The Fitzherbert East School, near Palmerston North, was built in 1889 by Messrs Perrin, Oakley and Meyrick, and opened to the first pupils March 19th 1889. The school as first built comprised of a single classroom and porch. The photograph shows children, parents and teachers outside the school with a tent alongside.
Terrace End Cemetery came into use in Palmerston North in 1875, superseded by Kelvin Grove Cemetery in 1927. It is divided into denominational divisions and 'public reserves' for stillborn babies and the poor. The total number of recorded burials is about 10,000.
Development began on the Victoria Esplanade in 1897, named to mark Queen Victoria's 60th jubilee, . The pergola was built in c1916-1917 and demolished c1940. The winding complex of pathways was developed under Peter Black, Curator of Reserves from 1908-1946.
This house in Rongotea, which was originally built for John Jarvis, suffered fire damange and was partially rebuilt. For an earlier image of the structure, see 2014P_Rng68_007666.
Shown here is the 150 acre Lake Puki Puki, near Himatangi, which dried up during the drought of 1969 - 1970, for the first time in living memory. The lake was one of several resulting from the formation of sand dunes along the coast which prevented inland water run-off escaping to the sea. Its average depth was usually 4-7 feet and it was fed by a drain known as the Puki Inlet and from water pumped from Mr P R Barber's property during wet weather. The lake now forms part of the Pukepuke Conservative Area and is an important wetland habitat.
A combined meeting of the Palmerston North Lunch Club and Rotary Club was held 1 December 1944 in the Premier Drapery Company tearooms to hear R.M. Algie, Member of Parliament for Remuera and Professor of Law at Auckland University, speak about war-time controls.
Anti All Black tour demonstrators were addressed by the National President of HART, Mr. Trevor Richards, at the Clock Tower in Palmerston North’s Square. Mr. Richards spoke to the 200 strong crowd for about 45 minutes before they marched to the Showgrounds, where the North Island trials were being staged.
On the eve of the Springbok vs Manawatū Rugby match at the Showgrounds, army engineers from Linton moved into the grounds under the cover of darkness to ring the Oval with rolls of barbed wire.
Approximately 5,000 people showed their opposition to the pending Springbok rugby tour by marching down Broadway then into The Square. They assembled at the Lions Den where they were addressed by a variety of speakers. The march was headed by Labour MP for Palmerston North Mr. Joe Walding (centre). Others under the banner include Rev. Dr David Penman of All Saints Church, march organiser Bishop Peter Cullinane, Rev. Dr Alan Webster and the President of the Manawatu Trades Council Mr. Noren Byrnes. The same evening a group of 8,000 pro-tour supporters also gathered in The Square.
Built as the Clarendon Hotel in 1904, the building became commercial premises after the hotel closed due to a fire c1925. An original third floor was removed after the 1931 earthquake. Goldfinch and Cousins occupied premises in the building from 1927-1975. Colonial Mutual Life (CML) purchased the building in 1950, and it was demolished c. 1975 for a new CML 6-storey office building. This building now houses 'The Hub' accommodation block, with shops at ground level. Beyond can be seen the (now demolished) former National Bank of New Zealand, on the corner of Cuba Street and Rangitikei Street.
This circumstances of this photograph are unknown, but it shows a schooner rigged scow named 'Advance' at a jetty alongside what appears to be a steam train or traction engine. This may have been the boat built by Brown & Sons at Kaipara in 1903. According to Watt's Shipping Index, this was transferred to Sydney in 1908, where it was wrecked in 1915.
Andrew Young, on the right, was born in England and emigrated to Australia in 1855. He established himself in the coach business there, and later in New Zealand (in Otago 1862 – 1868 and in Westland 1868 – 1871). In partnership with Shepard, Young gained the franchise on the Wellington – New Plymouth mail run. Shepard drowned within a few months, but Young continued the business until 1882. In the 1890s he again operated in the South Island. In 1894 he narrowly lost Wellington’s mayoralty.
This event is believed to be the start of the 1927 Jubilee celebrations. A large procession was held 2 March 1927, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Borough of Palmerston North.The procession included the Salvation Army band, the Municipal Band, decorated vehicles, historic cars and farm equipment and a Māori waka on wheels. The procession was reported to be over a mile long and as it moved around Te Marae O Hine/The Square and was watched by tens of thousands of people.
Photograph of a gathering around Te Marae-O Hine believed to be early March 1927. The large crowd was here possibly to see the Duke and Duchess of York, whose visit on 3-4 March 1927 coincided with the week of Jubilee celebrations marking 50 years of the Borough of Palmerston North.
The wooden building on the east/Church Street corner (showing Nimmo's Piano Depot signage) was replaced with a concrete three storey building in 1929.
The third Public Library was situated in the wooden building on the right of this photograph. This particular building was constructed in 1897, and served as the Borough Council Offices, but by 1905 it became too small for this purpose. The Public Library occupied the site until 1929.
The Rockstrows were an early Manawatū family of German extraction. Johann Friedrich Rockstroh (1834-1913) was a Prussian born in Erfurt, Germany. As a young man he migrated to New Zealand, where he practiced medicine in the goldfields of Otago and the West Coast. He subsequently anglicised his name to John Frederick Rockstrow. Mrs Rockstrow (c.1839-1914) was born Anna Eunice Gapper, in Germany. The Gapper family emigrated to a German settlement in Nelson province in 1842 and Anna’s father was one of the few survivors of the ‘Wairau incident’. Anna married Dr Rockstrow when he was working among miners on the West Coast and accompanied him to Manawatū in 1873.
The Rockstrows had four daughters and four sons. The eldest son, John Fredrick (1868-1954), served in the South African War, returning much decorated. The third son, William Caspari (1881-1909), worked at the Wellington Post Office and also fought in the South African War. On return he worked again at the Post Office before resigning, and remained unemployed until he died of an opiate overdose in 1909. Ellen Flora (1876-1946), the youngest daughter, married Andrew Meuli of Hawera in 1919. Anna and daughter Henrietta Mary (1869-1942), were two of approximately 523 Palmerston North women who signed the Suffrage petition, submitted to Parliament in 1893.
From left standing: Rosalia Elizabeth (1871-1942), John Frederick, Frances Amelia (1873-1950), Augustus Isador (1878-1917). From left seated: Dr J. F. Rockstrow, Ellen Flora, William Casperi, Henrietta Mary, Walter Leonard (1883-1961), and Anna Rockstrow.
This is the home of the Rockstrow family, located at 59 Cuba Street. Johann Friedrich Rockstroh (1834-1913) was a Prussian born in Erfurt, Germany. As a young man he migrated to New Zealand, where he practiced medicine in the goldfields of Otago and the West Coast. He subsequently anglicised his name to John Frederick Rockstrow.
In 1873, Prime Minister Fox persuaded him to go north and serve as medical officer to the Māori between Horowhenua and the Rangitīkei. John settled in Foxton and worked with both Māori and early European settlers in the Manawatū (it was 1875 before Palmerston North had its first resident doctor). In 1886 he transferred with his family to Palmerston North to this home in Cuba Street. He died on 30 May 1913 of a stroke, aged 78, one of the last early pioneers.
This photograph is believed to show, from left: William Caspari Rockstrow (1881-1909); Walter Leonard Rockstrow (1883-1961); Henrietta Mary Rockstrow, later Arbon (1869-1942); Rosalia Elizabeth Rockstrow, later Waters (1871-1942); Augustus Isador Rockstrow (1878-1917); unknown woman (perhaps a servant); Dr Rockstrow and his wife, Anna Eunice, née Gapper (1839-1914); Ellen Flora Rockstrow, later Meuli (1876-1946); and Frances Amelia Rockstrow, later Brook-Taylor (1873-1950). John Fredrick Rockstrow (1868-1954), the eldest son, is missing.
For additional information on Dr J. F. Rockstrow, see: Cecil & Celia Manson, Pioneer Parade (1966), pp.76-79 and TIna White, 'Memory Lane - Generous Doctor,' Manawatū Evening Standard, 29 August 2009, p.2.
This resealing machine was one of the first of its kind to be built in New Zealand. Milson Airport also had an alternative grass runway for light planes to use.
At this point in time The Square was divided into 5 areas - 4 quadrants and a strip running through the centre for the railway line. In the right foreground can be seen the extension of Rangitikei Street into The Square. The Bank of New Zealand is on the extreme left (corner of Rangitikei Street and the dome belongs to Collinson and Cunningham's store on Broadway. The trees on the left still stand in The Square [2015].
The building near the centre of the image with a bay window, Hepworth's Pharmacy (later known as the Steele's building), was built in 1917. This photograph dates from prior to the construction of the Arts and Craft style O'Connor building, which was built in 1923.
A civic welcome to Lord and Viscountess Galway in May 1935 after Lord Galway succeeded Lord Bledisloe as Governor General of New Zealand on 12 April 1935. He is shown here being greeted by Mayor Augustus Edward Mansford. Lord Galway retired from New Zealand on 3rd of February 1941.
Alexander McMinn was the founder of the 'Manawatu Daily Standard' (forerunner of the Manawatu Standard), the first daily paper published between Wellington and Wanganui, which produced it’s first issue on 29th November 1880. The newspaper was sold to Frederick Pirani in 1891. Archibald McMinn was said to be a compositor–typesetter. From left. Standing : Leslie McMinn; Gordon McMinn; Archibald McMinn; Garnet McMinn. Seated: Alexander McMinn, F Alex McMinn and Lassie the dog. Leslie, Gordon, Archibald, Garnet and F Alex were all sons of Alexander.
These two-storied residences are typical architecture of the 1930s. It was previously thought that one of them might be the former home of Thomas Grigg, the undertaker, and situated on the left-hand side of Fitzherbert Avenue, but this was incorrect.
Nurses in uniform near the original buildings of Palmerston North Hospital. A tennis court was provided for staff.
Mr Henry Worsfold was born in Sussex, England, in 1838. He and his wife Margaret Maria (née Dudley) were passengers on the ship 'Ocean Mail' which left England on 12 November 1873 and arrived in Wellington on 2 February 1874. They were selected by the Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation for a free passage to New Zealand to settle in the Manchester Block. They had 4 sons with them - Robert, Henry, George and John. A daughter Sarah, died before the family left England. After settling in Feilding, Henry worked for the Feilding Borough Council for ten years and was active in civic and social affairs.
An unidentified rugby team (secondary school team?) pictured with coach and shield. The referee is named Simeon and appears in an image of the Huia R.F.C. from 1934 (digitisation number 2019P_2006-358_026277).
The Senior Huia Rugby Football Club was based at Rangiotu. This team photo was taken at Awahuri in 1934.
Back Row: Simeon (Referee), P. Hill, M. Whiteman, P. Lane, Keys, K. Wilton, S. Pearce, O. Toms, W. Hines, S. Matai.
Front Row: T. Searanke, E. Donaldson, S. Knox, V. Pearson, J. Fitzgerald, F. Gimblett, J. Tamati, Tui Larkins Te Awe Awe (Coach).
"The Mikado" was produced by the Palmerston North Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society in 1901. From left to right, Zilla Flyger (later Mrs Brooke Taylor), Hester Burr (later Mrs Rogers), Amelia Whalley (nee McMinn). The lead role of Ko-Ko was played by Mr Harry Palmer. Mr Rogers played Nanki-Poo. See Manawatu Times, 13 November 1901, Page 2 for more information.
Two young girls stand on the veranda of this villa, thought to be 'Tuatahi' in Williams Terrace on the Fitzherbert hill area in Palmerston North.
Studio portrait of Stanley Pike (1905 - 1983) and an unidentified baby.
Murray Pike in a sailor suit, with rocking horse.