BOTANIC AND DOMAIN GARDENS. 
27 
many years past the Maori race have used this flax for clothing purposes 
and have even exported it to other countries, and it has been woven into 
damask by Messrs. D. Lowrie and Sons of Kirkaldy, a specimen of 
which was forwarded to the Otago Museum some considerable time 
back. The Agent-General, in referring to it, quotes from a correspon- 
dent that the sample of real damask tablecloth was made entirely from 
phormium fibre, which consisted of some rather coarse native dressed 
flax, the bleaching of which having been hurried, the cloth was conse- 
quently somewhat yellow-stained, and although not fine was very good 
and substantial. 
Some time ago the Government of New Zealand so fully realized 
the advantages that might accrue by putting the various fibres which are 
so plentiful there to profitable use, that they offered a bonus of £2,500 
for the first 100 tons of printing paper made in the colony, either from 
this fibre, or a grass called “ Sno?v grass/’ which was found all over the 
Maturari plains and on the tops of the hills of Otago, growing about 
four feet in height, being indeed very similar to esparto grass , which has 
been sent of late years from Spain to England in large quantities, and is 
used in the manufacture of paper. Some time ago it will be remembered 
considerable apprehensions were excited in this country owing to the 
great demand for paper, which formerly was made chiefly from rags, upon 
the latter becoming so scarce, that there was a prospect of an insufficient 
supply for the future. These apprehensions are now allayed, as it has 
been found that paper can be made from anything that possesses fibre, 
while from New Zealand it appears that the phormium has been most 
successfully used, and has figured in the composition of various articles 
in the most satisfactory manner. 
Not only has linen cloth been made from native flax {phormium 
tenax ) but rope, matting, excellent wrapping paper and cardboard, 
and also a kind of roofing felt which is likely to be extensively used. 
Messrs. Eraser and Tinne have erected a very complete and extensive 
plant at the Kaihu mills, in the district of Northern Wairoa, the 
Kaihu Company (Limited) having expended something like £27,000 in 
the enterprise. The Southern Cross in referring to these operations 
says: — “There are now lying at this office samples of wrapping paper, 
cardboard, and roofing felt, which for quality and cheapness should take 
the command of the market. The paper is of a fine close texture, and 
as strong almost as parchment. It will tear, but not break, and the 
prepared cardboard, for roofing purposes, is certainly better in quality 
than the imported felt roofing, and can be sold here for 2d. per foot. 
