View source for Biology:Makerua Swamp

[[File:Flax mill at Makerua, circa 1910 ATLIB 306033.png|thumb|The Miranui flax mill at Makerua Swamp around 1910]]
The '''Makerua Swamp''' or '''Opiki Plains''' in the Opiki District of the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of New Zealand were around 1910 the location of the flax mills that once operated on the banks of the Manawatu River.<ref>Ian Matheson: [https://manawatuheritage.pncc.govt.nz/item/9530f854-6095-4c37-ab44-2f0b5de04ae7 ''Flaxmills of Makerua Swamp.''] 1978, Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services.</ref> Flax fibre, often known as New Zealand [[Biology:Hemp|hemp]], New Zealand [[Biology:Flax|flax]] or ''harekeke'', but more correctly known as [[Biology:Phormium tenax|phormium tenax]], was an important produce of New Zealand.<ref>Albert Percy Godber: [https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.306055 Bales of flax fibre ready for market] A P Godber Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library. Reference Number: APG-1438-1/4-G.</ref><ref name="Adkin">George Leslie Adkin (1888-1964): [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23110271 ''Loading cut flax in Makerua.'']] In: Photographs of New Zealand geology, geography, and the Maori history of Horowhenua. Ref: 1/2-065689-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.</ref> 

== Mills ==
The Miranui flax mill near Shannon was owned by the Seifert brothers. Miranui (Māori for ''Big Mill'') operated from 1907 to 1933, and was the largest in the district. At its peak it had seven stripping machines and 300 employees. Miranui had much better labour relations than the other mills.<ref>Malcolm McKinnon: [https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9469/cutting-flax ''Manawatū and Horowhenua region - Human impact on the environment''.] Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved on 6 May 2018.</ref> 

== Transportation ==
[[File:Miranui Flaxmill locomotive crossing the Tokomaru Stream, near Shannon (1908). Palmerston North City Library, digitisation ID 2007N Fx91 FLA 0636.jpg|thumb|Miranui Flaxmill locomotive crossing the Tokomaru Stream near Shannon, (1908)]]
The Miranui flax mill was the only mill that operated a {{convert|3+1/2|mi|km}} long {{track gauge|3ft}} narrow gauge tramway from the mill to the fields in the swamp. It purchased in 1907 a 5 ton steam locomotive from Bagnall and Co in England to haul the bespoke flax wagons. However, even this lightweight engine proved too heavy for the flimsy tracks across the swamps and it was sold to work later on bush tramways on the Waitakere coast near Auckland and near Raetihi in the central North Island.<ref name="Knight">Catherine Knight et al: [https://envirohistorynz.com/2012/03/17/the-little-engine-that-couldnt-the-miranui-tramway/ ''The little engine that couldn’t: the Miranui tramway.''] Published on 17 March 2012. Retrieved on 6 May 2018.</ref> Horse-drawn narrow gauge railways on temporary tracks for harvesting the hemp on the fields were used from 1910 onwards.<ref name="Adkin"/><ref name="Knight"/>

As Makerua railway station was nearby, it was possible to transport the bales of flax via the North Island Main Trunk railroad to the harbours, from where they could be exported overseas.

<gallery>
A flax worker harvesting the green leaves, using a sickle ATLIB 306053 (cropped).png|A 'cutter' harvesting the green leaves, using a sickle
Loading cut flax in Makerua by George Leslie Adkin (1888-1964).png|Loading cut flax onto horse-drawn trucks to be hauled to Miranui mill 
Nov. 1917
Flax worker feeding a flax leaf into the stripper ATLIB 306064 (cropped).png|A flax worker feeding a flax leaf into the stripper
Two flax workers scutching the fibre ATLIB 306044 (cropped).png|Two flax workers scutching the fibre
Bales of flax fibre ready for market ATLIB 306055 (cropped).png|Bales of flax fibre ready to be transporte to the market
Flaxmills of Makerua Swamp by Ian Matheson,1978, Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services.jpg|Flaxmills of Makerua Swamp
</gallery>

== Further Literature ==
* Bob Ayson: [http://horowhenua.kete.net.nz/site/topics/show/2475-miranui-the-story-of-new-zealands-largestflaxmill ''Miranui - The Story of New Zealand's Largest Flax Mill.''] Published in 1977. Retrieved on 6 May 2018.

== References ==
<references />

{{Coordinate|NS=40.391977|EW=49.847575|type=landmark|dim=25|region=AS}}


{{Sourceattribution|Makerua Swamp|1}}