Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Commissioners appointed by New Zealand Government visited most regions to gather material on the state of the flax industry. Produced a comprehensive report on flax types, cultivation, harvesting, preparation techniques and manufacturing processes. Includes names of traditional Māori varieties and uses. An important primary reference.

Following the Commissioners Report, there are appendices of extracts from correspondence from 1870-1871:

I. Appointment of agents in England

II. Instructions and reports from agents in England

III. Offering of rewards for manufacture, and requests for material for exhibition.

IV. Correspondence on attempts to get supply of "native-dressed flax".

V. Cultivation of flax - Hulke's offer to government of his flax nursery in Taranaki, and Field's cultivation experiments.

VI. Canterbury Flax Asociation.

Reports:

VII. Catalogue of Phormium Exhibition (fibre, manufactured articles), Colonial Museum, August 1871.

VIII. Memo of Haultain's visit to flax mills.

IX. Cultivation and growth of Phormium tenax (Hector), including list of variety names with comments.

X. Miscellaneous reports. Includes lecture on Manufacture of NZ Flax by Hutton. Some varieties described. Note on distinguishing flax fibres from manilla or sizal [sic]. Response by Skey (government chemist).

XI. Laboratory research on fibre (effects of fresh and sea-water, alkaline, acids)

XII. Further reports from England.

XIII. Supplement (2 pp) to the Flax Exhibition catalogue.

XIV. Tables (on trade quantities, values, no of flax mills, relative durability of NZ and Manilla rope)