Polynesian., 1850-12-28

New ZEALAND-We have often directed
the attention of the public to the flax trade,
from conviction Of the advantages likely to
result to the community from an increase Of
the trade, from the profitable employment it
would afford the natives. Various expert
ments have been made from time to time, by
means Of solvents or machinery, to lessen
the cost of production, but none of these at
tempts have hitherto succeeded so as to
supersede the native method of preparing the
fax. UNTIL therefore, some other and
cheaper process is devised. we must depend
upon native labour for its production. But
here difficulty arises in inducing the natives
to work if the market is fuctuating and un-
certain; as long as the price is remunerat-
ing and remains steady, and the demand
continues constant, the natives will be found
to engage in it readily, for the preparation
of flax is an employment of which they are
fond, and we believe that, at present, up the
Manuwatu, at Otaki, and in the adjacent
districts, they are busily engaged in prepar-
ing it. A certain quantity of the flax thus
prepared is always in request at Sydney and
the chief demand exists during the wool sea-
son, not at Sydney, but throughout the Aus
tralian colonies, where it is preferred for
wool lashing, and where, with little man
agement, in the present state of the market,
a virtual monopoly may be secured. The
only article which formerly competed with
the New Zealand flax at Sydney was the
Manila hemp, and this from its present high
price has ceased to be imported by the Svd-
ney merchants. The following information
of the price of this article, FURNISHED by one
of the first houses at Sydney for which we
are indebted to Mr.. Ludlam, will show the
limit to be obtained for wool lashing of New
Zealand flax. In IS45 the price of wool
lashing, including insurance. commission,
exchange, &C., was Ell los per ton at Ma
Mia; since then the price of hemp has risen
in Manila from 20 to 25 per cent. To this
must be added further sum Of f3 per toR
freight to Sydney, together with an ad
valorem duty of 10 per cent, and landing ex-
penses, such as carriage, wharfage, SC. The
present cost OF Manila wool lashing (lS50)
is about EGG per ton in Sydney, and in con-
sequence Of this high price the export from
Manila has ceased. The market therefore
remains entirely open to New Zealand, and
to show how inadequately it has been sup
Piled we have been informed that during
the last season, owing to the scarcity OF
wool lashing, in some instances at Port
Phillip hoop iron was used. We think from
what has been stated, there is an encourag-
ing prospect for the flax trade, and we hope
during the current year to see it considera-
bly, extended.-[W Wellington Spectator.
New ZEALAND RoPE.-We learn with
heartfelt pleasure that the cordage supplied
to H. M. Ships on this station, manufacture
ed from native flax, by our enterprising
itownsman, Mr.. James Robertson, of Me-
chanics' Bay, has been subjected to repeat.
ed tests, all of which it has borne in the mos
satisfactory manner. Its qualities have beer
tried against those Of Dockyard and Manila
: rope TO the latter it has proved immeasur.
ably superior, being still serviceable. whilst
its rival has been worn out. Against the
Dockyard twist, it continues to maintain u:
place, and, as we have been told with every
probability of equal if not superior rePuta
j tion This is most encouraging. Th'
standing rigging of the Fly" has we arr
told, been condemned, and is to be replaces
] by new from Mr.. Robertsons store, upol
the return Of the sloop from Sydney.