More Info →Provisional Map of Oroua County

Description: The map is inscribed with the printer’s code in the lower right-hand corner, which reads "1000.2.04.933" indicating that the map was issued in 1904 and 1000 copies were printed.

The Oroua County Council was first formed in 1883, but its powers were in effect dispersed to the Manchester, Kiwitea and Manawatū Road Boards and the Halcombe Town Board leaving the County Council effectively as a figure head with no staff or funds. By 1902 the Manchester Road Board and the Halcombe Town Board were the only remaining boards in Oroua County, the others having formed the Kiwitea, Pohangina and Kairanga Counties.

In 1902 the Manchester Road Board petitioned for the Counties Act to be reinstated in what remained of the Oroua County. This was granted in 1903, the Road Board was dissolved and was used as the basis for reforming the Oroua County Council. This new council later took over several boards and committees in the township of Ashhurst. Oroua County Council remained in existence until 1989 when several councils merged to form the Manawatū District Council, except for the land containing Ashhurst which was absorbed into the Palmerston North City Council.