This image was taken by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine, and was published in the August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "Part of the crowd being addressed by the President of the Bainesse School Comimttee [sic], Mr Ron Grammar."
This image was taken by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine, and was published in the August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: John Hill with his exhibit."
This image was taken by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine, and was published in the August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "Rev. Hall, of Rongotea, conducted the church service."
This street is believed to be named after Mr David Joseph Nathan (1858-1920), sometimes described as the father of the dairying industry. Mr DJ Nathan may have also been the road contractor who put it through in 1875. At the time he was working for his father, Mr Joseph Edward Nathan, who certainly responded to tenders for town road works in the 1870s. Mr JE Nathan, was one of the largest landowners in the Manawatū.
In February of 1883, a letter from Joseph Nathan and Co., the family business, was read at the Palmerston Borough Council meeting, requesting the forming of David Street, with a cheque for £25.
The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.
Mr David Joseph Nathan was born in Wellington on 30th of August, 1858, where he spent his school years and attended Wellington College. The eldest son, he then joined his father’s business, Joseph Nathan and Company Ltd., managing the Ready Money Store in Te Marae o Hine the Square, Palmerston North. By 1883 Mr D Nathan was supervising the management of various branches of the family firm in the Manawatū district. He would eventually become managing director of the company and remain so until his death.
He married in 1886 to Miss Miriam ‘Minnie’ Jonas, daughter of Mr Hyam Jonas of London. They had four children together; Hilda Rebecca b.1888, Joseph Edward b.1889, Kathleen Madge b.1891 and Aileen Ida b.1895.
The first successful shipment of frozen meat from Aotearoa New Zealand to Britain was made aboard the sailing ship Dunedin in 1882. In the 1890s, advances in technology meant that ocean-going steamers had been fitted with refrigerating machinery. Mr Nathan could see the possibilities for trade.
He contacted owners of dairy cows in the region proposing they establish creameries and gave farmers a price to encourage production. Those who started creameries quickly gained success, but questioned Mr Nathan’s earnings in the enterprise. Mr Nathan offered to sell creameries at a reasonable rate of commission, his firm acting as the London agent, if the farmers would form co-operative companies. This was acceptable and The Ready Money Store became The United Farmers’ Co-operative Association Ltd in 1892. The co-operative dairy company movement spread throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Mrs Nathan died suddenly of peritonitis in May of 1897. The funeral was carried out in both Hebrew and English, as the Nathan’s were of Jewish faith. Mr Nathan was president of the congregation and president of the Jewish Socal Club.
In 1899 Mr Nathan re-married. His wife was Miss Cora Jonas, daughter of Mr Jonah Jonas of London. Together they had one child, Nell b.1904, and lived on a large estate in Wellington.
In 1903 in Wellington, Mr Nathan proposed a scheme for the consolidation of the frozen meat trade. He attended farmer’s meetings to discuss freight and generally encourage interest. Mr Nathan was passionate about the country’s commerce, and how Aotearoa New Zealand could capitalise on opportunities – especially in regard to flax, dairy and meat.
Mr Nathan also paid attention to local body matters in his home, the capital, and was a city councillor for three years. He was a member of the Harbour Board, steward of the Wellington Racing Club and director of the old Wellington-Manawatū Railway Company. Mr Nathan continued to speak publicly on world trade. As the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, he advocated for preferential trade with Great Britain. He was also a one-time director of the Bank of New Zealand and directed or served on the boards of many other companies.
His links with Palmerston North and the Manawatū continued. As President of the Bowling Association in Wellington, he attended the Palmerston North Bowling Club’s opening ceremony in 1903 and was elected vice-president of the Manawatu and West Coast A&P Association in 1904.
It was also in the early 1900s that Mr Nathan submitted proposals to Manawatū dairy farmers for the establishment of factories to produce dried milk. Cheltenham, Makino, and Bunnythorpe responded with sufficient support to induce him to either purchase or establish plant and start the venture. Glaxo was to become the brand name for their baby milk and eventually evolved into the name of this business. Mr D Nathan was the first head of the Glaxo Manufacturing Company.
On 20th of March 1920, Mr Nathan died suddenly from an aneurism at a private hospital in Wellington. He was 62 years old. Mr Nathan is interred at the Karori cemetery.
His younger brother, Mr Frederick Joseph Nathan, became Managing Director and Chairman of Joseph Nathan & Co. Ltd. Mr FJ Nathan had settled in Palmerston North and was a borough councillor, 1911-1915, and mayor of the city 1923-1927.
David Street was put through in 1875. D.P. 26, and formed in 1883. It was listed as a private street in 1885. After 1900 it appears to have been regarded as public, with the council laying service pipes and maintaining the road and footways.
In June 1901 Mr Axel Frederick Anderson made a request to the Borough Council that the footpath be asphalted. This was carried out in August. They were top-dressed with tar and sand in January of 1912 and again in October of 1914. Further treatment was applied in 1932.
In October of 1904, two arc lamps were removed.
In August of 1906 David Street had a direct connection to sewer, with all residences being connected by October 1908. There were some problems with the sewer in those early days, on one occasion it was blocked by a chunk of wood, and, on a second, by a man’s handkerchief.
In August of 1908 a plan was made to kerb the western side footway and open a channel to allow water to escape. This was followed by the construction of tarred water tables one year later. In June 1920, new kerbing and channelling was completed on the western side of the street, with the eastern side being done in October 1931 (when the western side was rechannelled).
David Street was scarified, metalled and rolled in by September of 1916. A decade later, in November of 1926, the street was re-metalled and sealed with bitumen.
Early settlers, Mr and Mrs JE Magnusson, retired to 9 David Street. Mr Julius Emil Magnusson was born in Sweden in 1845 and emigrated to Australia c. 1870. During his time in Queensland he met Miss Jakobine Marie Anderson.
Miss JM Anderson was born in Larvig, Norway, in 1855. As a young woman she emigrated to Queensland, Australia, settling there for a few years. The couple married in August of 1878 and travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand.
They had four daughters and one son; Emlli Emillsen b.1879, Julia b.1881, Victoria b.1883, Oscar b.1894 and Amanda b.1898.
Arriving in Wellington, the Magnusson’s made their way to Palmerston North, then a village surrounded by bush. They purchased a section on the corner of Ferguson and Fitzherbert Streets (later Fitzherbert Avenue) and built a house. Mr JE Magnusson was a road contractor in those early days.
They then purchased a farm in Fitzherbert, and, on selling, purchased a farm on James Line, Stoney Creek (now Whakarongo). A further move was made to Stoney Creek Road, Bunnythorpe, before buying a lifestyle property on Boundary Road (later Tremaine Avenue). Here, Mr J Magnusson entered the carrying business.
Mr Julius Emil Magnusson died October 1935 at the age of 90 years. Mrs Jakobine Marie Magnusson died in May 1940, aged 84. Both are interred at Terrace End Cemetery.
Mr Axel Frederick Anderson was born in Oslo, Norway in 1867. He came to Aotearoa New Zealand with his parents Mr Nils and Mrs Anne Anderson in 1872.
Miss Clara Emma Hepworth was born in 1859 in Batley, Yorkshire. She travelled with her parents, Mr John and Mrs Sarah Hepworth, to Western Australia in 1875, where they worked on sheep farms. The family went back to England for eighteen months, then emigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1882, on the ship Crusader. They landed in Lyttelton in 1883.
The Hepworth family came to Palmerston North in the early 1890s, where Miss CE Hepworth met Mr AF Anderson. The couple married in 1893. They had two children; Eileen Margherita b.1894 and Clara Victoria b.1901.
They made their home in Palmerston North, establishing the Anderson Private Hotel in David Street. The couple later owned the Temperance Hotel near the railway station and took over Central Hotel in Te Marae o Hine the Square, from 1902. This then became their residence. Central Hotel was relocated to the corner of Main and Andrew Young Streets in 1905. The Anderson Private Hotel was taken over by Mr Duncan Anderson in 1907, and Mr A Anderson transferred the license of the Central Hotel in 1909.
In 1910 the Anderson’s left the Manawatū to live in Stratford, Taranaki where they took up farming for six years. Mrs Anderson divided her time between Stratford and Palmerston North. From there the couple farmed further in Waipawa, Hawkes Bay. In 1920 they moved to the Te Puke district where Mr Anderson became a land agent. In 1922 the Anderson’s moved to Hawera, Taranaki, where Mr Anderson entered the wine business. Mrs Clara Emma Anderson died in 1926, aged 64 years.
Mr Anderson remarried in 1927 to Mrs Mary “Mollie” Christina Elizabeth Lloyd. In 1930 the couple moved to Auckland. Mr Anderson returned to Palmerston North with his wife in 1942.
Mr Axel Frederick Anderson died at his home, 109 Te Awe Awe Street (which he built in 1907), on March 31, 1945, at the age of 77 years. He is interred at Terrace End Cemetery.
The New Zealand Express Company Ltd, a cartage business, started its life in Palmerston North on the corner of Main and David Streets in the late-1880s. It moved to George Street in 1906.
The Railway Hotel, later known as the Old Railway Hotel, was built opposite the Railway Station on the corner of Main and David Street in 1892. Its proprietor was Mr Timothy O’Leary and the hotel had 24 guestrooms, besides those used exclusively by the owner’s family. He leased the hotel in 1897 to Mr Michael Hogan who, in turn, sold his interest to Mr Henry Border.
Mr T Young became the owner in 1901 (after Mr O'Leary's death) and on-sold the hotel to Mr David Roux Bouisson in 1902. On changing hands in 1903, the Railway Hotel was condemned as old, rotten and full of vermin. Its license was not regranted until the new owners took measures to cleanse the building. It is unsurprising therefore that the owners, Staples and Co., of Wellington, made plans to re-erect the hotel. The first Railway Hotel was replaced by this building in 1904-1905.
Anderson’s Private Hotel, on the left of this image, was established on David Street in 1893. The two-storey boarding house was gutted by fire in September of 1894 and rebuilt. Mr Axel Frederick Anderson, the proprietor, was active in seeking improvements in the street from the borough council. He made additions to his boarding house in 1900, from a plan designed by Mr Ludolph George West. The hotel was taken over by Mr Duncan Anderson in 1907. In January of 1908 local newspapers reported on an inmate of the hotel preparing a bath, only to find a 12-inch eel, the thickness of a finger, coming out of the water tap. In 1916 the hotel was taken over by Mrs A Trepo.
Other accommodation in the street between 1900 and the 1940s included JK Christensen Private Hotel, Wentworth Boarding House, and the Goldfern Boarding House. There were also a couple of billiard rooms.
David Street Stables at 8 David Street, this livery was operated by Mr John Jones from c. 1901 to 1908 when it was sold to Mr N Paulsen. He ran the business as a livery, general carrier and forwarding agent until 1917. Over that period its name changed from David Street Stables to Paulsen Stables to Railway Stables. Caleb Penman took over the Railway Stables in September 1917 and by 1921 the stables had passed into the hands of Messrs Peterson and Low. In April of 1930 they were the only remaining livery stables in Palmerston North.
In 1913 Frank Harris and Co. Ltd., moved their monumental yard to 12 David Street while in voluntary liquidation. The business was taken over by Messrs JW Fisher and Co., Sculptors and Monumental Masons in 1914. Here is an image of their business at 17 David Street (due to street renumbering) in 1997.
The addresses on David Street were renumbered in 1939. See p.85 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
This image was taken by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "An exhibit in the grand parade"
This image was taken by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "R. Bond and J. Baker on horses, side saddle."
This image was taken by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "Caryll Bond's pet cat 'James', is almost ready for her bottle."
This image was taken by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine, and was published in the August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "Yvonne Waterraus, Helen Dickerson, Grace Richardson, contestants in the decorated pram contest."
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "Exhibits were varied. A small boy, Bruce McEwen, with his 'motorbike'."
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "Dressed in period costume are N. Wilson and J. Bond."
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Caption: "Mr Ron Grammar addressing the crowd."
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
This image was taken (but not used) by Frank Goldingham for Photorama pictorial magazine's August 1963 edition.
"The Bainesse School reecntly [sic] celebrated their jubilee with a cabaret, roll call, church service and parade of floats. Three hundred old pupils attended the celebrations."
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Local History Week and History Month this year is inspired by the whakatuakī (proverb) "Hāpaitia te ara tika pūmau ai te rangatiratanga mō ngā uri whakatipu". During the month of March, a focus will be on people, kaupapa and organisations from the past that have made an impact on the city. Changemakers and thought leaders will be highlighted, with more than 80 heritage activities presented and hosted by 50 organisations and individuals.
This article outlines a programme of activities featuring the history of Manawatū and Palmerston North. Talks, tours and workshops are mostly free to attend. The popular programme, co-ordinated by the Palmerston North City Library, has been held annually since 2008.
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 24 April 1958, page 14: "At Manawaroa Park on Saturday afternoon last in the Nurses v. High School Old Girls game a High School Old Girl is a moment too late with her block as A. Guthrie, the left wing for Nurses, hits a hard one up to her forwards."
This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 23 July 1958, page 10: "The Fifth Form school certificate art class at the Girls' High School today visited the "Manawatu Standard" accompanied by their mistress, Mrs. Simister (second from the left). They are seen looking at a linotype machine being operated by Mr. R. Hardman. "
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. When local author Private Jack Gallichan (1908-1984) was imprisoned in a German prisoner-of-war coal mining labour camp in Poland during World War II, he started a weekly newspaper called The Tiki Times. Gallichan produced 25 copies of the newspaper for fellow prisoners as well as an 856-page diary covering his experiences whilst a prisoner-of-war.
Jack Gallichan was a long time member of the Manawatū Cricket Association, serving as its statistician for many years. After the war, he became a newspaper agent for the Southern Cross and the Manawatū Standard.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Four historic roadside livestock drinking troughs can still be found in 2024. They are at Te Manawa, Summerhill Drive, Kendall's Line in Linton and Kimbolton Road, Feilding. This article tells the histories of the local troughs.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The New Zealand Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Palmerston North 30 November - 2 December 1990. More than 1250 people from New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and China took part in the events.
This street is named for Mr Louis M Pascal who owned the land when the street was formed, D.P. 578, section 294. Borough rate books reflect that his brother, Mr Claude Marie Pascal, had section 294 under his name in 1891 and it transferred to Mr LM Pascal in 1900. They and their younger brother, Mr Jean Baptiste Marius Pascal, had several businesses under the Messrs Pascal Brothers umbrella. In 1913, the last remaining allotment belonging to the Pascal Bros on section 294, was sold.
The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.
Brothers, Mr CM Pascal (b.1856) and Mr L Pascal were both born in Saint-Chamond, Loire, France. They emigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1878 and 1879 respectively, Mr C Pascal on the ship Aroha. By 1882 the brothers were running sheep and cattle on a farm at Awahuri called Beaulieu. They fenced and cleared the property in early 1884, and applied for permission to the Manawatū Road Board to cut down fourteen acres of bush adjoining on the north and south road lines. This was agreed at £2 an acre, the going rate at the time.
Mr C Pascal married Miss Marie Leopoldine Louise Roper in 1887 and five children were born to them at Beaulieu; Alix Marie b.1888, Odette Marie b.1890, Marie Louise b.1892, Pierre Marie b.1894 and Andree Rona Marie b.1896. In 1897 Beaulieu was sold to Mr PA McHardy of Hawkes Bay. He farmed there until 1915 when the 431-acre property was subdivided into fifteen blocks of varying sizes and sold. Mr and Mrs C Pascal and their family left for France circa 1908. They were living in Greenoble in 1936, when Mr Claude Marie Pascal died, aged 80 years.
It was in 1884 that Mr JBM Pascal, born 1859 in Loire France, emigrated and joined his older brothers. Three of seven siblings now resided in Aotearoa New Zealand. Mr JB Pascal also took up land in Awahuri and built a homestead named Brooklands. In 1887 he married Miss Flora Emily MacLennan. After a trip to France they settled to farming Brooklands for 22 years and had three children; Madge Marie b.1889, Noelle Louise Jeanne b.1893 and Flora Lucie b.1896. The couple moved to their final home, Foncala, in Te Awe Awe Street in 1909. Mr Jean Baptiste Marius Pascal died there in June 1939, aged 79 years.
Messrs Pascal Bros became involved in the flax industry in the Rangiotū community, which was then known as Oroua Bridge. Mr L Pascal owned a 1,000-acre property at Kereru, of which 340 acres were in flax. He took up residence there in 1890. The Teopakete hemp mill was established in October of the same year and employed about sixty people under the management of Mr Gledhill. For ease of transport a tramway was laid through the centre of flax country. The output of the mill was around 2,000 tons of green leaf per annum.
Both Mr L Pascal and Mr C Pascal were active participants in local Hemp Miller’s meetings, and members of the Flaxmiller's Association. Mr C Pascal was also a member of the Horowhenua County Council.
In 1896 the mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt, resuming operations in 1898. In 1903 this second mill was also destroyed by fire and in 1906 they sold the stock and implements. Prior to the sale there were efforts within the industry to have the government purchase the property as a model flax mill for experimentation, however this did not eventuate. Mr WH Ferris who had managed the mill for twelve years, became Chief Grader of the Dominion in 1910.
The brothers bought a second property at Puketotara, Oroua Bridge, from Mr WK Simpson in the early 1890s and made improvements with a view to farming livestock. The property, some 2,000 acres, was sold to Mr John Gemmell in 1905.
Rangitāne presented the palisade posts from the Puketotara pā to the Pascal family in the 1890s. Prior to the 1870s, the posts, carved to represent ancestors, stood on the pā on the banks of the Manawatū River. They were a significant and important example of early local carving. The brothers gifted them to the French government in 1899. They were exhibited in the Musée de l'Homme, in Paris, late into the twentieth century. Unfortunately the carvings were insensitively displayed as Mrs Mina Louise McKenzie, director of Manawatū Museum, reported after her visit in 1984.
It was from 1890 onwards that Mr C Pascal and Mr L Pacal purchased property in the Palmerston North township.
The brothers were keen horsemen and Mr J Pascal was one of the earliest members of the Manawatū Racing Club and Feilding Jockey Club. Mr L Pascal was heavily involved in Manawatū racing. He raced horses at various meetings from 1898 and eventually employed a private horse trainer, Mr T Clarke, stationed on Foxton Line. His most successful horses were Flingot by Musketry–Lady Isabelle (brood mare and dam of all his horses) and Bourrasque by Sou’Wester–Lady Isabelle. They competed from around 1905 to 1912. Bourrasque won the Egmont, Manawatū, and Foxton Cups.
In 1908 Mr L Pascal sold some of his horses to fund a trip to La Belle, France. It was with particular regret that he decided to sell Lady Isabelle to Mr S Mesena.
Local newspapers show that the brothers were active citizens of their communities in both a civic and social sense. In addition to horse-racing, Mr L Pascal golfed at the Manawatū Golf Club. He appears to have been a congregant of All Saints Church and donated regularly to local causes, including the new convent in 1903. From 1908 Mr J Pascal provided French conversation lessons at home and at the Convent High School on Grey Street. The Pascal’s corresponded with county and borough councils over roads and services. For example, regarding road upkeep for movement of stock to market, or development of infrastructure towards sale of allotments on town streets. Mr L Pascal was using those same town streets – or not – he was fined 10s and costs of 7s for riding his bicycle on the footpath in 1904.
The brothers entered livestock and hemp into Manawatū and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) Association Show competitions from the 1890s, winning several prizes. The Pascals also had business dealings with the A&P Association, due to the A&P grounds adjoining Pascal Street (see History, below.)
In 1914, with the commencement of World War One, Mr L Pascal’s attentions returned to his home country. He wrote a letter to the Manawatū Times in September of that year defending the French position. In 1916, as secretary of the Red Cross Society in Palmerston North he sought donations to support French aid efforts, and in April of that year he returned to his birth country.
Meanwhile, the operations of Messrs Pascal Bros., property development and sales, continued in Palmerston North until 1924, when Abraham and Williams, Auctioneers, were instructed to wind-up the estate. This was largely land around the Cuba and Chelwood Street areas.
Residing in France, Mr L Pascal corresponded with his brother Mr J Pascal of Te Awe Awe Street and his undertakings were occasionally mentioned in local newspapers. In November of 1939, a letter from Mr L Pascal, now 81 years old, was published in the Manawatū Standard. He spoke of conditions in France as the country prepared for war and the enlistment of French soldiers. He wrote of his decision to remain in Lyon despite authorities’ warnings to leave the town, on account of local war armament factories being likely targets. He ended the letter:
“You will understand that we don’t live in happy days but, believe me, France is calm and determined without fear. We know that all the British Dominions, above all dear New Zealand, will join England and France. The 1914-1918 war has taught us to admire and appreciate greatly the courage and military valour of the Anzac fighters. We will be pleased to have them with us if it comes to fighting again. We still hope a little that it won’t.”
Pascal Street was a stretch of paddocks in its early days, of livestock, orchards, oats and tare – country living within town boundaries. It became increasingly residential as the town grew into a city in the late 1920s. The street's fortunes were closely tied to the adjoining showgrounds, owned by the Manawatū and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) Association. In the 1890s grazing paddocks and sheep pens were situated in the showgrounds alongside Pascal Street. While subdivided, the street wasn’t formed until c. 1900.
From 1901 residents corresponded with the Borough Council to form a footpath on the west side of the street and requested water services. For the latter, ratepayers paid to lay the pipes and requested a rates rebate in return. The Waterworks Committee ensured extension of water services to Pascal Street by October 1901; however, the kerbing and footpaths were delayed until August 1904. A couple of months later lamps were erected, and gasworks extended in 1905. Stormwater work began in 1906 with the culverts completed in 1907, and sewer connections made in 1908. In 1910 the road was tarred.
In May of 1905 the Football Union began regular practices and matches on new grounds in Pascal Street. Junior footballers complained of the well-used grounds being lumpy in 1907. The state of the football grounds wasn’t the only complaint. From 1905 to 1910, both the A&P Association and street residents drew attention to the poor state of the footpaths.
The A&P Association were keen to extend their grounds and provide access from the rear. Negotiations ensued with the Pascal Bros over a number of years with a view to transfer allotment 9, section 294 of Pascal Street to the Association in exchange for the right to form a road, the extension of Cuba Street, through the Education Reserve. The latter was leased by the A&P Association. In 1908, this was originally permitted by the Education Commissioner, but did not proceed at the time.
Once fresh negotiations commenced in 1912 the Education Reserve had passed into the hands of the Wellington Land Board. When the Land Board refused permission, a petition was made to parliament by A&P Association members. The government, led by Prime Minister Massey, issued permission and the transfer proceeded allowing the A&P Association to increase the size of their grounds. In October 1912 the Borough Council gave consent for the extension of Cuba Street and construction of a new street (later named Palermes Street), connecting to the Cuba Street extension.
It became the practice of A&P Shows to supply free milk from the exhibitors of dairy cattle each morning at the Pascal Street gate. Hundreds of children enjoyed this tradition during show time.
In May of 1920 the Borough Council received a letter from residents requesting a footway be constructed on the east side of Pascal Street. Residents agreed to pay half the cost, and kerbing and channelling was carried out in May 1922. Heavy traffic on the street required Pascal Street to be scarified and re-metalled in 1923 and from that time the road and footpath were regularly top-dressed.
1923 was also the year a naming and renaming scheme of Palmerston North streets was proposed. Both the Manawatū Standard and the Manawatū Times covered Mr JH de Marr’s report of the scheme, to the Chamber of Commerce in May of 1923. His aim was to eliminate confusion by renaming current streets with a prefix or suffix based on location within Palmerston North; north, south, east, west. Future street names would start with their location letter. For example, all streets in the west would start with the letter ‘w’, all streets in the south with the letter ‘s’ and so on. Mr J de Marr suggested various options, using the example of Pascal Street in the south:
Under his scheme ‘avenues’ would designate parallel boundaries. ‘Streets’ would run parallel to avenues, ‘roads’ would run in the opposite direction, that is, non-parallel. He thought this more scientific, with the benefits outweighing any sentimentality.
There was a lengthy discussion in which chamber member, Mr JH Stevens, suggested it would be wiser not to attempt too great a revolution. The chamber voted on a middle ground with a recommendation to the Borough Council on renaming several streets, avenues (including Rangitikei and Fitzherbert), and placing a direction letter suffix on the end of every name.
After the A&P Show of 1926, Pascal Street residents were treated to a nightly orchestra of lions’ roars. The six lions, situated in cages by the Pascal Street fence of the showgrounds, were owned by Mrs Baker, principle of the former Baker’s Circus & Zoo. When a business partnership severed with the proprietor of another circus during the winter show, she decided to sell the lions. They stayed at the showgrounds for ten days while she arranged temporary accommodation in the Wellington Zoo.
In 1935 water supply improvements included the laying of nine inch main in Pascal Street. This was a good thing due to the vicinity to the showgrounds and also because Pascal Street was the location of regular grass fires over the years.
By the late 1930s the Takaro Suburb Progressive Association had formed, with representatives from Pascal Street, and was active in canvassing the council for street improvements.
In December of 1903, Mr John Archibald of 33 Pascal Street, sold his house to Mr and Mrs Patrick Guerin, late of Foxton. Mr Patrick Guerin was born c. 1840 and Mrs Catherine Guerin, nee McGill, was born c. 1851 in County Antrim, Ireland. On arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand Miss C McGill went to the West Coast, South Island, where she met Mr P Guerin, a dairyman. They married in Hokitika in 1874. In 1875 the couple took up ownership of the Butcher’s Arms Hotel in Revell Street of Hokitika. They were there when the discovery of gold was made at Kumara in 1876.
According to voter registrations, the Guerin’s moved to the Manawatū in 1880. Messrs Guerin and McGauley were the Foxton poundkeepers in the early 1880s. Mr and Mrs Guerin's daughter, Miss Alice Elma Guerin, was born c. 1880-1884. By 1889 Mr and Mrs Guerin had purchased Captain Moore’s house in Purcell Street, Foxton. That same year Mr Guerin became the borough Ranger and Registrar of Dogs. He held the position for a decade, carrying out his duties on horseback. This was an interesting choice of career for Mr Guerin who was fined several times in early 1870s, West Coast, for allowing cattle to wander.
In addition to ranging, Mr Guerin raised and sold young cattle, cows in calf, potatoes and oats from their 4&½ acre lot. The couple also purchased and let property. Mr Guerin successfully tendered for the Foxton lamplighting contract from 1890 to 1900, an annual income double his ranging work. Mrs Guerin was involved with the Foxton Dramatic Club and had a talent for creating stage sets. She also sold poultry, such as geese. In 1894 Mr Guerin became county Ranger and Dog Tax Collector for Awahou Riding, Manawatū County Council. He held the Pohangina position for a couple of years.
In 1898 Mrs Guerin put their Purcell Street property on the market to let or sell. By 1903 the family had moved into the Pascal Street property after a few months in Stoney Creek (later known as Whakarongo). They retained property in Foxton. Miss AE Guerin finished her education in Palmerston North and left home in April of 1906 when she married Mr William McDowell. Mrs Catherine Guerin died in 1917, at 66 years of age. Mr Patrick Guerin died in 1927, aged 87, and was interred at Palmerston North Cemetery. His will included pecuniary legacies to Catholic churches, convents and orphanages in the Manawatū and Upper Hutt.
Mr and Mrs Arthur Hosking lived at 25 Pascal Street from c. 1904. Mr A Hosking, an engineer, was born in Palmerston North in 1879. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Charles Hosking, early settlers. Mr C Hosking founded an engineering works in Church Street, which was taken over by his sons when he died. Mr A Hosking withdrew from the business in 1904, the same year he married Miss Annie Thompson, and went to work for Berry Engineering until 1911. The Hosking Bros business was later sold to JJ Niven and Co., becoming Niven Engineering.
Mr Hosking became bankrupt in 1912 after being unable to find further employment. Mrs Annie Hosking, aged 36, died that same year from a long illness.
He successfully applied for discharge of bankruptcy in 1913 and went into partnership with Mr Charles William Fuller. The firm, located on Rangitikei Street, was called The Hosking Foundry and Engineering Company. The partnership was dissolved in 1915 and the business accounts settled by Mr Hosking.
In 1913 Mr Hosking married Miss Eva Gertrude Thomas. In 1915 the couple moved to Pahiatua where Mr Hosking had become licensee and proprietor of the Rutland Hotel.
He returned to engineering in Palmerston North in 1922, and had a business on Lombard Street until his death in 1925, aged 46 years. He was survived by his wife Mrs Eva Hosking and six children; Ethelwyn Beatrice Ena Thompson b.1907, Beatrice Coral Thompson b.1909, Nita Daphne b.1915, Lorraine b.1916, Arthur Edward b.1918 and Maitland Harvey b.1923.
Mrs and Mrs R Mulrooney took up residence at 23 Pascal Street in March of 1909. Mr Roger Mulrooney, recently retired from the Masonic Hotel, had been in ill health for some years. In the short-term they aimed to strengthen his constitution to the extent he could take a health tour. They remained owners of the hotel and leased it out.
Mr Roger Mulrooney was born in County Sligo, Ireland, c. 1855. He came to NZ in 1877 on the ship Piako. He was on the passenger list as a farm labourer. Initially, Mr R Mulrooney took up a teaching position at Dunedin Normal School, later joining the Prisons Department, c. 1888. Miss Mary Kavanaugh was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, c. 1849 and came to New Zealand in 1882, likely on the ship Mennock. In 1892, Miss M Kavanaugh married Mr Mulrooney in Wellington, where he worked in the prison service. There were no children of the marriage.
They came to Palmerston North in 1898 and took possession of the Masonic Hotel from Mr PL Harnett in 1899. Mr Mulrooney was a genial and popular hotelkeeper and townsman. He was a member of the Licensed Victuallers Association and the Hibernian Society.
Mr Roger Mulrooney’s health took a turn for the worst in April of 1909 and he died in May at 56 years of age. His funeral was large and well attended. Eighteen hotelkeepers amongst the followers came from all over the country. The hotels in Palmerston North closed from 2:00pm to 2:45pm as a mark of respect.
Mrs Mulrooney was well known for her church and charitable work. In 1924 she re-licensed the Masonic Hotel under her name and became the hotel keeper, with renovations and refurbishments made. She remained in Pascal Street until her death in 1932.
Mr and Mrs Hans Anderson Ihle and Mr Adolph Ihle moved to numbers 43 and 45 Pascal Street, respectively, in 1916 (section 294, allotment 17). Mr and Mrs HA Ihle had owned property on the corner of Featherston and Pascal Streets since 1893, first on one corner (section 294 allotment 20) and then the opposite (section 294 allotment 19) from 1897. They also owned allotment 18. Mr A Ihle had made the move from Ferguson Street.
Mr H Ihle was born in Christiania, Oslo, in 1866, and Mr A Ihle was born in Palmerston North in 1880.
The Ihle brothers were sons of Mr and Mrs Anders Hansen Ihle, and among the first families of Palmerston (later Palmerston North). They arrived aboard the ship Celaeno (also referred to as Zealine) in February of 1871. Their family name was originally Hansen, in the patronymic style. In 1870, it was changed to Iler, after the family farm, and was spelt Ihle.
Ihle Street is named in honour of their father, a carpenter and contractor. One of Mr H Ihle's enduring memories was being the first child to walk upon the Fitzherbert Bridge, on which his father was contractor. You can read more about Mr AH Ihle in the Manawatū Journal of History. The article is on page 11, Anders Hansen Ihle: Palmerston North Pioneer by Joan Barnes.
Mr H Ihle married Miss Anna Matilda Jacobsen in Wellington in 1892. They had two sons and two daughters; Algar Herbert b.1894, Ida Matilda b.1897, Annie b.1899 and Leonard Hans b.1900.
He was involved in the timber industry, working for GA Gamman and Co., and the Tiratu Sawmilling Company. He was a member of the Palmerston North Brass Band, the Druids’ Lodge, a keen lawn bowler and member of the Takaro Club. Mrs Anna Matilda Ihle died in 1932, aged 69, she was followed by her husband Mr Hans Anderson Ihle six years later. He was 71 years old and was interred in the Kelvin Grove Cemetery.
Mr A Ihle married Miss Rosalyn Lillian Mudrack in 1899. They had three sons; Adolph Harding born c. 1901, Stanley Robert b.1901 and Gifford Clarence b.1902. The couple separated in 1914. Mr A Ihle worked as a stoker at the Gasworks. He died in 1961 at the age of 81 years.
Early businesses on the street were rural in flavour. There was trade in livestock, crops and garden produce, as well as leasing of paddocks to exhibitors attending A&P Shows.
The poultry business was also prevalent, with Mr Walter Cotton advertising the Maitai Poultry Yard from 1904. Other poultry traders included Mr J Tavendale of 29 Pascal Street and Mr H Barlow of 6 Pascal Street.
In November of 1927, the corner of Pascal Street and Cuba Street extension, approximately 1-acre, was gifted to trustees of the All Saints Children’s Home by Mr H Akers. The original home on the corner of Ada and Ferguson Streets was overcrowded and £1000 had already been set aside to build a new modern home. With thirty-six inmates in Palmerston North and twenty-five at Foxton, the trustees hoped to erect the new building on Pascal Street. Rebuilding funds were of sufficient amount in 1930 that a decision was made to proceed. In August the Right Reverend, Bishop of Wellington Dr TH Sprott, laid the foundation stone. The home was completed in December and was expected to be occupied after the Christmas holidays.
In January of 1931 the grounds were levelled and landscaped due to a donation from a Wellington businesswoman. On 30 January 1931, thirty-six children moved into the building, and in March the home was officially opened by the Right Reverend Dr TH Sprott. In October of 1931 there was a gathering to celebrate 25 years of the All Saints home and its first year in current location. In April of 1933, unable to maintain the costs of two homes, the Foxton children were placed in the Pascal Street home, bringing total residents to forty-three. The Foxton home was kept as a seaside resort for children.
In 1964, with more children being fostered, All Saints Children’s Home was replaced by a family home in Ngaio Street. The Pascal Street building was used as a convent and for private accommodation over the ensuing years. It was demolished in 2014.
In 1946 a concrete electrical power substation was built in Pascal Street. Alongside the Power Station and Main Street substation, the aim was to carry higher voltages to help deal with increased demand. This image shows the interior of the substation after an explosion in 1958.
The A&P Grounds transferred to the Palmerston North City Council in 1973. The A&P Cattle Pavillion, originally built c. 1915, was lost to fire in 1977. Note the Pascal Street Stadium, built in 1961, next to the destroyed pavilion in this image. Designed by Bill Lobel Smith and Associates, construction commenced on the new Pascal Street Stadium in 1980, also known as the Manawatū Sports Stadium and the Palmerston North Sports Stadium. It was completed in 1981 and is now known as Arena Manawatu.
The addresses on Pascal Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.210 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
Mina McKenzie, Museum Director, is demonstrating an Albion Flatbed printing press used at the printery. The printery is no longer in operation.
Mina McKenzie, Museum Director, with cases and drawers of letterpress type, on display at the Manawatu Museum Printery. The printery is no longer in operation.
Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The Royal New Zealand Show is an annual agricultural show held by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, an umbrella organization for agricultural and pastoral associations in New Zealand. The show was formerly held in rotation at Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton, Invercargill and Christchurch. The first royal show was held in Palmerston North in 1924.
Bruce McKenzie Booksellers offering a 'Click and Collect' contactless customer pick-up service as per the COVID-19 level 3 restrictions.
Bruce McKenzie has been a local identity in book selling for many years. He spent 26 years with G H Bennett & Co Ltd on Broadway, Palmerston North, 12 years in publishing sales in Wellington, and in 1996 opened Bruce McKenzie Booksellers, in George Street, Palmerston North, with his daughter Louisa.
Interviewed by Leanne Hickman for the Ian Matheson City Archives.
LENGTH: 3 hours and 43 minutes
ABSTRACT:
Part One: Start: Born in 1937. Brought up in Palmerston North first in Park Road in 1930s and 1940s. Went to College Street School. 2:10 Palmerston North in the context of the 1940s. Father’s accountancy firm (SI McKenzie Accountancy) on the top floor of A&P building in Broadway. Manawatu AA was also there. Second or third floor was 2ZA radio. 7:50. Grandparents lived next door in Park Road in a romantic large house with an overgrown tennis court. Playing in a large area. Grandfather set up the Wairarapa Times Age and became owner and editor before moving to Aokautere farming. Records of family at Aokautere School. 12.25. Grandfather Donald McLeod was the Manager of the Municipal Baths and the Opera House. 13.32. Remembered the berms mowed by the Council and using the long grass to make huts and playing causing allergies and asthma. 15:39. Teachers and students at College Street School. Remembering the war years at College Street School. Father went to WW2 and Bruce wrote letters and the family dug a trench in the back yard. Atmosphere of anti-Japanese. Remember Victory posters and had a stall selling fruit and other things to raise money for the troops. Not aware of the danger. First business enterprise. Reported in one of the papers which was a bit deal. (see below: Manawatu Standard, 1 March 1944). 24:40: Mother explained that some of the neighbours were poorer just after the Depression. Family across the road that had an outside toilet and used newspaper as toilet paper. Bruce’s family was in a better situation. 25:17: Went to Palmerston North Intermediate for one year and remembers it as being a great school. Remembers teacher Mary Robertson particularly fondly. Later became a customer and she never seemed to age. 28:33: The family moved house to Russell Street and Bruce biked to Intermediate. He remembers stopping for the railway lights running through town. 30:44: After WW2 father became important in the Employers Association. He was offered a big overseas trip to Geneva and Bruce’s parents went away for 6 months and Bruce went to Hadlow Preparatory School in Masterton in 1949. The school put Bruce back to Form 1 then he was a year behind when he went to Palmerston North Boys’ High. High School was difficult until 6th Form. 38:00: Russell Street house had a beautiful garden with a tennis court and had many upper-class garden parties. Bruce was expected to help with the gardening, but his dad was not a patient teacher. Bruce built cable cars from the house into the trees with Meccano. PART TWO: Start: Struggling in teenage years. Learning the piano and classical music appreciation. 3:40: Identifying as a gay man. 8:10: Went to university in Wellington and studied a BA in English, History and Geography. Rented a room in Kelburn. Joined the drama club at Victoria University and Unity Theatre. Produced a sound play by Samuel Beckett. (a reading of the play with sound effects). 14:11: Second year at university Bruce was in a production of the Taming of the Shrew directed by Pat Evison. Bruce has a small part as a huntsman alongside a young Roger Hall. The two men would become good friends. 17:15: Friend Ian Knowles had a job at the Student Christian Movement Bookshop and also worked at the university café. Gave both jobs to Bruce. Important step as Bruce loved the bookshop even though he did not identify as being Christian. Less enthusiastic about university. But enjoyed the theatre crowd. 25:13: Disappoint that ambition to become a radio announcer did not happen. Became very sick and went back to Palmerston North. Mum told Bruce that Bennett’s Bookshop had a job. Reluctantly agreed. 27:00: Became part of the Education Department at Bennett’s Bookshop – early 1960s. The education department was primary and secondary schools only. Enjoyed the work. 30:00: At 21, Bruce got a copy of Great Expectations to read in the downtime, but never got time to read it after the first chapter and has never finished it. Became friends with Bob McMurray, a theatre director and did some plays. The education department became a meeting place for teachers. 32:15: After about two years, was offered to come downstairs and become part of the book department. PART THREE: Start: Talks about the Bennett founder GH Bennett and the renaming of Broad Street to Broadway. 3:37: When Bruce started, Gordon and Harold Bennett were running the shop. Harold ran the stationary side and Gordon ran the book side. Gave Bruce the job of looking after the religious department and the technical book department. Responsibility of buying Bibles and motor manuals. 5:30: The book department at Bennett’s was large and elaborate which was a feature in other communities in New Zealand. 9:40: Book Nook in Rangitikei Street which Bruce would visit occasionally with a lady called Dorothy. 10:40: Bruce became a key point of contact for publishers in New Zealand such as Penguin, Collins and Random House. Bennett’s were also visited regularly from UK publishers. Felt part of the whole industry. 13:00: Eventually took over the whole book department from Phyllis Pygot. Wanted to diversify the book titles. 15:30: Bennett’s being stalwarts of the Methodist Church. Harold Bennett was a renegade and not a kind person. But they were a grand family and part of a Palmerston North institution and highly respected. However, simple Methodists and the Bennett’s did not spend money except on the shop or the Church. 22:45: GH Bennett had two daughters who married prominent men. They would come to visit occasionally, and Bruce would have to take them to lunch or morning tea because they would make the brothers nervous. 24:20: On of the daughter’s granddaughter is Jo McColl who is the owner of Unity Book in Auckland. Returned a Bennet’s commemorative plaque from the St Pauls Methodist Church to Jo McColl. Bruce received it on her behalf at a ceremony and sent it to her. 27:20: Gordon Bennett had two children: David and Mary. Mary’s husband, David McGregor, was the General Manager of Bennett’s when Bruce was there. He employed Richard Foxley from Ashhurst who became part of Bruce’s staff. They brought religious fundamentalism to the shop and Bruce remembers them burning some of the books. 32.27: Bruce became joint General Manager of the whole shop after David McGregor’s departure. He didn’t feel sufficiently trained in management at the time. 33:40: Gordon Bennett’s second wife, Enid Bennett was a Methodist minister at St Paul’s Church. After Gordon died, she became the controller of his interests. The brothers left the shop to the New Zealand Insurance Company to manage along with Enid Bennett who was part of the Board. This was late 1970s, early ‘80s. 39:00: Difficult period as the Board would not support Bruce’s ambitions for the bookshop. 39:41: In 1984 Bridget Williams an editor of the Oxford University Press New Zealand, offered Bruce a job to be Sales Manager at Allen and Unwin New Zealand and work in Wellington but still live in Palmerston North. Bruce accepted and left Bennett’s Bookshop after 26 years of service. 47:50: Meeting Mina through the Little Theatre. Bob McMurray asked Bruce to be in a production of ‘The Boyfriend.’ Got to know Bob and his wife Bessie and met Mina through them. It was 1963 as they heard the news about JFK’s assassination. Mina had been married to Barry Woods who was a theatre person and photographer. They had two children. Mina and Barry built the house Bruce is in now. They split up. She had a relationship with Jacob Hepi and had two more children. They split up. Bob and Bessie thought Bruce and Mina would get along well. 53:00: Bruce told Mina he was gay and couldn’t continue a relationship. Bruce went away and then a couple of years later they became involved again. He found he could love her and have a relationship with her. They were soulmates and he loved the children. PART FOUR: Start: Thought that a relationship with Mina would work and allow him to be a parent. He was 28-years old. It was an intellectual decision rather than a romantic one, but it worked very well. They went on to have two children of their own. Bruce’s mother was accommodating of suddenly having four instant grandchildren plus two more later. 3:30: Tricky as Mina had done it all before, but Bruce hadn’t. Mina was starting a degree in English at the time. It felt like they were rescuing each other and had similar ambitions, beliefs and interests. 7:20: Gradually, Mina became heavily involved in museum work and became very important to a lot of people outside the family. The eldest son at age 20, has a terrible accident which left him as a tetraplegic which led to very difficult years. 11:06: The next eldest son had two children, but he split up with his partner. The son and the children began to live with Bruce and Mina. Bruce was working in Wellington four days a week for Allen and Unwin. The son went surfing in Wairarapa came back and crashed on the corner of Pahiatua Track and Aokautere and he died. Bruce and Mina kept the children for a while, and they eventually went to their mother in Lower Hutt. 19:00: After bookselling, Bruce wanted to be a publisher but that didn’t happen, continued as a Sales Manager for Allen and Unwin until they were bought out by Collins. Allen and Unwin were the original publishers of Tolkien. 24:00: The Harper Collins representative from Shannon didn’t want the job anymore and Bruce became the Harper Collins rep for about 10 years. Through both Allen and Unwin and Harper Collins Bruce travelled a lot around New Zealand. Mina was a national figure by this time and was involved with Te Papa Museum. 28:30: While on a trip in Auckland, Bruce thought about opening a bookshop in Palmerston North with Dymocks Bookshops who had the rights to a become part of the bookshop in the Palmerston North library. Both Bruce’s parents had died and left some money. Mina agreed which was a surprise. Dymocks eventually faded away and Bruce opened the bookshop on his own. 31:25: Originally wanted a site on the other side of the Square where the library was but bought a lease on George Street and Bruce McKenzie Bookshop opened 15 Dec 1996, where it still is now. 33:50: On 11 March 1997 Mina died after collapsing at the dining table while she was balancing the books for the shop. Had heart issues and was under Mr Campbell McDonald the cardiologist. Community rallied around, particularly the Māori community. Bruce was grief-stricken for a long time. He was always loyal to Mina. 42:00: Setting up an additional educational bookshop across the road on George Street from the original bookshop in about 2006. 46:45: More idealistic than pratical as teachers don’t come to those kinds of bookshops anymore, the books are often sold directly to schools. Therefore worked as a grandparents shop rather than a teachers shop. But the crash of 2008 caused sales to go down. Also had a discount shop in Coleman Mall but had to let both extra shops go. 57:03: Vision for Bruce McKenzie Bookshop at the beginning. Bringing experiences from managment of Bennetts Bookshop. In 1996 Barcodes Solutions had a well-designed specific bookshop system which was one of the most expensive and Bruce is still using it today, 25 years later. Designed shop with Harvey Taylor who worked with Mina at the museum as a designer. 1:02:50: Main intention was to feature the books specifically. A calm look with deep colours so the books shone out. The counter in the middle and not facing the front door so people wouldn’t walk in and have staff looking at them. 1:05.40: Model for the shop was an Australian shop called the Hill of Content in Melbourne. He remembers it being beautiful with dark colours and a feeling of warmth about it. 1:12:03: Took on the shop expecting that the Council will give the bookshop a budget to supply the city library. The city library spent a lot at Bruce McKenzie which was both a good thing and a challenge. The library gradually began to spend elsewhere, which was ok. 1:18:58: Battles with Amazon and the online shops. Challenges of Covid Lockdown. Felt like everything was being handed over to Amazon. However, that didn’t happen and people are coming back to the local bookshop. 1:23:39: Challenge particularly of the Book Depository. They did a deal with the British Post Office that they would have free shipping. Can’t compete with discounted prices and not postage cost.
This image was taken for a story that ran in the Manawatu Evening Standard on April 30, 1993, with the caption, "Mina McKenzie... world interest in New Zealand's museums." The Manawatū Museum Director and Massey University Museum Studies Associate Lecturer, had been invited to speak at the Museums in Dialogue symposium in Germany. Her talk was on cultural objects in museums - and protocols around their care and conservation. Mina continued on to Leicester University, in the United Kingdom, to attend the Third Museum Studies Conference, Museums and the Media. Here, there was additional interest in the relationship between Massey University, Manawatū Museum and the Manawatū Art Gallery.