Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

To mark celebration of 100 years of flaxmilling in Foxton. Pioneer, C. J. Pownall, opened his mill in 1869. Experimented with methods to produce similar fibre quality to Māori preparation methods. Used 2 drum method. Low prices in 1873, mill closed. Manawatu Herald quotes in October 1889, "Mr. C. Chinery of Rangiora has perfected an appliance for dressing Phormium tenax to a quality as fine as silk"