(From the Wellington Independent.) We have had submitted to us by Mr^PcJHH nail, whoso name is so well known as the 9H ventor of tho flax scraper, a further devek^^H ment of his system that cannot fail to pr^^H of tho very highest importance to tho flax flB dustry of this country. It is a well ItnOg^H fact that the great expense attending tHH manipulation of the phormium occurs aftenß^H has passed through tho strippors, wlfl^H manual labour alone becomes necessary SB wet scutching, washing, rolling, &c., combinßHj with continual turning in the bleachflßß ground. Added to this, is the heavy <flH| scutching it must necessarily undergo, w^^B great loss of the best of the fibre in towHB clean it sufficiently to render it a mnrketafl^B article, and after all this labour and expea^H ranking generally only as half-dressed, frflHH so much of the oxidised matter still & dherflH| to it. From the account received of IBS Kelly's bale of flax, realising £45 per ton,B^H may fairly judge what could be the value of I^BH article it thoroughly cleaned. There is flHjfl doubt that this now application of B^H Pownall's system can effect all that it nHH poses to do in the heading of this article. This combined operation applies to HH phormium either after passing through present strippers, Pownall's flax scraper, SB^B mentation; . or any other known process, sure and economical means of obtainin^HS valuable fibre. When employed after scraping action, the superiority is clesflj^B shown from the fibre being unbroken, wraHH and of a silkier nature, the fact of its b J9I first cleaned from all extraneous matter ]Hhß mitting the whole after process to act I 4^HBj beneficially upon it. It was for the pur^HH of cleaning the tips and further sof tening^^^H fibre, as an absolute necessity to perfect B9H operation by some mechanical contrivafl^B that induced Mr Pownall to try various H^H periments, and which have bow led toHHB present valuable discovery and its unireflHH application. The machine employed has the great n^^H of simplicity, ease ef adjustment, with lß9jj| wear and tear, and non-liability to disarra^Hß ment as manufactured by Mr Hurley of city. Its efficiency and lasting powers ■888 have his guarantee, and of its nature wej^^H enabled to give a short outline. l^^Bj A bundle of phormium of about eSHB

THE STAB, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1872..
