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the strain stood was rathei' over 200 lbs ; the remainder marking from 

 150 lbs. to 180 lbs. However, he thought such data should not be 

 regarded as absolutely correct, but rather as indicating general results. 

 As an illustration, a sample of flax was tested by means of a spring 

 balance, to which was attached a clip that grasped a twisted hank 

 of flax (a South Island sample) ; the other end was stretched downwards 

 by a screw so arranged as to mark the weight on the dial of the spring 

 balance. The sample broke after marking a strain of 225 lbs. Extracts 

 from the results of similar experiments in England were read which put 

 silk at 34, New Zealand flax at 23, English hemp at 16, English flax at 11, 

 showing New Zealand flax to be a stronger vegetable fibre than any other 

 in the market. Dr. Hector said he was once of the opinioii that the best 

 way to treat flax was by pressure or hammering, but he had, since 

 reading Mr. Nottidge's paper on the subject, come to the opinion that 

 the better way would be to divide the fibre by mechanical means without 

 any pressing action, so that when subsequently subjected to a solvent, 

 the water might find its way between every fibre, exactly as retting 

 Irish flax. He believed this had been already done on a small scale, but 

 the process was worthy more attention than it had received from 

 manufacturers. 



Mr. Macffarlane, M.H.R., Chairman of the Flax Commission, said it 

 was once matter for enquiry whether flax would grow from seed ; but 

 after a great number of exjDeriments it had been ascertained that it would 

 do so, and more readily than was generally expected. The natives them- 

 selves never grew it from seed, as they had always a sufficient supply of 

 roots to transplant ; besides, it gave them the advantage of a couple of 

 years' growth or more. After experimenting with vario\;s kinds of 

 machines in Auckland, they had settled pretty generally on the modifi- 

 cations of the fluted roller principle. After passing through the machine 

 the plant was washed and bleached, which took from fourteen to sixteen 

 days, according to the weather, and afterwards put through the scutcher, 

 when it was considered fit to pack for market. To show the advantage 

 of the washing process — which was best done in such water as that of a 

 mill dam, as running water was found not to answer so well— he men- 

 tioned that on taking out the flax after a few seconds' immersion, a large 

 patch of blood-coloured matter clouded the water. The process was com- 

 pleted after three immersions. If the flax were sent out without being 

 cleansed in that manner it bore a yellowish appearance ; and great quan- 

 tities of it had from this cause become unfit for certain purposes afterwards. 

 When they, in the North, found that flax-dressers in the South were 



