Messrs Deßourbel and Co., Cathedral-square, Christchurch. Geytxemeit, — At the request of Captain Deßourbel, we have much pleasure m sending you a few remarks on a sample of cleaned New Zealand flax, left by him with us. The flax is of good colour and fair length, but though tolerably strong, some of our manufacturers would prefer its being sent over to this country m a rougher state, like the sample accompanying this letter, which is

worth m this market about £33 per ton, as they think the cleaning process weakens the flax. On the other hand, one of our largest home makers considers your sample as very well cleaned, and that the flax could not be better prepared m this country. This flax would be useful m twine and rope making, and would be worth here £35 per ton m quantity. A few hundred bales might possibly fetch more. By the next N.Z. mail we will send you samples cleaned m this country. Hoping that the above information will be of use to ~" you, We are, gentlemen, Tours truly, Babkbb, Net lew "& Co. 36 Fenchurch-street, London, Feb. 24, 1869. Extract of Lbtteb *bom J. C. Watts Russell, Esq. I think from what I can hear at present you will be able to make a very good thing of the flax. I gave the specimen you sent me to Mr Fenwick, and he at once took it to some of the principal merchants m the City, and they report very favourably upon it, and have sent part of it to Dundee and part of it to Dublin, to get further opinion upon it from persons who are greatly interested m tho manufacture of flax, &c. If you can send fivo tons the same as the sample you sent, do so. • * * I enclose the few lines I had from Mr Fenwick about the matter, which will show you that he has already taken some trouble about the matter. Eepoet op C. E. Fenwick, Esq. 