77 



ate ^iH])lovi «K :ni(l ("iisfniii renders thcTii very 

 export. B{4ni'(% lin\v(n'i'i% tlir flax is iiiainifac- 

 tiiri'tl into inatting, it is previously soaked in 

 water, and afterwards beaten, by wliicli it be- 

 cowie« mm pllabte and sofl. Tbfe pMttt i» 



named koradi by the native s ; and when tkc 

 is prepared, it is named niultd. This- [)laitt 

 alone would render New Zealand a valuable 

 colony to the British nation. At present the 



Qf oi>f&ig$» j^. ; but if the best vmeti^i indi- 

 genous to New Zealand, w^ere selected, (for they 

 diftVr materially in the fineness of the filu'e,) 

 and proper care and attention bestowed on the 

 deaiiSjj^ wbea m ^ t^e^t iSt^st^, \i may, ther^ 

 ean be ti6 d%m1it, be esoployed in the mimuj^e^ 

 ture of linen of very fine quality. 



Previous to l>eing used for cordaf^'e, Mr. 

 Maelaren has the flax well liackled, which ma- 

 terially impram & qwaHty mA a|pesimt&e : 

 ccmld it be exjjouted in tills ini|^r<ivel state, it 

 cannot be doubted that much of the prejudice 

 now existing: against its use would be removed ; 

 for the epidermis of the leaves being entirely 

 rettiov^d t3ie flaJt i| W0k cleaned, 



fibree wilij, Its 4 matt^y dt mm^^ unite ^^loser 

 toother, affording- a united and stronger re- 

 sistance ; biit Mr. Maelaren informs me timt 



