Foxton flax mill

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

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Ross, Rough & Co. Ropeworks, Foxton. This business was situated in Johnston Street, Foxton.

Two copies

See also f1999.0875

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

Ross, Rough & Co. Ropeworks, Foxton

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

Pownall Flaxmill, Foxton, 1870. This was the first flaxmill in the district and was established in 1869 and was located in Johnston Street.

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

Flax fibre bales stored in a shed ready for sale. this photograph shows two men working atop some bales whie a third man transports a bale of flax on a hand trolley.

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

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, 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.”

Daniel Ellwood working amongst flax c.1914

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

Handwritten inscription in pencil on reverse reads: “Flax being brought to be washed and taken out.”

Sepia toned Postcard showing flax fibre being washed at unnamed location. The flax in fibre form has been brought into a wooden building where some is spread over a wooden frame. A machine with two wheels and a driving chain are in the centre-left of the photograph.

In poor condition – very faded

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

Typed inscription on front of photograph reads: “The Foxton Flaxmill Ponding Area, showing decaying vegetation.”

Typed inscription on reverse reads: “Photo taken by Fred H Murray, Foxton 13.3.49

The Foxton Stripping Mill ponding area with decaying flax green matter.

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

1) "You will carry a swag if you stay here."
Some mill-hands thought town would be doomed when timber "cut out".

Many of the men who were among the first to trek into this new territory of virgin bush, not to establish farms or businesses, but as paid "hewers of wood and carriers of water," did not have the same faith in the future prosperity of Levin as did the pioneer settlers.

2) Mail boy.

"I was the mail boy in the old days. At that time the station was at Bartholomew's Mill and the mail was thrown off at the crossing. The engines were fired by matai cut into four-foot lengths and stacked in double rows on both sides of the track to a height of about four feet. Matai worked out at about 8/- a cord and it stretched from Weraroa for about a mile. It was a hard job finding mail bags among it when the driver misfired." Mr. R. S. Kent, now of Riccarton.

Written with black ink pen on mounting board below photo, as caption: “MIRANUI 1911”

Written on back with black ink pen: “James Hallam Shannon”

Miranui Flax Mill, Shannon, 1911. This photograph shows buildings used in the processing of flax in addition to accomodation buildings. In the background are the Tararua Ranges. Miranui is the Maori word for ‘Big Mill’. Opened in 1907 this mill had seven flax stripping machines, and was said to be the largest flax mill in the Southern Hemisphere.

1 Coloured / tinted photo print, mounted

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