The Ashhurst Bridge over the Manawatu River, was officially opened 9 June 1909. Shown here are workmen (possibly) dismantling the old punt which used to ferry people across the river from 1895 - 1909, after the first bridge was washed away in a flood. This bridge was replaced by a concrete structure in 1969.

This was the second bridge over the Manawatu River in Palmerston North, replacing the original structure built in 1877. It was constructed by Fletcher Construction and remained until 1986 when it proved too small for the volume of traffic, particularly as it serves the main route to Massey University. This photograph shows the supports and underneath of the Fitzherbert Bridge during construction.

From left. Back Row: H J Smith, Traffic Manager; A M Spilman, Abattoir Manager; P Black, City Curator. Second Row: J R Hardie, Town Clerk, Cr A A Langley; Cr J T J Heatley; Cr J J Stevenson; J W Muir, Electrical Engineer; J Learmonth, Gas Manager. Front Row: CR W B Tennent; C R W B Cameron; CR G Tremaine, Deputy Mayor; His Worship the Mayor, A W Mansford, Esq; Cr R L C Aitchison; Cr J Hodgens, M.P., Cr W Mouldey.

Looking towards the clocktower in The Square of Palmerston North. In the foreground can be seen the construction of the new Civic Administration Building, built 1976 - 1979, which when completed straddled the road into The Square.

The Rongotea Methodist Bible Class picnic held at Tangimoana. On the right hand side are Jack Darling and Emily Thompson (Hill).

The mill was situated about a quarter of a mile north of Nannestead Road, and one and half miles north of Bunnythorpe.

'The Wattles' was built for William Park, Stationer, Councillor and Mayor of Palmerston North, and his family in 1887, on 4 acres of land. This paddock was situated to the west side of the “Wattles”, it is now the site of the playing field of Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School. The house was demolished in 1967.

Michael Fowler, then Mayor of Wellington (left), and Mr Ged Corrick Mayor of Feilding, attended the Feilding Centennial celebrations held 28 February to 7 March 1981. Sir Edward "Michael" Coulson Fowler, FNZIA, was born in Marton in 1929. He was an architect and Mayor of Wellington in 1974-1983.

This photograph shows Phase I of a new Palmerston North Hospital building programme near completion. The four new wards were in the third, fourth and fifth storeys of the white multi-storey building. The two floors below were designed for clinical work. The central construction area, dominated by the crane, was the beginning of Phase II, which was for more wards and a further clinical block. Phase II was due for completion in 1976.

Two members of the cast of the Palmerston North Operatic Society's production of "Orpheus in the Underworld" accompany the captain of the Manawatu Rugby Team on a vintage car ride from the Palmerston North Airport to the Square. From left: Duncan Hales with the Ranfurly Shield, Vivienna Ayers, the Mayor Brian Elwood and Janice Walker. Manawatu defeated Auckland 12-10 on Saturday, 21 August 1976 to win the Ranfurly Shield.

The Government set up its own coach service, New Zealand Railways Road Services, which started on the Wellington–Whanganui route in 1934. It was the biggest operator of buses in New Zealand from the mid 1930s to 1991, when the company was privatised. The new bus service depot in Foxton was officially opened by Mr Geoff Thompson, Member of Parliament 12 December 1979. It replaced the old Foxton depot in Whyte Street which had been in use since 1941.

Mervyn Austin Nixon was born in Auckland on August 5 1912 and educated at Auckland Teachers' College and Auckland University, graduating with an MA with 1st class honours in French and Latin. He was New Zealand's first community centre director at Dargaville from 1945-1948. He was senior adult education tutor in the Palmerston North area for Victoria University 1948-1956 and then Head of the English Department at PNBHS. He was also President of the New Zealand Library Association 1963-1965.

Tank being transported across water as part of an army exercise. Caccia Birch house can be seeen in the background.

Captain Richard Russell, DFC & Croix de Guerre, was the first aviator to arrive in Palmerston North, landing a de Havilland aircraft in August 1920 while on tour promoting air travel and taking passengers for 'joy rides'. A later tour ended with the death of Captain Russell and his two passengers at New Plymouth, when the plane crash landed.

Looking S.W. to N.E. over the western suburbs of Palmerston North. The farmland west of the city falls within the Kairanga County boundary. The showgrounds are just visible top right. The Main Roads are 1) Milsons Line (top left) 2) Rangitikei Line #) Gillespies Line. These three roads are transversed by Kairanga-Bunnythorpe.

Illuminated address presented to Henry Stephens to mark the end of his 6 years living in Apiti. He then moved to Awahuri where he operated a store, Stephens Bros Merchants and Commission Agents, from 1908 until his death in 1913 aged 49 years. He had three children - Basil, Olga and Mrs N. O'Connell (far older than the younger two). The illuminated address features illustrations of the Apiti area, and the names of residents.

The Wellington Manawatu Railway Company Limited constructed the rail line between Wellington and Palmerston, opened in 1886, and ran it until they sold it to the Government in 1908.

Many functions and events were held to celebrate 100 years of Palmerston North. This play about Palmerston North's early history was held in the Centennial Pavillion in The Square. Far right: Bronwyn Croxon.

Mangahao river camp located on a terrace above the river and associated project workings.The Mangahao Power Station provides hydroelectric power and is situated near the town of Shannon. It serves Wellington, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, and the Wairarapa. After being delayed by the first world war construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

The railway station and goods yards were moved from The Square to Main Street West, Palmerston North, in 1890 and remained on that site until the 1960s

Charles Dahl was a manufacturer of tarpaulins, horsecovers, marquees, tents, ropes and twine, as well as shirts, moleskins, denim and duck clothing. His business was situated between The Square and Princess Streets. The building was demolished February 1968. Charles Dahl is pictured on the far right.

Thought to be the last Palmerston North River Board, 1941 – 1944, as from 1945 onward it became known as the Manawatu Catchment Board. Back row, from left: J R Hardie, J T J Heatley, M W Voss, E Fisher, A Lane. Front row, from left: P V Koehler, J Hodgens, A E Mansford, W R Hopcroft, E H Smith

Mauriceville is a small settlement establisghed largely by Scandinavians in the Seventy Mile Bush area of Wairarapa. The Mauriceville County Councillors were in 1902: C. Churchill Jackson, Chairman; C. Forsborg; H.J. Dagg; F.W.H. Kummer; J.C. Cooper; J.F. Hockler; E. Pedersen.

The Aveling and Porter Traction engine and chaff cutter were owned by Mr Gifford and John Henson until they were sold, with their mill, to a Mr Jensen.

This photograph comes from the archive of Mabel Child, who was the daughter of James and Polly Hocking (nee Hosking, daughter of Charles E Hosking from England). Mabel married into the Child family.

This brick butter factory replaced the old wooden factory which was constructed during the 1890s. The Rongotea Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd was established in 1895 and was amalgamated in 1960 with the Awahuri Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd, to form the Manawatu Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd. Ronald Matheson is in the foreground wearing a bowler had and a waist coat.

These photographs were used, as arranged, in a Palmerston North publicity Pamphlet (Palmerston North: The Model, Modern City" 1939, p 20). From top: 1 and 2: Manapouri Crescent (?); 3: Elmira Avenue (?); 152-172 Cook Street (newly completed state rental houses).

The Vautier Homestead in its original form, photographed in about 1881-82. Shown are its original Danish-born openers, Las and Christine Andersen Lassen (nee Bak), and their children: Peter (b 1879) and Ellen (b 1881). Las Lassen came to New Zealand aboard the England. The Lassen established the property and built this well-known house and barn (obscure), before moving to Bunnythorpe in about 1889. Note the school site on the left and the bush on the terrace behind the house. The loft above the barn served as the Lassen's home for several years before they built the house. See ‘A Time of Transition’ by Val Burr, page 3.