32 



means allowance was made for the irregular thickness of the leaf, each 

 part of which was subjected to an equal pi^essure while being scraped, 

 the iirst set sci-ajoing one side of the leaf, the other side being afterwards 

 scraped by the second set of rollers. 



Mr. J. C. Crawford said that as the general opinion seemed to point 

 to the retting process as the proper one to be adopted, he might mention 

 that all the necessary information regarding it would be found in "lire's 

 Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines." As to the exhausting 

 nature of the Europe flax, he thought the rotation at home was once in 

 nine years — that is before the land was brought into a fine state of tilth ; 

 so that if we wished to grow Europe flax in New Zealand as they did in 

 Ireland, we could only expect to put in a crop once in nine years. While 

 at Manilla he remarked that all their fine textiles, such as cambrics and 

 dresses, were made from the pineapple fibre, and at an enormous expense, 

 and not from the ordinary fibi'e used for rope. 



The Hon. Mr. Hall wished to know whether the attention of the 

 Commissioners had been directed to the matter of paper manufacture. 



Sir David Monro said he had been informed by a young friend of his 

 who had got most authentic information on the matter from people in 

 England, that the price of New Zealand fibre was so high as to preclude 

 it entirely from that manufactare. He wished to know at what period 

 of its existence the flax plant yielded its best fibre, as he thought the 

 question one of equal importance with the separation of the fibre. He 

 had frequently observed, as no doubt others had, that the strength of 

 flax was not the same at all periods of the year, as in the early part of 

 the summer, when it seemed to have less tenacity. 



Mr. Macifarlane said the commission had directed their attention to 

 that matter, and the result of their observations would be found in their 

 report when laid before the House of Representatives. The plant, in its 

 earliest stage, shot up one leaf at a time until there were six or eight. In 

 about four or five years the plant reached maturity, when the outer leaves 

 began gradually to decay ; and one reason for the depreciation of our 

 flax in the English market was, that much of those dead and dying 

 leaves had been sent home amongst the first shipments. "As to whether 

 the plant could be cut down all the year round, he believed the Maoris 

 never ciit it at the period spoken of, but he was of the impression that 

 as soon as any one began to cultivate the plant the leaves might be cut 

 down as they ripened. 



Mr. Graham said there was no point on which there was so miTch 

 difierence of opinion ; but on one point all wei'e unanimous, viz., that, 



