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.

The election result board posted at the Evening Standard office is seen here the day after the 1935 election. This method was common for informing the public of the election results on the night, before the radio became more prominent in New Zealand homes.

The Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board’s building committee inspect the substation; from L to R: Roger Meads (Engineer-Manager); Murray Macphee (Engineer); Matt Green and Russell Signal (Board Chairman). This substation, in Flygers Line near the corner of Milson Line, has been designed to blend into its residential surroundings. At the time the photograph was taken the substation was not finished and had still to be landscaped.

This was to mark the first Christmas after the end of World War One. The presents were packed at the offices of the Manawatu Racing Club, opposite the Barraud and Abrahams building, to be distributed by a number of Father Christmases with the help of local citizens. These men are standing on the south side of Rangitikei Street, opposite the premises of the Manawatu Racing Club. Mr Henry Collinson of Collinson and Son Ltd, is third from left with hat on.

This is the memorial dedicated to the memory of officers and men of the New Zealand Medical Corps (1914-1918) who were trained the Awapuni Racecourse. It was erected in 1929. The memorial is a stone cairn fountain, inside a pool constructed in the shape of a cross.

The first Fitzherbert Bridge across the Manawatu River was built in 1877, with the approaching roads formed in early 1878. The view is from the Fitzherbert side, looking across to Fitzherbert Avenue, still lined with thick, native bush.

This was the fourth Palmerston North Court House. The first Court House was constructed in 1874, and replaced in 1881. In 1895 a third Court House was built and the second one moved to Church Street for use as the Police Station. The third building was short lived as it burnt down in 1897. This (fourth)Court House remained in use, with additions and alterations, until it was demolished and replaced by a new one, completed in 1988.

Ingram and Wheatley's book "New Zealand Shipwrecks" relates the story of the "Fusilier", an iron barque of 404 tons net register. She went ashore, between Turakina and Rangitikei Rivers at midday on the 16th January 1884, but no lives were lost. Since 1884, the sand has moved westward and today the remains of the Fusilier are situated behind the first line of sand dunes, about 200 yards from the present high water mark. When this photograph was taken one of the masts was still standing, but by 1965 (when the writer first visited the wreck), this mast had collapsed and was partially buried by sand.

Taken outside H Richardson’s house, possibly on Albert Street, during the big flood of 5th May 1941. People in the canoe are unidentified.

The Manawatu County celebrated its centennial over 2-3 April 1977. This is one of the floats that took part in the procession.

On the third of February 1931, Napier experienced a disastrous earthquake, which resulted in damaging or destroying nearly every building in the city, with fires to follow. This particular shot shows the ruins of St. Johns Cathedral.

Catherine Collis, centre. The photograph was taken from her grandmother's flat at 487 Main Road, opposite. The circus was held in Devine's Paddock.

The wagon display is for Millar and Giorgi, menswear shop (established 1902), and is halted outside the Club Hotel in Church Street. David (Davey) Lloyd, standing by horse, was the last of Palmerston North’s horse-drawn carters, operating until the 1950s.

The people in the dugout canoe are probably Mr and Mrs W L Luxford and their daughter, while the people on the bank are Septuagesima Shailer (wife of G W Shailer, photographer) and probably two of the Shailer children, of Palmerston North. Awapuni Lagoon was one of 5 original lagoons in Palmerston North when pakeha first settled. It was drained for settlement of the land.

A class of pupils and teachers at Kairanga School. Kairanga School opened 10 December 1888 and is situated 10km from the centre of Palmerston North city on the corner of Rongotea Road and Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Road

Mr Eggleton uses his traction engine to move a boiler from Shannon to Mangahao to the new hydro works. It is thought that the boiler was used to pump air into the tunnels being driven into the rock during the construction of the power station.

The first gas works in Palmerston North were constructed by John Coates and Co. and consisted of 11 retorts and two gas holders. It was officially opened 23 February 1889. In 1891 the operation was sold to the Palmerston North Gas Company Ltd, who ran the business until 1915 when the Palmerston North Borough Council acquired the Gasworks. The first Gasworks became redundant after the construction of new gas works on Napier Road, which were opened 21 December 1923.

The railway viaduct just south of Ohingaiti, was constructed c1897 on the line to Mangaweka. The horse-drawn caravan was owned by an Assyrian (Peter? Kerouz), who traded all over the Manawatu and the Horowhenua.

A hot air balloon, ZKFBC, being inflated. Jim Greig, a potter, (shown wearing safety helmet) was the balloonist who took a 2 hour flight over the city the previous week.

The Municipal Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected for the Palmerston North Borough Council in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and remodelled both inside and out in 1955. It was sold by the PNCC to a businessman in 1996 and demolished.

Grasslands, a division of DSIR and the Dairy Research Institute, was established in 1935, in Palmerston North because of the excellent growing conditions and the easy access to Massey University. The Dairy Research Institute was established in 1927 as part of the DSIR. It was incorporated in 1947 with the members of the Board of Management becoming the members of the Institute, under the Religious, Educational and Charitable Trust Act of 1908. It is the central Dairy Research organisation in New Zealand. DRI shared facilities and staff with Massey until it opened its own building in 1965.

The photographs in this collection are thought to have been taken in the Forty Mile Bush area of Wairarapa, at Kaiparoro near Mount Bruce. The area was largely settled by Scandinavians who came to Wairarpa in the 1870s to clear the bush. The album from which the photographs come from has been identified as relating to Alfred and Eliza Falkner.

The ficiticious Darktown Fire Brigade were supporting their Queen, Miss H Adair, and raising money for the Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

A group of men in front of the Breeders' Club in Pascal Street.

A severe storm which crossed the North Island on 2 February 1936 caused substantial damage in and around Palmerston North, one of the hardest hit towns. Houses lost roofs, chimneys were blown over, the grandstands of the A&P Association, the Awapuni Racecourse and the sportsground were demolished, and a man was killed when he was blown off his roof as he tried to repair it. Manawatu Evening Standard, February 3, 1936: "During the storm on Feb 2, the main grandstand, which faced a southerly direction, was unroofed for its entire length. Pieces of wood and iron sheets were scattered in all directions. Toward the western end of the man stand, part of the roof caved in and lay in tangled and twisted wreckage. The seating suffered comparatively little damage"

'Totaranui' was built c1871 by Peter Manson, a sawmiller, on his farm about where Fitzroy Street in Palmerston North stands. It was probably enlarged by him over the years. In 1906 it was sold and the Pascoe family became residents in 1908 and bought the house c1912. Pascoes lived in the house until donating it the Palmerston North City Council, when it was restored and temporarily sited on the corner of Main Street and The Square during Palmerston North's centennial celebrations. It now stands at Te Manawa, Museum, Art Gallery and Science Centre. It is thought to be the oldest existent house in Palmerston North. This photograph was taken the day prior to Totaranui opening when workers were constructing gardens outside of house.

The photographer is looking towards The Square. Caption in Miss Smith's book reads: "Copy from back of photo". The old goods shed is opposite the station buildings.

The official opening by Mr Moohan, Minister of Railways, at the Longburn end of the deviation, just outside Palmerston North. To his right is Mr W B Tennent, Mayor, and Mr W Nash, Prime Minister.

The fire destroyed the three year old gymnasium, built in 1966 for $42,000. It measured 80 feet by 50 feet and contained $1,500 worth of equipment. At the right is Russell Marsh, who grabbed a school fire hose reel in a courageous attempt to fight the blaze.

Pahiatua celebrated 100 years as a town 28 February to 7 March 1981. as part of the celebrations people dressed in period costume. From left: Brendon Cater; Nicola Mabey; Meryl Carter; Adena Carter.