The story of Ellis & Burnands sawmilling operation at Manunui near Taumarunui. For 60 years, from 1901, the Company was a central part of the township that grew up around the sawmills. Over that time hundreds of people worked in the mill, box factory, veneer works, and bush gangs.

Ken Anderson wrote the histories of Ellis & Burnands other large King Country mills at Ongarue and Mangapehi, Sparse Timber Sawmillers and Maoriland Sawmillers. He had partially completed the Manunui story before his death and his old mate Ron Cooke, along with Audrey Walker, have completed the job under the auspices of Taumarunui & Districts Historical Society Inc.

Ron’s influence is apparent in the hundreds of black and white photos of action at the mills, lokeys on the tramways, haulers in the bush, village life and all other aspects covered in the 392 A4 sized paged book.

The book begins with profiles of the Company founders, JW Ellis, Harry Burnand and Henry Valder.