Punt loaded with bales of flax hemp, Okarito Lagoon.

About this image

DescriptionArthur Dehn:
That was my Granddad' Chinn's punt picking up his hemp from his flax mill in Whataroa to be towed to Hokitika by his Coastle, boat , The Neta

A C Graham Collection. Canterbury University Archive. Ref: 17801
Map^[1]ContributorMaye Dunn

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Location (city or town)Okarito LagoonOrganisation (eg business)Flax mill

Category Information

Category TagFlaxmill

From Facebook

Date Created1st April 2021CommentsJames Newby
Flax hemp?
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Samarra Wright-Scott
James Newby there were lots of flax mills in south westland.
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James Newby
Samarra Wright-Scott yes I fully aware of that as I remember the flax works next to the New River at Cameron’s for instance,
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Glenn Johnston
NZ flax was often called hemp in the old days. One of my great grandfathers was sponsored to come here by the NZ Gvt from Northern Ireland as he was a hemp expert (in this case linen flax) He worked for the government for a while then worked for Donaghy's a company that made ropes etc.

Don Narn
Glenn Johnston I used to live about 5oo yards from the flax mill in Westport and before that next to the old airport at North Beach where they dried the flax
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Warner Nut Curry
Amazing

Dave Lyes
My ancestors in the 1830's cultervated flax on their property at Lucus Creek in Albany. In those days small craft could navigate the creek, hard to imagine when you see it today. Early Auckland court records show "we" shot 3 Maori stealing the flax. Truth be known they had been harvesting it for hundreds of years there. Very sad.
I have also read early Maori traded flax to North America in ships obtained from early whalers and sealers who had chosen to settle and marry locals. Well before Waitangi days. Maybe others have more definitive information on this very valuable harvest of the day?

Mary Moffitt
Fascinating information. A very fair comment. Thank you.

Arthur Dehn
That was my Granddad' Chinn's punt picking up his hemp from his flax mill in Whataroa to be towed to Hokitika by his Coastle, boat , The Neta

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Punt loaded with bales of flax hemp, Okarito Lagoon.

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