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Turitea Dam, Opening Day Picnic

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Description: In this photograph, we see the members of the Borough Council and their wives at the annual Mayoral Picnic at Tiritea. The newly built Tiritea Dam was also officially declared open by the Mayoress, who cut the ribbon. After inspecting the dam the party were given afternoon tea. Identified in the photograph are: Mayor J.A. Nash - 6th man from left, second row; His wife, Mayoress Elizabeth Nash is on his left; Councillor Edward John Armstrong is possibly on her left; W.H. Collingwood front row, second from right with the hat with grey ribbon; H Palmer second from left, back row with the bow tie; W. Stubbs 3rd from left, back row in white suit; S Jickell second from left, front row. See also W4 and The Birth of Palmerston North, p 92.In July 1888, the Palmerston North Borough Council accepted a scheme to bring water from the Tiritea Stream to the city at a cost of £18,350. The contractors were Coates and Metcalf of Hamilton. The dam was situated seven miles east of Palmerston North and the water was piped first to a reservoir on Tiritea Hill and then to the city over the Fitzherbert Bridge. A second dam was constructed in 1906-1907 and then was raised in height and re-opened on 17th February 1913, submerging the original dam.The present dam was constructed in 1957.