474 Proceedings. 



Captain Hutton said flax could not be made useful for sail-cloth. 



Dr. Purclias said Ms own opinion was, that it was not good for sails, or 

 for anything that had to be mucb exposed to tbe weather, as it was destroyed 

 by constant wetting and drying. With regard to ropes, there was a mode of 

 preparation that would make it take tar. The ti-tree fibre had enormous 

 power in resisting the weatber, but tbey could only apply the flax to its 

 proper purpose. If tbey took the New Zealand flax, they might make a rope 

 from it stronger almost than any other ; but if tbey wanted it to retain its 

 strength, tbey must coat it with material to keep it from th.e weather. There- 

 fore, he freely acknowledged that New Zealand flax was not a good material 

 for rope making, wbere it was to be exposed to constant changes in the 

 weatber witbout any protecting material. Whether, when tarred, it would 

 last as long as a rope made from European flax, be did not know ; be should 

 say not. Probably one great reason was, that the tar penetrated more 

 thoroughly into tbe inner fibres of tbe European rope. If they subdivided 

 the fibre of the Phormium tenax, tbey gained the strength on the knot, but 

 lost strengtb in the direct line of the fibre. 



Mr. Wrigley said tbere was one point spoken of by Dr. Purchas be 

 sbould like some further explanation about — namely, as to mixing the flax 

 witb other materials. 



Mr. Stewart said his impression was, that the flax would take tar much 

 better than Manilla, altbougb not so well as hemp. 



Dr. Purchas said that in one place in Yorkshire ten thousand pounds 

 wortb of macbinery had been put up to work tbe New Zealand flax, but they 

 could not get a supply, and tbe machinery had to be taken down. That was 

 wbat they were constantly told in England : " There is no use sending samples ; 

 send us tbe material by ship-loads, and we will take it, and give a good 

 price." 



The Chairman said that he might make some remarks on the subject, 

 having been one of the Committee of the House of Eepresentatives, in 1860, 

 wben Dr. Purcbas' patent was passed. He confessed that be was utterly 

 against patents, and thought them wrong in principle. He, bowever, 

 happened to be on the Committee on Dr. Purchas' application, and he was 

 very miicb pleased when Dr. Purchas showed him the principle upon wbicb 

 be was manufacturing the flax. He was surprised as well as pleased at tbe 

 simplicity and yet effectiveness of it ; and wben be went Soutb be tried all 

 be could to interest some of the people there in tbe matter, and get them to 

 take up the patent and work it." He did all he could to push it there, 

 because he believed it to be a right principle. He had seen it, and it seemed 

 to him to be a right principle mechanically ; and upon these grounds 

 it seemed to Mm that tbe principle was adapted not only to flax but 



