Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

The Canterbury Flax Association was established in June 1870 with a view to testing the adaptability of Phormium to commercial purposes. A sub-committee was set up which gathered a large amount of information relevant to the flax industry. Their findings are collected into this document.

Some topics covered are: flax mills in Canterbury, statements from users on its suitability as rope, various experiments and suggestions for improved methods of dressing flax, the alleged spontaneous combustion of flax, action taken by the government in respect to the flax industry, utilisation of the fibre.

There are interesting references in the latter section on the use of flax to make shirts. The army outfitter in Woolwich who was making them sent hanks of flax to a factory in Dundee to be made into linen. The shirts lasted well, took colour well. "...all the New Zealand officers wore them. The reason the flax shirts were liked so much was, that when you had sweated a great deal the flax shirt did not give you a chill...when you got cold"

The article also describes fine crochet done with machine dressed flax (M. Journeaux"s process), the making of paper, use of flax gum as adhesive, medicinal qualities.