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.

Report has sections on

I. Growth and culture of Phormium (including, pp 8-9, notes on varieties growing in different regions)

II. Manufacturing processes, leaf preparation.

III. Machinery used.

Appendices cover:

i. List of questions used in investigation by Commissioners.

II. Hector and Skey's report on experiments performed in 1863-1864: New Zealand Flax considered as a fibrous material

III. Classification of Phormium tenax (Selwyn) - varieties scraped with fingernail, shell, and coarser kinds.

IV. Lindsay's report: On the obstacles to the utilization of New Zealand Flax.

V. Correspondence, Field to Hall on his flax fibre experiments and observations.

VI. Correspondence, Florance to Potts, on gum solvents.

VII. Nottidge' report: On the structure and colour of the fibre of Phormium tenax.

VIII. Hutton report: On the structure of the leaf of Phormium tenax

IX. Correspondence, Bust to The Press, on flax processing, quality, industry prospects in South Island.

X. Report: Preparation of New Zealand Flax, written for the Press

XI. Paper: Williams, Flax and its uses

XII. McKay, Lecture on NZ flax, Nelson 1869

XIII -XVII Correspondence, relative stength of ropes

XVIII Flax machinery

XIX. Report by Hector on samples of prepared fibre submitted to him for examination.