Pascal Street, Name and History
Name: Pascal
Suburb, Takaro
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. Early settlers in the Manawatū, by 1882 the brothers were running sheep and cattle on a farm at Awahuri called Beaulieu. They fenced and cleared the property and in early 1884, and applied for permission to the Manawatū Road Board to cut down fourteen acres of bush adjoining their property 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 Mario 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 Rangiotu 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, and 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 grean 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, but 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.
It was also from 1890 onwards that Mr C Pascal and Mr L Pascal 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 the war armament factories situated there 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.”
History
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 money 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. Although, junior footballers complained of the 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 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. By 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 tradition of A&P Shows to supply free milk from the exhibitors of dairy cattle, each morning at the Pascal Street gate, to hundreds of children.
In May of 1920 the Borough Council received a letter from residents requesting a footway be constructed on the east side of Pascal Street. They 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 which is in the south:
- Name becomes "Sascal" Street (this was the option Mr de Marr most favoured)
- Name becomes S' Pascal Street or Pascal Street 'S
- Name becomes South Pascal Street or Pascal Street South
Under his scheme ‘avenues’ would designate parallel boundaries. ‘Streets’ would run parallel to avenues, ‘roads’ would run in the opposite direction, i.e. 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.
Early residents included
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 P 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 Patrick 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 years. In the short-term they aimed to strengthen him to the extent he could take a health tour. They remained owners of the hotel and leased it out.
Mrs Mary Mulrooney nee Kavanaugh was born in County Kilkenny Ireland c. 1849 and came to New Zealand in 1882, likely on the ship Mennock. 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. 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 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 Street and Pascal Street 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 Anderson’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. The 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, and a keen lawn bowler and member of the Takaro Club. Mrs Anna Matilda Ihles died in 1932, aged 69, she was followed by her husband Mr Hans Anderson Ihle six years later. Mr H Ihles 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 business, organisations and clubs included
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 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 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, the 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 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 built c. 1915 which adjoined Pascal Street 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.
Renumbering
The addresses on Pascal Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.210 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.
