Manawatū Heritage

Local Historian of the Year 2021

Toi Warbrick was awarded Local Historian of the Year at the annual Palmerston North Local History Awards, at Caccia Birch House.

Virginia and Warren Warbrick were recognised for the many ways of telling stories about our past which go beyond words on a page – orally, creatively and collaboratively. Through music, art, performance and interactive exercises involving community engagement, they have made Rangitāne’s stories, and the area’s history, available to new audiences. (For full citation see the Manawatū Heritage article on the 2021 awards).

Palmerston North Heritage Trust awardees 2021

The awards were held at Caccia Birch House. As well as the annual Local Historian of the Year and the biennial best local history book awards, this year two other books were acknowledged for their contribution to local history.

From left: Mayor, Grant Smith - attended and spoke; Warren and Virginia Warbrick for Toi Warbrick - Local Historians of the Year; Margaret Tennant, Chairperson of the Palmerston North Heritage Trust; Neil Gallagher, Horizons Regional Council - accepting on behalf of Michele Frey, compiler of Best Local History Book, Te Āpiti Manawatū Gorge Te Au-rere-a-te-tonga; Murray Brown - for Highly Commended Local History Book, 125 Not Out: A History of the Manawatū Cricket Association 1895-2020 (co -authored by Alec Astle); Rachel Bowen, Chair of Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee - presenter of awards.

As well a Community History Project Special Award was made to recognise City at the Centre: A History of Palmerston North: Tini Whetū kit e rangi take rau tāngata kit e whenua, a project of the Palmerston North Heritage Trust.

Back Issues: Physical links to city's past

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The 158th anniversary of the 250,000 acre block of land sale that Rangitanē agreed to sell to the Crown is on July 23 1864. The deed of sale is held in Archives New Zealand, Wellington. This article describes the authors experiences of viewing the original deed, and their whanau connection.

Installation of Pouwhenua for the re-dedication of The Square - Te Marae o Hine

Council staff assisted by John Bevan Ford, install pouwhenua before the re-dedication of The Square as ‘Te Marae o Hine’ – The Courtyard of the Daughter of Peace. The re-dedication occurred on Saturday, 3 March, 1990

From Left: Graham Toms, unknown, John Bevan Ford, Donald Soames, unknown.

The following notes were written by City Archivist, Ian Matheson, around the time of the re-dedication. Background: Te Marae o Hine is that part of The Square on which stands the statue of Te Peeti Te Awe Awe and the City Council building. The name, The Courtyard of the Daughter of Peace was offered to Te Peeti Te Awe Awe one hundred and eleven years ago by Matene Te Whiwhi, Paramount Chief of Ngati Raukawa in memory of his ancestress, Rongorito, a famous peacemaker who lived in Waikato thirteen generations ago. Te Peeti Te Awe Awe received the name and offered it to the first Mayor of Palmerston North, George Snelson in the hope that there would be peace between all citizens of Palmerston North. 1990: The City of Palmerston North has commissioned a set of 9 great carvings to be placed in that part of The Square called Te Marae o Hine to form a gathering place for all people. The people of Rangitāne, tangata whenua of this area have imbued these taonga with their mana. They stand as a memorial to Rongorito and a tribute to the vision of Te Peeti Te Awe Awe, Matene Te Whiwhi and George Snelson.

Elementary Certificate, New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association Inc.

Certificate reads, "THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT Sean Monaghan will have fully qualified for this Certificate when all the tests have been passed as provided for in the spaces below and each separate seal has been awarded AW Barnett SEC N.Z.A.S.A."

Certificate of Proficiency, Palmerston North Motor Cycle Training School

Certicate reads. "CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT

Sean Michael Monaghan

Whose signature appears below has successfully completed the Course
of the Palmerston North Motor Cycle Training School in accordance with all its provisions.

Dated this 7th day of May

Stan R Key
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR

[illegible]
SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT

S Monaghan
SPECIMEN SIGNATURE"

School Traffic Patrol or Warden Certificate of Merit, Palmerston North City Council

Certificate reads, "Certificate of Merit This Certificate is awarded by the Palmerston North City Council to Sean Monaghan of Roslyn School in Recognition of Meritorious Service as a School Traffic Patrol or Warden during the year 1975

Date 2/12/75

Mayor B Elwood"

Swimming Award, New Zealand Water Safety Council

Certificate reads, "New Zealand Water Safety Council Swimming Award Two

CONFIDENCE

LEG ACTION

BASIC STROKE

50 METRES CRAWL

SKILLS

Sean Monaghan HAS COMPLETED THE SKILLS SHOWN ABOVE AND MAY NOW CONTINUE WITH THE AWARDS OF THE NZ AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION AND THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY OF NZ."

NAC Boeing 737 first service to Palmerston North Certificate

Certificate reads, "To commemorate the introduction of NAC's Boeing 737 services to Palmerston North

This is to certify that: Sean Monaghan
flew on the first passenger jet airliner to use Palmerston North Airport, an NAC Boeing 737 Twin-jet, on Sunday December 14, 1975.

THE AIRCRAFT:

Length:29.54 m

Wingspan:28.35 m

Height of tail from ground: 11.28 m

Cruising speed:837 kmh

Thrust at cruising speed:1950 kg per engine

Maximum all up weight:47,174 kg

Crew: 2 pilots, 3 hostesses

Passengers:106

Number owned by NAC: 9

Registrations: ZK-NAC, ZK-NAD, ZK-NAE, ZK-NAJ, ZK-NAK, ZK-NAL, ZK-NAM, ZK-NAP, ZK-NAQ.

DA Patterson

CHIEF EXECUTIVE & GENERAL MANAGER

NAC
WINGS
OF THE
NATION"

Palace Theatre, George Street

The Palace Theatre was built in 1915 on the site once occupied by the Manawatu Stables. The Palace continued operation until 9 February 1935 when the theatre was badly gutted by fire. It was not until 1936 that the theatre reopened after extensive work was done. The front veranda roof decorations and much of the interior woodwork was replaced at this time. Palmerston Amusements Ltd owned the theatre at the time of the fire. They had planned to open a new 1300 seat theatre in its place, but this never eventuated. Instead, the newly refurbished building reopened as The Mayfair. The Mayfair became part of the Kerridge Odeon Corporation in 1946 and continued until 1965 when it was closed for a modernisation works. The theatre reopened later in 1965 as The Odeon, the name it held until the building's demolition in 1992. Harvey Norman now stands in its place next to the junction of Coleman Mall and George Street.

The movie, The Jungle Child, starring Dorothy Dalton, screened at the Palace Theatre in February 1917. The *Manawatū Times *reported that: "The wonderful tropical beauty of the South American jungle, with its wild animal life, provides a fascinating and highly original setting ... A lost explorer, who is also an unscrupulous adventurer, is rescued by a Spanish girl who has been adopted into a tribe of Indians when an infant, and reared in the strange manners and customs of the wild. He discovers that she is the missing heiress to a vast fortune, gets her into his power, and takes her back to civilisation with the intention of marrying her and claiming her fortune" (20 February 1917).

Back Issues: Milverton Park: 100 years young

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. In October 1925. William Milverton gifted 4 acres, 3 roods and 28 perches of land to the Palmerston North Borough Council. This parcel of land was to become Milverton Park, on the corner of Ferguson Street and Victoria Avenue. Milverton intended for it to be a free recreation space for the public and for children. Its last redevelopment in 2019 to a dedicated children's space reflects the aspirations of the original donor.

Fire Brigade at Gasworks Storehouse Fire

The old gasworks were located near the railways sheds. For a full account of the event, see Manawatu Standard, 5 August 1913, Page 5 in an article entitled "Explosion and Fire" (available online on www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz).

Memory Lane - "Building Manawatu history"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. In the 1950s and 1960s, building company Beazley Homes built homes to meet a housing shortage. The nationwide company made pre-cut affordable homes, with the house and section sold as a package. Rex J. Thompson Manawatu Ltd was the local franchise building company. The company built 382 houses in 12 years in Manawatū and neighbouring regions.

Memory Lane - "Net resources boost journal"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The 2010 editor of the Manawatū Journal of History Cushla Scrivens discusses increased internet access to local historical material. The importance of National Library's Papers Past for researchers and contributors to the journal is highlighted.

Memory Lane - "Fee, fi, fo, fum"

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. On 22 February 1972, French wrestler Andre Roussimoff, also called Andre the Giant, came to Palmerston North for a wrestling match. His large size drew a lot of attention. He was 2.26 metres tall and weighed 229 kilos. His unusually large size was caused by a medical condition.

The Manawatū Journal of History: Issue 6

Contents:

p. 3 Editorial / Cushla Scrivens

p. 5 "Cleared to Land," early days of aviation in Palmerston North / Graham Parsons

p. 15 Design for living: the Savage Crescent conservation area / Margaret Tate

p. 25 Atawhai / Patricia Keiller

p. 35 Charles Louis Pemberton & the Pemberton village / Donald G. Irvine

p. 45 The city watchdog: Pat Kelliher, the man and his passions / Dorothy Pilkington

p. 54 Keith Westhead Thomson: weaving the strands / Lucy Marsden

p. 64 A life in photography / Ivan Mandahl as told to Betty Williamson (part two)

p. 70 Prophet not without honour: Guthrie Wilson of Palmerston North / Malcolm Prentis

p. 79 Teaching NCEA history / Dominic King

Local notes:-

Feilding & districts community archive / Marilyn Wightman

p. 82 Te Manawa / Steven Fox

p. 82 Update on the Bridle Track / Noelene R. Wevell

Book reviews:-

p. 83 "Entertaining the Manawatu: The Manawatu Savage Club's century of achievement" by Noel Watts / reviewed by Noelene R. Wevell

The Manawatu Journal of History contains articles on the history of the wider Manawatu area, written by a variety of contributors. The Journal is published annually. Conditions of use: This journal is made available for personal use, study and research and all articles remain copyrighted to their original authors. For permission to reuse or publish please contact: The Editor, Manawatu Journal Associates, PO Box 1702, Palmerston North 4440.

Southern Cross port propeller tip. February 1933

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith – Southern Cross. The Southern Cross damaged a wing when she sank into a drain while taxing at Milson NZ aerodrome on 4th February 1933. In addition to damage to the port side wing she also broke her port side propeller. My father Walter Jones, aged 19 years in 1933, lived adjacent to the aerodrome and on seeing the Southern Cross crash he jumped the boundary fence and ran to the aircraft to check the crew and passengers for injuries. From the crash site he souvenired a piece of the broken prop.

'Southern Cross' aeroplane, Milson Airport

This photograph shows the damage done to the "Southern Cross" when it landed at Milson Airport, Palmerston North. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and crew of the 'Southern Cross', a Fokker F. VII Trimotor aircraft, were delayed in Palmerston North for several weeks after the aeroplane's wing was damaged during taxiing 4 February 1933.

Car racing, Awapuni

Car racing on a dirt track at Awapuni. The track was located in the Pitama Road / Slacks Road area. Hand coloured print