28 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
The matting’ manufactured by the Kaihu Company is cheaper than the 
coir matting’ and will stand three times the wear and tear. Altogether, 
we may consider the result of these operations as most successful. For 
coarse paper, such as that manufactured at Kaihu Mills, there is a large 
demand in the colony, and, when once the article gets into use and 
becomes known and appreciated, the imported material is bound to yield 
the palm to it.” So much for the New Zealand Flax, and it will be hardly 
credited, when it is stated upon good authority, that we have, at our very 
doors, an article equal if not superior to the phormium , for the purpose 
of paper making, viz.: — the Coast Sword ltush ( Lepidosperma gla - 
diatum) (sample of fibre exhibited), which is found in the greatest 
abundance along’ our coast line, and which Mr. Cosmo Newbery, the 
Director of the Technological Museum of Melbourne, called attention to 
many years ago, as did also Baron von Mueller, my predecessor; and 
great credit is due to these gentlemen, especially the latter, in his 
endeavours to bring the vegetable products of the colony before the public, 
by having fibres, paper, &c., prepared from native plants, at the 
laboratory which formerly existed under his direction at the Melbourne 
Botanic Gardens. But, unfortunately, his specimens partook of micro- 
scopical form only, and, though valuable as objects of scientific interest, 
they were too meagre to attract the attention of the commercial public. 
This small mistake I have tried to obviate wherever practicable, in 
having prepared, samples of his discoveries (independent of my own), 
of such size as cannot fail to attract general attention. The want of a 
laboratory for technical purposes, however, has been a great drawback, 
in the preparation of these and other vegetable products. 
I would take this opportunity too, of testifying to the ardor of a 
fellow laborer in this field of scientific and useful research, Mr. Walter 
Hill, the Director of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, who has been 
indefatigable in his endeavours to develop the resources of Queensland, in 
this respect; and the fibres, &c., shown at former exhibitions held at 
Melbourne, Sydney, and elsewhere, prove that he has not been 
unsuccessful. 
I will not enlarge on this subject at the present time, further than to 
give the names of the plants from which these fibres have been prepared, 
both scientific and common, in full ; also the orders to which they belong 
and a short description as to their geographical distribution, and habits ; 
and their adaptability to various economic purposes as far as the limited 
means at my disposal for judging the same will allow. Before con- 
cluding I may state that in view of furthering the commercial interests 
