AucMand Institute. 473 



Abstract. 



Dr. PurcLas described several different kinds o£ vegetable fibre, showing 

 specimens derived from the ti tree, and wbat be termed tbe mpst beautiful 

 fibre be knew of, a fibre from tbe leaf of tbe pine-apple. He tben spoke 

 of tbe Phormium tenax^ and tbe capabilities of tbe fibre derived from it. 

 He tbougbt tbe refuse in manufacturing migbt be converted into useful 

 brown paper. If used from tbe green leaf, be tbougbt tbe paper would not 

 require any size. Tbe autbor tben pointed out wbat be considered to be tbe 

 necessary processes to produce tbe fibre. It was simply a mistake to talk 

 about getting rid of tbe gum ; it was tbe cellular tissue tbat tbey wanted to 

 get rid of — tbe gum was easily got out. Dr. Purcbas said it was some years 

 since he bad made tbe discovery, tbat merely striking tbe leaf with a 

 hammer on a piece of bard wood released the fibre. He tben spoke of the 

 native mode, which, he said, was ingenious and effective, but in which there 

 was a great waste. It also very easily fermented. When they wanted to 

 make kaitaka mats, the natives steeped the fibre, and beat it until it was 

 freely divided. He also spoke of the boiling process, and showed a specimen 

 prepared in that way. There was one person who prepared flax by boiling, 

 and then subjecting it to a mechanical process, which he kept secret. In 

 speaking of the process of fermentation, Dr. Purcbas said that it was 

 averred that that process spoiled the fibre, which he thought likely. Dr. 

 Purcbas then exhibited a piece of rope made from the common flax produced 

 at Waitangi. He would like to see a rope manufactory established here as 

 well as at Canterbury. 



Mr. Buckland said he was sure they were all much obliged to Dr. Purcbas 

 for bringing before them a matter second in importance not even to the 

 digging of gold. He was afraid they never could make flax well adapted to 

 rope making, unless they could succeed in preventing rotting. Dr. Purcbas 

 had told them that, before the war, the miners in Victoria had preferred the 

 flax ropes, but tbey had found by experience that they could not stand 

 exposure to wet, and they had ceased to use them. Tbe fault found in the 

 rope was that it would not take tar well, and that it rotted. The system of 

 cleaning the flax by beating was not new, as he had seen it in Wellington in 

 1840, where flax was manufactured by beating it between two pieces of hard 

 wood. This plan was given up, and they afterwards took to boiling. If the 

 people of New Zealand ever made up their minds to cultivate flax, they must 

 take the tibore, and there were several distinct kinds of tibore. The best 

 flax he knew of was to be found at Maungatautari, where the natives could 

 earn seven shillings a day, at a price of £20 per ton. That was done 

 by using only the best description of flax. He trusted the time was not 

 far distant when tbey would be able to export a large quantity of flax. 

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