spoke of the Phormium tenax, and the capabilities of the fibre derived from it. He thought the refuse in manufacturing might be converted into useful brown paper. If used from the green loaf, he thought the paper would not require any size. The author then pointed out what he considered to be the necessary processes to produce the fibre. It was simply a mistake to talk about getting rid of the gum; it was the cellular tissue that they wanted to get rid of,—the gum was easily got out. Dr. Purchas said it was some years since he had made the discovery, that merely striking the loaf with a hammer, on a piece of hard wood, released the fibre.

He then spoke of the native mode, which, he said, was ingenious and effective, but in which there was a great waste. It also very easily fermented. When they wanted to make Kaitaka nets, the natives steeped the fibre, and boat it until it was freely divided. He also spoke of the boiling process, and showed a specimen prepared in that way. There was one person who prepared flax by boiling and then subjecting it to a mechanical process, which he kept secret. In speaking of the process of fermentation, Dr. Purchas said that it was averred that that process spoiled the fibre, which he thought likely. Dr. Purchas then exhibited a piece of rope made from the common flax produced at Waitangi. He would like to see a rope manufactory established here as well as at Canterbury.

Mr. Buckland said he was sure they were all much obliged to Dr. Purchas, for bringing before them a matter second in importance not even to the digging of gold. He was afraid they never could make flax well adapted to rope-making, unless they could succeed in preventing rotting. Dr. Purehas had told them that, before the war, the miners in Victoria had preferred the flax ropes, but they had found by experience that they could not stand exposure to wet, and they had ceased to use them. The fault faund in the rope was that it would not take tar well, and that it rotted. The system of cleaning the flax by beating was not new, as he had soon it in Wellington in 1840, where flax was manufactured by beating it between two pieces of hard wood. This plan was given up, and they afterwards took to boiling. If the people of New Zealand ever made up their minds to cultivate flax, they must take the Tihore, and there were several distinct kinds of Tihore. The best flax he knew of was to be found at Maungatautari, where the natives could earn seven shillings a day, at a price of twenty pounds per ton. That was done by using only the best description of flax. He trusted the

time was not far distant when they would be able to export a large quantity of flax.

Captain Hutton said flax could not be made useful for sailcloth.

Dr. Purchas said his own opinion was, that it was not good for sails, or for anything that had to be much exposed to the weather, as it was, destroyed by constant wetting and drying. With regard to ropes, there was a mode of preparation that would make it take tar. The Ti tree. fibre had enormous power in resisting the weather, but they could only apply the flax fibre to its proper purpose. If they took, the New Zealand, flax, they might make a rope from it stronger, almost, than any other; but if they wanted it to retain its strength they must coat it with material to keep it from the weather. Therefore, he freely acknowledged that New Zealand flax was not a good material for rope-making, where it was to be exposed to constant changes in the weather without any protecting material. Whether, when tarred, it would last as long as a rope made. from European flax, he did not know; he should say not. Probably one great reason was that the tar penetrated more thoroughly into the inner fibres of the European rope. If they subdivided the fibre of the Phormium tenax, they gained strength on the knot, but lost strength in the direct line of the fibre.

Mr. Wrigley said there was one point spoken of by Dr. Purchas, he, should like some further explanation about, namely, as to mixing the flax with other materials.

Mr. Stewart said his impression was, that the flax would take tar much better than Manilla, although not so well as hemp.

Dr. Purchas said that in one place in Yorkshire, ten thousand pounds worth of machinery had been put up to work the New Zealand flax, but they could not get a supply, and the machinery had to be taken down. That was what they were constantly told from England—there is no use in sending samples; send us the material by ship-loads and we will take it, and give a good price.

The Chairman said that he might make some remarks on the subject, having been one of the committee of the House of Representatives. in 1860, when Dr. Purchas's patent was passed. He confessed that he was utterly against patents, and thought them wrong in principle. He, however, happened to be on the committee on Dr. Purchas's application, and he was very much pleased when Dr. Purchas showed him the principle upon which he was manufacturing the flax. He was surprised as well as pleased at the simplicity, and yet effectiveness, of it; and when he