Flax Through the Century

Description

Booklet published by the Foxton Historical Society and made available Labour Weekend 1969 when the group celebrated a century of flaxmilling in Foxton. The booklet was written by the following contributors - I.R. Matheson, C.M. Thompson, and A.N. (Tony) Hunt. The booklet includes a map showing sites of flaxmills and hemp stores. Included are images reproduced from glass plates. Included also is material from the Manawatū Herald newspaper.

Foxton's first flaxmiller was Charles James Pownall (1819-1888), who opened his mill C.J. Pownall & Co in 1869 on land between Harbour Street and Johnston Street. It was followed by about 14 others. Names of the Foxton flaxmills included Paretao, Star (later Ida), Whitanui Ltd, Huia Flaxmilling Co. Ltd, Rough and Co. Ltd, Emu, Awa, Kowhai, Foxton, Ora, Whakapai and mills operated by John Rutherford, John Anderson, and N.Z Woolpack and Textiles Ltd.

I.R. Matheson writes that the history of Foxton's flaxmilling industry has been characterised by instability, with periods of prosperity followed by periods of depression. By 1969, flaxmilling was no longer the principal activity in Foxton.

Identification

Object type

Multi page

Relation

Local history library collection

Date

1969

Digitisation id

2025Pa_IMCA-DigitalArchive_043693