Flax Commissioners 1871. Catalogue of the samples of fibres and manufactured articles prepared from the Phormium tenax, exhibited by the Flax Commissioners in the Colonial Museum, Wellington, August, 1871. Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives G - 4 (Appendix VII) ( Appendix VII): 37-60
Notes
Although this Exhibition mainly related to Phormium, some other plants were also shown:
Cabbage trees: Exhibit 29: "Ti-tawhiti, edible cabbage tree. Cordyline (species), per Hon. W. D. Mantell" Also, exhibit 30: "Ti-rauriki. Cordyline pumilio" also exhibited by Mantell. In a class of machine dressed flaxes, J. M. Menzies, Southland showed fibre prepared from the cabbage tree.
Class 1) Live plants and seeds. Tubs of various Phormium tenax plants, "showing the chief varieties ...distinguished by the Natives". The flaxes were collected by W. K. Hulke, who had a nursery in New Plymouth. Names and descriptions were given by T. Kelly. 17 varieties are listed and described. Atewheke, Oue, Rātāroa, Raumoa, Ngutunui, Tarariki, Parekoritawa, Atiraukawa, Tutaewheke, Taiore, Takaiapu, Tito-o-moe-wai, Huhiroa, Tīhore, `Variegated".
Seedlings listed reared in Colonial Botanic Gardens from seed supplied by T. Kelly: Atiraukawa, Korako, Variegated, Raumoa, Takaiapu, Manunu, Huhiroa, Parekoritawa.
Machine dressed hanks from mills throughout the country exhibited; some dressed by special processes. Among machine dressed hanks exhibited: Ngarowaka, Okaoka, Rātāroa, (described as Tīhore flaxes). Named flax dressed by special process: Rātāroa,Tukura.
Class III was "Native-dressed flax". Samples of many named varieties exhibited: Takaiapu, Tīhore, Rātāroa, Tarariki, Raumoa, Tutaewheke, Atiraukawa, Atewheke, Huhiroa, Arotara, Oue, Tipuna, Ngutunui, Turepo, Mataroa, Manunu, Taiore, Kowri, Korako, Hewara, Ngatatomawe, Tāpoto, Tīhore, Paretaniwha, Tiheru, Kura, Motuparera, Huru-huru-hika, Paheke, Parekoritawa, Pekokotuka
Class IVA "Native Manufactures" - many named garments, kete, ropes, fishing gear, dyed flax, barks used in dyeing, misc.
Class IVB European Manufactures. Ropes, twines, etc
Class V Samples sold in London, with prices.
Class VI Foreign fibres, including those competing with New Zealand flax on English market.
Bibliographic details
Catalogue of the samples of fibres and manufactured articles prepared from the Phormium tenax, exhibited by the Flax Commissioners in the Colonial Museum, Wellington, August, 1871