CARTING THE DRESSED FLAX FROM 'HOPKIRK'S WHAKAKĪ FLAXMILL' - LOCATED ADJACENT TO IWITEA - SEPTEMBER 1889

click/tap the photos to see the teamster...

The men who worked at Hopkirk's flaxmill were locals, tangata whenua. The bullockie seen here with his full loaded dray, loaded with dressed flax, is not heading to Te Wairoa, but the Whakakī beach from where it will lightered out to the waiting boat for Napier.

It won't be until mid-1890 that the Te Wairoa - Tūhara dray road will be ready.

The flaxmill, as seen here, was completely destroyed by fire in early February 1890 along with 14-tons of dressed flax and all machinery and soon afterwards rebuilt.

In March 1896 a fire spread from Hamlin's farm, adjacent, and destroyed 100s of acres of flax, throwing locals out of work here until new growth enabled harvesting to begin anew.

CREDIT William Williams collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library

Enlarged views of parts of the photo below:

This is an enlarged view of the driver

This is an enlarged view of the scutched flax drying