Opening of Local History Week 2016

The 9th annual Local History Week was opened at the Palmerston North Central Library. Maria Shiva speaks to the guests. Front row, right: Debbie Duncan, General Manager, Libraries and Community Services; Leonie Hapeta, PNCC Councillor

Steampunk at the City Library!

The Steampunk Experience was held in the Central Library in May 2017. There were many events, including teapot racing, fashion shows, stalls selling Steampunk wares and much more. Pictured here are Palmerston North Libraries and Community Living Room staff Harley Bell, Elise Goodge, Lauren Ruwhiu and Heather Glasgow.

RNZAF 21st Anniversary Airshow, RNZAF Station Ohakea

Crowd and Planes on display

Early Settler Picnic

A group of unidentified early settlers in Palmerston North.

Diary of an itinerant farm worker

This "McDougall Farmers' Notebook 1935-36" was used as a diary by an unknown farm worker who went on 'Tour of N.I.', beginning 15 October 1935 (first entry). He travelled from Blenheim, and records his holiday, mainly in the Hawkes Bay and Giborne areas, and employment at Hore Hore Station near Tokomaru Bay. It is likely that the writer was J. Lane, named in the front cover, and also listed at the top of the 'Addresses' page. The last entry appears to be 18 December 1936, but a subsequent note records 'Drowened (sic) Easter 1939'. The Poverty Bay Herald (18 April, 1938, page 4) writes of the drowning of Joffre Lane, a station hand at Hore Hore Station.

Forty Years of Centrepoint Theatre: The History According to Hawes

Shipboard Diary of Emily J. Hewitt [Shannon]

The shipboard diary of Emily J. Hewitt [Shannon] written while a passenger on "Nourmahal" from London to Sydney.

Louisa Snelson's Scrapbook

Louisa Snelson (c 1856-1919) was an early settler of Palmerston North, along with her husband George who established the first shop on The Square. Louisa was very active in the community, supporting her husband as the first Mayor of the newly created Palmerston North Borough Council in 1877 and beyond. The scrapbook contains illustrations from magazines, newspaper clippings about Palmerston North, photographs of local identities and other miscellaneous items.

Craven School Prize Book - The Faerie Queene

This is the inside cover of a copy of The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, won by Craven School pupil Lorna Monckton in December 1903 for work in English. To view the book in its entirety, contact the Ian Matheson City Archives.

Shipboard Diary

Diary written by third class steerage passenger on the 'Ionic', sailing from Gravesend and Plymouth in England to Wellington and Port Chalmers in New Zealand. The writer departed from Plymouth on 6 December 1884, with his wife and children (Esther, baby and others). The writer is unidentified but there is the name 'Mr Cole' written on the inside back cover and according to shipping records  a Mr Cole and family departed on the 'Ionic' on this date. The diary begins with a list of provisions, followed by daily entries about shipboard life. The diary finishes on New Years' Day 1885 before it reaches New Zealand. The 'Ionic' reached Wellington on 20 January 1885 before proceeding to Port Chalmers. Transcription also available on Manawatu Heritage.

Minnie Thomas Collection

Index for Minnie Thomas Collection. Minnie Thomas began collecting autographed books and pamphlets in 1934 after obtaining the signatures of the Lord and Lady Bledisloe. By the time of her death in 1974, she had collected more than 1500 signed items from noteworthy people, including books, playbills, industrial leaflets and pamphlets. This archive can be accessed by visiting Research and Archives, Palmerston North City Library

Letter from Oscar Monrad to Marie Monrad

Letter from Oscar Monrad to his aunt, Marie Monrad, wife of Johannes Monrad in America. The letter was written after Oscar's return from Denmark and describes daily life on the farm at Karere, near Palmerston North. Oscar Monrad was the grandson of Ditlev Gothard Monrad, a Danish politican and bishop, who settled in Karere with his family from 1867 - 1869. The letter is part of the Petersen archive, and is written in Danish.

Letter from Clif Reed to G C Petersen

Letter from Alexander Wyclif "Clif" Reed to George Conrad Petersen regarding his manuscript, 'Forest Homes'. Clif Reed was the Managing Director of A H and A W Reed, Publishers, and George Petersen was a lawyer, consul, local politician and historian from Palmerston North. The book is about the Scandinavian settlement in the Wairarapa, particularly Mauriceville, and was subsequently published in 1956.

The Shannon Detention Camps: The Stories of WWII Conscientious Objectors and Their Families

This account of the Shannon World War Two Detention Camps is based on contributions from a large number of family members and descendants of those who were in the camps. it also offers an overview of the history of the camps based on research by Margaret Tate.

Coalition Against The Tour poster

The Coalition Against the Tour group was formed 15 March 1985, to protest against the proposed tour of the All Black rugby team to South Africa. This poster's message is to oppose the tour, through boycotting major businesses who supply uniform apparel to the All Blacks.

Gillian Absolon - Finding Aid

Gillian Absolon was born on 30 March 1934 and died on 1 January 2019. In 1993 Gillian established the Mature Employment Support Agency in Palmerston North when many older workers (over 40) were finding it difficult to find another job. Other projects she was involved in were an inner-city communal garden, and the local regeneration of native wetlands and bush. She was awarded Regional winner of the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club Environment Award 1993 and the Palmerston North City Council Community Award Voluntary Community Service in 1998.

Coalition Against The Tour - Finding Aid

The Coalition Against The Tour group came out of the Community Volunteer group. The group was formed 15 March 1985, to protest against the proposed tour of the All Blacks rugby team to South Africa. Series 1: Minutes Series 2: Organisational Information Series 3: Correspondence Series 4: Financial Series 5: Newsletters Series 6: Press Releases Series 7: Supporting Organisations Series 8: Supporting Information Series 9: Newspaper Clippings Series 10: Posters and Flyers

Coalition Against The Tour poster

The Coalition Against the Tour group was formed 15 March 1985, to protest against the proposed tour of the All Black rugby team to South Africa. This poster's message is to

Memory Lane - "Slice of 60s life"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. Local news, events and opinion pieces as described in the newspaper on 20 November 1965.

Memory Lane - "Children of Little Poland"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. Over seven hundred Polish children came to New Zealand at the invitation of the Prime Minister in 1944. They were housed in a camp in Pahiatua.

Man in Makerua flax swamp, near Shannon

Miranui Flaxmill was owned by A & L Seifert Flaxmilling Company Ltd and opened in 1907. This view looks eastwards with the Tararua Ranges in the background. the flax, sourced from the swamp, was taken by tram to the mill for processing.

Brightwater Terrace bus shelter

Painting of Brightwater Terrace, Palmerston North, showing house and bus shelter. Pen and wash. Colour. John Tetley was a parasitologist at Massey Agricultural College and a well known amateur artist who exhibited locally.

Raumai Bridge

Original Wooden Raumai Bridge before demolition

The Lakelet bridge

  Lakelet in the Square, looking towards the Post Office, with the bridge on the right and – just visible on the left – part of the second bandstand. The two figures on the bridge look as if they may be soldiers. The picture was sent by Jane Moore Chapman to her grand-daughter Beryl with a message on the back that indicates it was written in 1922.  

Ashhurst Bridge construction

This was the second Ashhurst Bridge to cross the Manawatu River at the lower end of the Manawatu Gorge. The first was washed away in 1895 and due to disputes its replacement was not opened until 1909.

Ashhurst Bridge piles

The piles being lowered into position during the construction of the second Ashhurst Bridge, which crossed the Manawatu River at the lower end of the Manawatu Gorge. The first was washed away in 1895 and due to disputes its replacement was not opened until 1909.

Upper Manawatu Bridge

The Upper Manawatu Bridge taken at the Woodville end of the Manawatu Gorge Walk. Taken on 15 July 2017 while the Gorge Road was closed due to a large slip and 1 day after a large southern storm had passed over the country. Gorge Road has now been closed permanently.

Ashhurst Bridge

This was the second Ashhurst Bridge to cross the Manawatu River at the lower end of the Manawatu Gorge. The first was washed away in 1895 and due to disputes its replacement was not opened until 1909. It was replaced in 1969 by a concrete structure.

Letter from Hawkes Bay earthquake survivor

This letter was written by 'Mag' to family in England, from the evacuation camp at the Showgrounds in Palmerston North. Mag describes the earthquake and the first few days after in detail, the letter culminating after she arrives at the Showgrounds which had been set up to receive survivors. Letter is a copy of original held with family in England. Written on YMCA letterhead paper.

Old Council Chambers

The Municipal Chambers, designed by R and W Thorrold-Jaggard replaced the earlier (1905) building on the site, they were opened on 13 June, 1945 and this shot apparently taken in springtime, may be either from earlier in 1945 (since the rooms look unoccupied) or from early 1946 (since the electric clock was not added until later). Thorrold-Jaggard papers, especially volumes III and IV; IV, 12 includes a defence of the Thorrold-Jaggard art deco style of architecture.