Unidentified children playing in a river (possibly the Pohangina River).

A traction engine hauling felled trees. This traction engine [ see 2014N_Stu4_009085] has been temporarily converted to run on rails. The large back wheels have been removed and a chain taken from the drive gear via chain to the wheels of the rear bogie. This bogie, like the one replacing the traction engine’s front axle, is made from heavy beams of wood to which plain metal bearings have been fixed. This arrangement suggests a solution necessitated by a lack of engineering workshops in the area, as rail bogies were normally made from iron or steel. The rails themselves are timber and unlikely to last more than a season’s felling. After the job was done the traction engine would be jacked up and the original wheels replaced after which the owner could go back to regular contract work.

Harbour Board grading shed.

This photograph shows a Hemp Grader examining a hank of fibre pulled out of a bale of flax fibre. A grade was assigned to each bale and this enabled overseas buyer to purchase fibre of a uniform quality. The photograph is thought to have been taken in a Wellington Harbour Board shed.

Portrait of Mervyn Williams, son of Eva Williams (Wildbore).

Eva Williams (Wildbore) with her children (L-R), Noel, Patricia, and Mervyn.

The exact location of this landscape is unknown, but it is almost certainly somewhere in the upper Pohangina Valley, north of Ashhurst. The trees on the hillside have been felled by and the area is ready to be burnt off.

This photograph shows the handiwork of students under Mr Stephenson. Some of the items pictured are ladders, a cabinet and sets of shelves. The photographer, Charles Wildbore, was a well known local, amateur photographer during the early years of the 20th century. See the 75th Jubilee Booklet of the Pohangina and Mt Richards School (1963) for a brief history of the Technical School.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. It is taken from above the power scheme working appears to show the Mangaore village in the middle distance. The Mangahao Power Station provides hydroelectric power and is situated near the town of Shannon. It serves Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. After being delayed by the first world war construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. Shown here is the multiple cable suspension bridge during the construction of the lower dam – original No.1 Dam and No.1 tunnel. The Mangahao Power Station provides hydroelectric power and is situated near the town of Shannon. It serves Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. After being delayed by the first world war construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

The milking was done by hand in this cow shed located in the Pohangina Valley. Note the leg-ropes on the cows and the men sitting on box-stools. The shed contains about 15 bays.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This view is thought to be of the Arapete camp. This area was later flooded and became Tokomaru No 3 Reservoir.

This photograph is one of a series taken between 1922 - 1924 by Charles Wildbore which records the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges, east of Shannon. This view shows part of the Mangaore village, which was the headquarters for the project. The Mangahao Power Station provides hydroelectric power and is situated near the town of Shannon. It serves Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. After being delayed by the first world war construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This view shows the construction camp at the lower dam - original No.1 dam . The cookhouse and the men's huts are on the left and the multiple cable suspension bridge can bee seen to the right.

An unidentified brickmaker and brickworks.

This photograph is part of a collection relating to the Mangahao Electric Power Scheme and its construction. The Scheme provides hydroelectric power, and is situated near the town of Shannon. It serves Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. After being delayed by the first world war construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924. The large white building in the right-hand middle distance is the office.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This photograph possibly taken at the Arapete camp shows three workmen and the cook. The Mangahao Power Station provides hydroelectric power and is situated near the town of Shannon. It serves Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. After being delayed by the first world war construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

One of a series taken by Charles Wildbore between 1922 - 1924, recording the construction of the Mangahao electric power scheme. The power house was constructed at the foot of the ridge in the centre distance (to the right of the woooden building on stilts). The route along which the pipe line was constructed can be seen extending from the top of the ridge to the power house site. The Mangahao Power Station is a hydroelectric power station near the town of Shannon, Horowhenua. After being delayed by World War One, access roading and foundation testing was started by late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924. It makes use of Mangahao River, through a series of tunnels and piplines totaling 4.8 kilometers, in the Tararua Ranges. Mangahao Power Station became the power station for Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. As of 2012, it is jointly owned and operated by Todd Energy and King Country Energy.

One of a series taken by Charles Wildbore between 1922 - 1924, recording the construction of the Mangahao electric power scheme. Mangaore village was the headquarters of the project, with the large white building in the right-hand, middle distance its office. The Mangahao Power Station is a hydroelectric power station near the town of Shannon, Horowhenua. After being delayed by World War One, access roading and foundation testing was started by late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924. It makes use of Mangahao River, through a series of tunnels and piplines totaling 4.8 kilometers, in the Tararua Ranges. Mangahao Power Station became the power station for Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. As of 2012, it is jointly owned and operated by Todd Energy and King Country Energy.

This photograph was taken from the second terrace above the river looking in an south-westerly direction. It is said that Wildbore, the photographer, wished to photograph a bush fire and was notified by Mr Roberts of Mount Richards of a burn taking place on his property. The fire burnt between Coal Creek and the site of the present Pohangina Valley West Road.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This view is thought to be of the Arapete camp

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This view shows the construction of the Mangaore Power House, the large pipes to carry water can be seen in the centre of the construction.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This view shows the foundations being laid for the power house. The Mangaore Steam on the left was later diverted to flow along the concrete channel.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This view shows the construction of the lower Dam.

Charles E Wildbore (1862-1937) came to New Zealand from England in 1874. He was a bee keeper, dairy farmer and a well-known amateur photographer in the Pohangina Valley during the period 1890s-1920. He married Jane Emily Dallison in 1888 and they had 13 children. This photograph shows one of his children feeding the fowls in the yard near the farmhouse at Pohangina Township. Some of Mr Wildbore’s bee hives can be seen in the background and a large swarm of bees is also prominent in the tree in the foreground.

Mr Charles E Wildbore was a well-known resident of the Pohangina Valley during the early years of the 20th century. He owned a small dairy farm and apiary at Pohangina Township, but is principally remembered for his photographic activities, being an enthusiastic amateur photographer who recorded many interesting views of rural life in the Pohangina Valley during the period 1900 to 1920. This particular photograph shows some of Mr Wildbore’s bee-hives in the grounds of his farmhouse at Pohangina Township.

An unidentified girl holding a doll.

Eva Wildbore poses with a swarm of bees in the Wildbore Apiary.

This photograph is one of a series made by Charles Wildbore showing the construction of the Mangahao hydro-electric power scheme in the Tararua ranges east of Shannon. This view shows the construction of the Power House.

"Totara Reserve" is the popular name of the 740 acre public reserve situated on the east bank of the Pohangina River and officially known as Pohangina Valley Domain. Since 1947, this reserve has been owned by the Palmerston North City Council. The photographer is Charles E Wildbore (1862-1937), who came to New Zealand from England in 1874. He was a bee keeper, dairy farmer and a well-known amateur photographer in the Pohangina Valley during the period 1890s-1920. He married Jane Emily Dallison in 1888 and they had 13 children.