Page 9 – Flaxmilling – 6 b/w photos & 1 b/w photo postcard

Top to bottom (L to R) - a) ‘Bringing Flax down the Manawatu River’, c.1918 (?). {copy} 2 horse & carts in water beside punt, 2 men standing in cart (left), man seated in cart (right), man standing on steam launch, 2 men standing on punt each holding a bundle of flax. Sand dunes in background indicates possibility of the punt being unloaded at Foxton. The use of steam launch & punt for flax transport began in 1889, peaked between 1900 & 1919, almost vanished by 1930 (replaced by road transport).

b) “Miranui Group” – senior men, c.1920. {copy} Left to Right: R.H. Webb (manager, Miranui), Alfred Seifert (chairman of directors), S.A. Carter (manager, Weka), F.C. Litchfield (secretary), A. Yorston (swamp manager). (see also – Acc.#s2002.081.0008a original mounted photo) (see also – Acc.#s2002.081.0008b additional copy)

c) Mr H. Moore with 3 horse team pulling cart loaded with flax. {original, mounted}

d) Bales of flax fibre being loaded on to railway wagons at Shannon, c.1920. {copy} 2 horse drawn wagons loaded with bales of processed flax fibre waiting to be unloaded onto railway wagons for export. 3 men with the wagons, identified as (left to right) – Reg Tippler, Bert Tremewan and Kerehama (Keri “the Maori”). Used in booklet – “Miranui – The story of New Zealand’s largest flax mill”, page 23, with caption - (34) Right lower: Unloading bales of “Miranui” fibre at the Shannon railway station. About five bales of fibre weighed one ton. The men are, from left, Reg Tippler, Bert Tremewan and Keri “the Maori”. Photo: V. Tippler. Used in book – “From Bush & Swamp”, page 96, with caption - Bales of flax fibre being loaded on to railway wagons at Shannon railway station c. 1920. (see also – Acc.#s2002.081.0003 additional copy, damaged)

e) ‘The Mill, Seifert’s Flaxdressing Co., Miranui, N.Z.’, 1908. {original postcard} The 7 stripping sheds, with engine house between the 3rd & 4th stripping shed from left, made Miranui the largest flaxmill in N.Z. Construction of the mill began in January 1907 and was officially opened on Saturday, 16th November 1907. (similar to photo (16) on page 15 in “Miranui” booklet, and to Acc.#2000.018.0030)

f) Mr Charles Lee, flax worker, standing among the flax, 20 August 1928. {copy} Wearing his “Sunday best” at Webb’s Nursery.

g) Another view of Mr Charles Lee, flax worker, standing among the flax, 20 August 1928. {copy} Wearing his “Sunday best” at Webb’s Nursery. (see also – Acc.#s2002.081.0005 additional copy)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Portrait of the seven Seifert Brothers. Although individuals in this photograph are not identified, the seven brothers were:- Herman, George, Fred, Alfred, Louis, Walter and Robert. This family was connected with the Miranui flaxmill prior to 1926.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Written below photo with black ink pen as identification of the men - R.H. Webb. Alf Seifert. S. Carter. F.C. Lichfield. A. Yorston.

Written with black ink pen below embossed herald (?) - about 1920

Embossed on mounting board, bottom right corner - Bunting Studios Palmerston North

Written on back with black ink pen – J. T. Bovis Miranui Group. about 1919 or 1920 R.H. Webb Alfred Seifert S.A. Carter F.C. Litchfield secretary manager sitting manager A. Yorston Miranui Chairman Directors Weka swamp manager {James Hallam}crossed out}

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen - Please return to – Mrs C.W. Shirriffs Longburn Phone 82.911 P.Nth.

“Miranui Group” – senior men, c.1920 1 B&W photo print, mounted

Left to Right - R.H. Webb (manager, Miranui), Alfred Seifert (chairman of directors), S.A. Carter (manager, Weka), F.C. Litchfield (secretary), A. Yorston (swamp manager).

See also – #.0008b (smaller copies).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back of one of the copies - On left R.H. Webb manager, Miranui. Alfred Seifert (chairman of directors) S.A. Carter manager, Weka ; F.C. Lichfield secty (about 1919) A. Yorston, swamp manager

“Miranui Group” – senior men, c.1920 1 B&W photo print, copy (plus additional copy)

Left to Right - R.H. Webb (manager, Miranui), Alfred Seifert (chairman of directors), S.A. Carter (manager, Weka), F.C. Litchfield (secretary), A. Yorston (swamp manager).

See also – #.0008a (mounted original).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen - Bert Seifert, son of Alfred Seifert, one of the principals of the Miranui Flax Mill.

Bert Seifert, son of Alfred Seifert, c.1980’s 1 B&W photo print

Standing beside concrete block wall. Appears to be aged in his 80’s. Possibly taken during the Centennial celebrations 1987.

Alfred Seifert was part of the syndicate that formed the Makerua Estate Company Limited in 1902 that purchased over 12,000 acres in the Makerua Swamp which they partially drained & cleared of unwanted vegetation (particularly raupo and toi toi) to encourage greater flax growth, the company then sold cutting rights to this flax, but the company did not own or operate any mills (see page 90 in book – “From Bush & Swamp”).

Alfred Seifert and his brother Louis (both of whom had previous flaxmilling experience) formed the A. and L. Seifert Flaxdressing Company in 1906 that built and operated the Miranui Flax Mill (1907 – 1933).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”