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THE LEAF-FIBRE OF NE^V ZEALAND FLAX. 29
where the expected demand for this class of fibre for cordage alone is
ten tons per week. The New Zealand Exhibition of 1865 contained
an instructive suite of samples of cordage made from New Zealand
flax, from tlie coarsest ship-rope to the finest thread, including clothes-
lines, fishing lines and nets of twisted flax-fibre, and twine. Ships'
cordage is reported to be excellent as to strength, but it does not ab-
sorb tar freely. For cordage, especially, it is still supposed that the
New Zealand flax fibre is deteriorated by the gum, from which it
has hitherto been found impossible altogether to free it. A New
Zealand flax ropery once flourished in Auckland, but its operations
were stopped by the irregularity of the supply of the fibre conse-
quent on the native rebellion of 18G3. Excellent ropes were shown
in the International Exhibition of London in 1862, by Auckland
patentees (Messrs. Purchas and Mimis). New Zealand flax-made
cordage is now largely used in the North Island, both by settlers and
Maoris.
Applicability to the Manufacture of Paper.—B. M. Cameron, of
Edinburgh, the editor of the ' Paper Trade Eeview,' and himself both
a paper manufacturer and an ingenious experimentalist, reported very
favourably of New Zealand tiax-made paper in a letter to the ' Times,' in
September, 1863. He describes it as "superior, both in strength and
capability of finish, to that made from most of the rags now used.
From experiments I have seen made ... I am convinced there is
not a better material to be had for the purposes of the paper-maker."
On the other hand, the Chevalier de Claussen, in his experiments on
the fibres suitable for paper-making,—the results whereof were laid
before the British Association in 1855,—found that the fibre of Phor-
viium lenax was both expensive to prepare and nearly impossible to
bleach.* The paper on which Murray's work is printed is described
as resembling that used for Bank of England notes ; in colour it is,
however, brownish, and in texture coarsish, containing a considerable
number of specks,—both the result, perhaps, of defective manufacture
and bleaching. The paper in question was, however, manufactured in
England from New Zealand flax sent home ; and paper made also in
England so lately as 1866, from fibre prepared by M'Glashan and
Grieve, has apparently similar characters. The latter paper is described
* ' Atheni3eum,' September 29th, 1855, p. 1126.