Miranui Flaxmill, Makerua, Shannon. In the background are the Tararua Ranges

1 B&W photo print copy

Also see Acc.# 2000.222

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

Miranui Flax Mill, north of Shannon, during a flood C.1914. In Tararua Ranges can be seen behind the flaxmill.

Inscription on reverse reads: “Miranui Mill and ‘Old Man Flood’ (c.1914)”

1 B&W photo print copy

Also see Acc.# 2000.223

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

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Miranui Mill.”

Early view of the stripping shed at Miranui Mill, Shannon, taken shortly after the mill began operating in 1907.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

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

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Miranui Mill, Drying Flax Fibre.”

Flax fibre bleaching on fences and on the ground at the Miranui Mill. Tararua Ranges in the background.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

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

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Miranui Mill, Shannon.”

A rear view of the stripping shed, Miranui Mill, Shannon, showing additional buildings & pond. The water in the foreground was a 750,000 gallon reservoir and was used to wash the the flax fibre during the stripping process.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

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

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: ” Barclay Engine hauling wagons laden with green flax leaves over Tokomaru River.”

Barclay saddle tank steam engine hauling wagons of green flax leaves from the swamp to the Miranui mill, pauses while crossing the Tokomaru River.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

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

Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink: “P 61”

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Drying Flax.”

Penciled on back: “Drying flax, north of Shannon, near Miranui mill. G.L. Adkin photograph.”

Flax fibre has is hanging on fences as part of the bleaching process at the Miranui flaxmill on the Shannon-Tokomaru Road. Sheep are grazing between the drying fences to keep the grass down.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

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

Printed on front of mounting board, top left, with black ink: “SHANNON ” Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink: “P 6 “

Typed on piece of paper glued to back: “P6 Engine room of ‘Miranui’ Flaxmill, situated on east side of main road north of Shannon. Photo by James Hallam, Shannon.”

See also – Acc. #2000.533 (original ?) HHS Photos Outsize

The engine room of Miranui Flax Mill, c 1908. Miranui was the largest flaxmill ever built in New Zealand and was situated on the Shannon to Tokomaru highway. The flaxmill was opened in 1907. In this photograph nine men and a small girl are pictured alongside the suction gas engines in the engine room which is lined with timber.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

See also 2000.533.0001 (HHS Photos Outsize)

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

A man standing at one of two scutchers in a flaxmill. Inscription at the side of the photograph reads: “TGD Scutching 9.1.16”

Photograph is very faint.

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

Inscription on reverse reads: “Yellow card. Flax cut in the swamp carted to the river”

Flax leaf being moved along tram rails on banks of Manawatu River. Horses are being used to hall the flax laden wagons. To the right is a weighing machine.

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

Foxton flax mill

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

2 copies

Rope works at Foxton (“Jam factory”) in Johnston Street/Peter Robinson stripper keeper/horse and cart loaded withfibre/ Flax leak stacked and fibre on rails/Seaview gardens behind?

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

Accomodation for workers at Whitinui flax mill in 1911/

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

Two unidentified workers at Poplar Flax mill with bundles of cut flax leaves.

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

Inscription on reverse reads: “Probably Coley’s Mill”

Flaxmill at Foxton probably Coleys. In this photograph a group of men are stacking fibre onto a cart.

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

Inscription printed on front of photograph reads: “Poplar Mill.”

Inscriptions on reverse read: “Tramming for Poplar Mill.” “Geo Rankin on Tram.” “Fred Allerby on tram.” “About 1919.” “Donated by Mr Fred Allerby of Rongotea 1969. (Copy negative held by I R Matheson.”

Carting flax at Poplar mill c1919. Two horses are pulling wagons loaded with cut flax along a tramway. The two men in the photograph are Fred Allerby and Geo Rankin.

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

Horse drawn tram and load of flax beside Manawatu River at Moutoa. set of scales in paddock one of set of 6 photographs

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

Austin’s flaxmill on bank of Manawatu River at Foxton. Later purchased by Walter Bock. Ian Mathieson notes on back “Two(?) stripper-part of Austin’s “Kowhai Mill” (Austin-Bock & Coley-Nye-Westwood) Another stripper in second buiding behind this mill ? one of set of 6 photographs

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

Unidentified flaxcutter at work amongst flax plants.

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

Donated by E M Grimwood of Linton and Fred Allerby.

Poplar flaxmill cutters pose in front of a stand of flax c.1919. Those in the photograph are from left to right Jack Rountree, Fred Rickerby, Fred Allerby, Charlie Morgan, George Rankin, Harry Morgan (son of Charlie), Jack Bradbury and Carl Lumquist.

2 copies

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

A4 black and white photocopy.

Printed at bottom of original photograph - GREEN LEAF CUTTING. POPLAR MILL.

“Flaxies” green leaf cutters at “Poplar Mill”, c.1910. This photograph shows eight unidentified men among the flax.

A4 black and white photocopy.

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

Inscription on reverse reads: “27 Aug. 1974. Last flax being cut.”

The last cutting of flax at the Moutoa swamp. A tractor towing a bin is being used to complete the process.

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

Inscription on reverse reads: “Bill Kuiti”

Bill Kuiti driving a tractor through the flax at Moutoa Estate, 1974.

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

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Flax Cutters, Miranui Mill, Shannon.”

Four flax cutters taking a break, Miranui Mill, Shannon. The swamp was divided into blocks which were cut once every four years by the flax cutters.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

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

This phot was also used in Bob Ayson's book Miranui with the following description:

Flaxcutters having a welcome rest amongst the flax. The swamp was divided into blocks which were cut once every four years by the flaxcutters who used a sharp blade shaped like a reap hook. The portions of the block allotted to each group of cutters were called "breaks". The flax was cut about one foot above the base of the plant and tied into bundles of about 25 to a ton and stacked for the "trammies" to collect. Over three acres of flax was cut daily and the average worker cut 3rh to 4 tons of flax in a 8 hour day. About 22,000 tons of leaf was cut annually.
Photo: Palmerston North Public Library.

Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink – P 41

Written with blue ballpoint pen on piece of paper glued to back: “Meeting between Flax Miller’s and County Chairman, G.F. Monk (centre bottom). Bottom Left : A.A. Brown – His Father-in-Law.

This photo used in book – ‘Horowhenua County and its People’, page 158, and acknowledged to – Brown Coll.

Flax Millers with the County Chairman, G.A. Monk, 1919. Mr Monk sits in the centre of the front row , with his father-in law Mr A. A. Brown, seated to the far left in the front row.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

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

Fibre drying in paddocks probably in Shannon area. In the background are the Tararua Ranges

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

Inscription on reverse reads: “Huia Flaxmill, Harbour Street, Foxton, 1912. This mill was owned by Mr J Rose from 1908 to 1917. Mr Rose and his infant son Horace can be seen in the right foreground of this photograph. Donated by Mr Horace Rose of Pahiatua, 1969. Copy negative held by I R Matheson of Palmerston North.”

Huia Flaxmill, Harbour Street, Foxton, 1912. Owned by J Rose from 1908 – 1917. Mr Rose and his infant son, Horace, can be seen in the right foreground of the photograph. Flax fibre is coming out from the washers in the flaxmill.

Mounted print and copy.

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

Flax fibre paddock with fences covered with fibre. This photograph was possibly taken at the north end of Foxton.

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

Black and white photograph.

G Huff cutting flax at Mouota.

Black and white photograph.

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

Abraham King established a fellmongery up river from Foxton. He also was invilved with the flaxmilling industry.