonoid fish, 

 but the genus has been separated from this family in recent works. 



Third Meeting. Juhj 10, 1870. 

 Hon. Mr. Mantell, F.G.S., President, in the chair. 



The Chairman announced that this meeting had been specially con- 

 vened, to discuss the veiy important question of the best method of 

 preparing the Native Flax. He was glad to see that several of the 

 Commissioners appointed last year to enqiiire into this subject were 

 present ; but before asking them to favour the meeting with the results 

 of their investigations, he would call on Dv. Hector to describe his latest 

 experiments. 



Dr. Hector opened the discussion by giving a minute account of the 

 structure and johysiology of Pliormium tenax, Irish flax, Manilla, and 

 other varieties of fibre, their difference of texture and relative strengths, 

 and to assist in giving a better illustration, made use of diagram 

 drawings from microscopic examinations. The Irish flax plant has 

 a woody texture, chiefly in the centre, the useful fibre being 

 released from an intermediate layer between the hard woody centre 

 and the outer cuticle ; and tlie only difliculty in the production of this 

 fibre is in the process of separating it from the core and the epidermis. 

 The fibre of the New Zealand flax, unlike that of the Irish variety, is 

 not contained in the stem, but in leaves which spring direct from the root 

 and grow for years befoi-e a flowering stock is sent up. These leaves are 

 protected by a peculiar hard outward covering that enables them to resist 

 the efiects of water, and beneath which lies the soft and succulent tissue 

 containing the fibre. The strength of the various fibres appears to depend 

 in a great measure upon the amount of lateral adhesion of their ultimate 

 fibrillae, which prevents them drawing away from each other j and the chief 

 object therefoi'e to be sought for, is some pi'ocess by which to separate 

 the bundles of miniite fibres, and at the same time free them from the 

 celkilar matter within which they are embedded, without breaking or 

 injuring the fibre in any way. Drawings were referred to, made from 

 samples of New Zealand flax dressed by several different processes, 

 both by mill and by hand, showing the frayed ends of the ruptured 

 fibres, and indicating very clearly the effect on the fibre of the peculiar 



