This images come from the papers of John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913) a surveyor and engineer. Locally, he surveyed the Te Ahu Turanga Block (purchased from Rangitāne). He also laid out the townships of Foxton and Palmerston North. He planned the construction of the road through the Manawatū Gorge, as well as the tramway between Foxton and Palmerston North. Stewart and his wife Frances Ann (née Carkeek) had five sons and five daughters.

The image is reproduced from a copy negative, made from photographs that Stewart's granddaughter lent to the Palmerston North Public Library in 1982 for copying.

This images come from the papers of John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913) a surveyor and engineer. Locally, he surveyed the Te Ahu Turanga Block (purchased from Rangitāne). He also laid out the townships of Foxton and Palmerston North. He planned the construction of the road through the Manawatū Gorge, as well as the tramway between Foxton and Palmerston North. Stewart and his wife Frances Ann (née Carkeek) had five sons and five daughters.

The image is reproduced from a copy negative, made from photographs that Stewart's granddaughter lent to the Palmerston North Public Library in 1982 for copying.

This images come from the papers of John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913) a surveyor and engineer. Locally, he surveyed the Te Ahu Turanga Block (purchased from Rangitāne). He also laid out the townships of Foxton and Palmerston North. He planned the construction of the road through the Manawatū Gorge, as well as the tramway between Foxton and Palmerston North.

The image is reproduced from a copy negative, made from photographs that Stewart's granddaughter lent to the Palmerston North Public Library in 1982 for copying.

Standing from left to right: May Butler, Infection Control Nurse, Palmerston North Hospital; Margaret Duthie, Nursing Advisor, Department of Health; Joan Faogali, Lecturer and Medical Microbiologist, Christchurch Hospital; Berenice Bird, Infection Control Nurse, Palmerston North Hospital

Seated in the front row, left from right: Gordon Scrimgeour, Medical Microbiologist, Palmerston North Hospital; Unknown; Marie Fergus, Infection Control Nurse, Dunedin; Berry Bird, Infection Control Nurse, Palmerston North Hospital.

Name: Ashgrove

The lane is a combination name. It acknowledges Ashhurst the town and Grove Road – which the lane branches off, February 2020.

The aerial map is a derivative of the Palmerston North City Council online mapping Geographic Information System (GIS).

Name: Palermes

The origin of the name Palermes is unknown.

Geographically, Palermes is the French spelling of Palermo, the capital of Sicily, Italy. Parlemes is also found in the Nord-Ouest region of Haiti.

The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923. Please note: the 's' in Palermes has been omitted on the map.

History

Brothers, Mr Louis M Pascal and Mr Claude Mario Pascal emigrated to New Zealand from Loire, France, in 1878 and were early settlers in the Manawatū. Mr Jean Baptiste Pascal also emigrated and joined his older brothers in 1884. Palermes Street, D.P.3617, section 311, was owned by either Mr CM Pascal or Mr LM Pascal, of Messrs Pascal Bros, from 1890 onwards.

At a Borough Council meeting in June 1914, a letter was acknowledged from Mr L Pascal, and referred to the Public Works Committee. He wished to name a new street running from Cuba Street extension to Main Street west, Palermes Street. The street, comprised of a mixture of residential and business sites, was ready to be taken over. Mr Pascal reminded the council, that they were to add a culvert. This was also referred to Public Works.

Auctioneers, Abrahams and Williams Ltd., on behalf of Mr Pascal, advertised seventeen sections for sale in July 1914. Some of the sites had already been built on.

In April of 1917, Mr JB Wither on behalf of Pascal Bros., asked the Borough Council for permission to construct a continuation of Palermes Street to Chelwood Street. This was agreed and a time extension allowed in January 1918 and again in February of 1919.

Sewers were laid in March 1919 and improvements to footpaths made in 1924.

In February of 1926, the Borough Council proposed renaming streets where a continuation had been made to an existing street. The resolution was passed in March. Town clerk, Mr James Robert Hardie, gave public notice throughout March and April that Palermes would become Bryant. From July 1926 the street was known as Bryant Street.

Early residents included

By 1917, Mr Edward and Mrs Elizabeth Fisher had taken up residence at 5 Palermes Street. There, they provided “On the Farm” produce opposite the Railway Station engine shed. Mr Fisher unsuccessfully sought election to the Dairy Control Board in 1923. The couple gave up dairying in 1925.

In the late 1920s Mr Fisher, a former engineer of the River Board, was the New Zealand patentee of several types of groynes for mitigating river erosion. By then their address had become 180 Bryant Street and was renumbered to 80 Bryant Street in the 1930s.

This copy of John Tiffin Stewart's handwritten manuscript was typed in 1967 by Ian Matheson, who has annotated each paragraph with the page numbers of T. Lindsay Buick's Old Manawatu (1903) containing information derived from Stewart's manuscript.

This handwritten manuscript was written by J. T. Stewart in 1902 at the request of T. Lindsay Buick, who published substantial portions of it in his book Old Manawatu (1903). Mr John Tiffen Stewart (1827-1913) was a surveyor and one of the earliest Europeans to see the 'Papaioea' clearing, on which Palmerston North was established, c 1858. Locally, he surveyed the Te Ahu Turanga Block (purchased from Rangitāne). He was also a well known engineer who laid out the townships of Foxton and Palmerston North. He planned the construction of the road through the Manawatū Gorge, as well as the tramway between Foxton and Palmerston North.

Name: Cuba

The origin is unknown. It is assumed to be named after Cuba Street in Wellington, which was named after the ship, "Cuba."

The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.

The Cuba was a barque of 270-273 tons captained by John Newcombe. The New Zealand Company sent her ahead of immigrant ships from England in July 1839, carrying a survey team of 23 people. The team was led by surveyor-general, Captain William Mein Smith. He had three assistant surveyors, Mr Robert Park, Mr Wellington Carrington and Mr Robert A Stokes. Their job was to meet principal of the company, Colonel Edward Gibbon Wakefield who had set out on the Tory two months earlier, make purchases of land and survey it for the colonists to follow.

Other passengers included Mr (Sir) Richard Davies Hanson, Commissioner for the Purchase of Land, and his Assistant Commissioner and native interpreter, Mr William Bath.

During the voyage, the barque called at Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands, and a party went ashore. A storm made it necessary for Cuba to ride it out at sea for four days. When they regained port to pick up those ashore, yellow fever came aboard. One of the survey team, Mr William Matthews, and Mr William Bath the Assistant Commissioner, died at sea and were committed to the deep.

In September 1839 the larger 500 to 550-ton vessels, Oriental and Aurora, left England carrying 145 and 148 immigrants respectively.

On arrival in New Zealand, Cuba missed meeting Wakefield on the Tory, at Kaipara. The Cuba made its way to the whaling station on Kapiti Island where whaler, Captain George “Jordy” Young, boarded. He then navigated Cuba to Port Nicholson, where a trader named Smith had been deputised by Wakefield to instruct Captain Smith where to proceed surveying. Cuba cast anchor off Pito-one (Petone) foreshore in early January 1840.

Although the Oriental had left England first, Aurora arrived in Port Nicholson a week earlier – docking on 22 January 1840. Both landed immigrants on Pito-one (Petone) beach, where the surveying team had built a small jetty for this purpose.

History

Cuba Street was one of the city's original streets. It first ended at Short Street (now known as Cook Street) and was extended out to Burns Avenue at a much later date. To learn more about the original planning and design of Cuba Street, take a look at this Back Issues article by Lesley Courtney.

In 1871, Palmerston’s first public cemetery was established on the site of the present Palmerston North Showgrounds. By 1875, a decision was made to move the cemetery to Napier Road, due to the Cuba Street site being too wet. The bodies were exhumed and reinterred at Terrace End Cemetery.

At the November 1878 Palmerston Borough Council meeting, councillor Coleman proposed that tenders be called for forming and metalling Cuba Street. Though it was one of the first streets of the town, it now needed significant attention. A fair amount of the work was expected to be funded in debentures.

At the December 1878 Palmerston Borough Council meeting, the council accepted the tender of Messrs Collins and McCarthy, £148 15s 6d; plus footpaths and kerbing at £2 7s 3d per chain.

In September of 1880 the lowering of the culvert at the junction of George and Cuba Streets, deepened the water table to drain towards the bush. After further lowering of the water table the following month, gravel was spread.

In 1981, Cuba Street was the scene of barbed wire, police lines and protesters; when anti-Apartheid activists opposed the Springbok Tour. Take a look at this Back Issues article by Stephen Berg to find out more.

Early residents included

Mr Alexander McMinn, the founder of the Manawatū Daily Standard, lived at 92 Cuba Street (corner of Bourke Street) from 1885. The first issue of what was to become the Manawatū Standard was published on the 29th of November 1880. He sold the paper to Frederick Pirani in 1891. Mr McMinn was an accomplished piano player and he and his orchestra regularly provided the musical entertainment for dances at Oddfellows’ Hall. Architect LG West planned alterations to the McMinn’s house in 1904 and they lived in their refurburbished home until 1912, when they moved to Auckland. Tina White covers a 1909 interview with Mr McMinn in this Memory Lane article.

Early business, organisations and clubs included

From 1881 WT Wood Blacksmith, Wheelwright, and Veterinary Shoeing Smith, ran his business on the corner of Rangitikei and Cuba Streets (between the Royal and Clarendon Hotels). When the building was destroyed by fire in September of 1894, it was rebuilt next door in Cuba Street, besides the Clarendon Hotel. William Thomas Wood was mayor of Palmerston North from 1895-1899 and 1901-1903. After over 30 years of business and community service, the Wood’s left Palmerston North in 1913. Mr E Walders, Veterinary Shoer & General Blacksmith took over Mr Wood’s business.

In 1885, the English and American Coach Factory, Robert Parr proprietor, adjoined WT Woods. This was taken over by Browning and Tory Coachbuilders. Like its neighbour it was destroyed by fire. It reopened in 1896 as WA Browning Coachbuilder. By 1914, adjusting to changing times and technology, the business became WA Browning Carriage and Motor Works, with Mr CH Mundy as the motor engineer. In 1919 the business was sold to Messrs GP Adler and Co.

In 1886 the Borough Council determined that the old cemetery plot in Cuba Street would become a showground. Established by the Manawatū and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the first A&P Show was hosted that same year. By 1893 the popular and anticipated annual event had come to be known as ‘show week’ and local businesses enjoyed extra patronage over that time. Here is a panorama of the A&P Show in 1915.
The showgrounds also hosted: sports clubs and events, military troops, celebrations, relief and transit camps, parades and more. For a brief history, read Palmerston North Showgrounds History, by Leanne Croon Hickman.

The military history of Palmerston North intersects significantly with the Awapuni Racecourse and Palmerston North Showgrounds. Listen to this presentation (PowerPoint slides link available) by Leanne Croon Hickman to find out more.

In 1960 the Palmerston North Industries Fair at the Showgrounds attracted 93,000 visitors, you can read more in this Back Issues article by Ralph Body.

Methodist services began in Palmerston North in 1871, with the first church built in Broad Street (later Broadway Avenue) in 1872. Due to congregational growth, a second church was established in Cuba Street (corner of Domain Street) in 1890, with services commencing in 1891. Once complete, it was discovered that the church building was actually encroaching on adjoining Cuba Street sections. With removal unpractical, congregants had the unexpected expense of purchasing more property. The church was identified by several names, Wesleyan Church, Methodist Church, and Cuba Street Church. It underwent renovations in 1903, and in 1910, bursting at the seams, a kindergarten was built at the rear of the church, on the adjoining Domain Street section, to accommodate a roll of 120 infants.

With their building fund containing enough money in 1922, planning began for a new church on the site of the present structure. The architect, Mr Oscar Albert Jorgensen, designed a building that would seat 430 people. In 1924 the old church was completely remodelled and the new brick church built. The foundation stone of, the Trinity Methodist Church was laid in March and the opening was celebrated in July.

From 1895 the Oddfellows’ Hall operated at 188 Cuba Street, between David and Andrew Young Streets. The Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows was a mutual aid organisation. Their lodge rooms were used by various Manawatū groups such as: Oroua Lodge, UAOD; Palmerston Dramatic Society; Loyal Manawatū Lodge IOOF, MU; and Lodge of Druids. Alterations and additions were made in 1905 and dances began occurring regularly in the hall. Further alterations were made five years later. This was the interior in the 1920s.

In 1889 the Miller's opened the Post Office Store on the corner of Cuba and Taonui Streets, it was to become a family endeavour. Mrs George Miller was the first proprietor – general storekeeper and produce dealer, house and land agent, and trader of grains. In 1901 Mr George Miller sold the business lease to Mr Joshua Cull, a Bunnythorpe settler. He continued the grocery business with Mr George H Miller Jr., who had worked in the store since childhood. In 1903, Hawera businessman, Mr J Butler took over the lease. Mr G Miller Sr. died in 1906.

In 1907 the Post Office Store became Messrs Miller and Vinall, grocers and provision merchants, until Mr Holbrook purchased Mr Vinall’s interest. With Mr George H Miller the senior partner, they changed the name to Miller & Holbrook Family Grocers & Provision Merchants. The partnership was dissolved in 1911 and the business was carried on by Mr GH Miller as GH Miller Grocer and Provision Merchant, before returning to the original moniker, the Post Office Store. Mr Miller continued in the business, also called Miller’s, until 1937. It finally passed out of the Miller family when sold to Mr EJ Westwood.

It was in September of 1884 that working men of Palmerston North first met with the intention of forming a Working Men’s Club. The clubs had spread from the industrial areas of England since the mid-1800s. They were aimed at the self-improvement of working men, through education and recreation. One of the attractions was that this was an alternative to the heavy drinking pub environment.

It was almost four years later that the Colonial Secretary officially granted a charter to Palmerston Working Men’s Club. Mr HT Akers formerly of Club Hotel Church Street east, was made manager. The club officially opened in August, with subscribers of the Public Library donating seven hundred books to the endeavour. By the end of August, the club had a roll of 160 members.

This first premises on Rangitikei Street was sold in February of 1889. In March it reopened as the Christchurch Boarding House, Miss McCarthy proprietess. The Working Men’s Club moved to a two-storey building on Cuba Street. In 1900 additions and alterations were made to the building. Mr Robert Edwards, former Mayor of Palmerston North (1892-1893), was the architect.

By December 1902, club members agreed on purchasing a new site in Cuba Street, almost directly opposite their current clubrooms for a new purpose-built structure. In October of 1904 the new Working Men’s Club was completed, based on plans by architect, Mr E Larcomb.

In March of 1905 Mr TP Holland, of Bunnythorpe, purchased the lease of the old Working Men’s Club in Cuba Street from Mr E Stevenson. Just five months later, in August of 1905, the building was almost completely destroyed by fire.

By 1912 the club had a roll of almost 1,000 members and was seeking sites for addition accommodation. The solution came in purchasing the land immediately adjoining the club buildings, sections belonging to Mrs Jones. That then allowed frontages on Cuba and Taonui Streets, the address being 233-239 Cuba Street. Mr OA Jorgensen, architect, designed a brick building three times as large as the present accommodations. However, the war period intervened, and the new building was delayed.

In 1927 building commenced based on the design of Mr Ernst Vilhelm West. His father, Mr Ludolph Georg West, had been a member of the club. In August of 1928, the new club, now renamed the Cosmopolitan Club, was officially opened by Mr James Alfred Nash MP. Built by Mr DP Tortonson, the two-storied brick building included a frontage of four shops on Cuba Street.

The club moved from the building in 1989 and it was sold the following year.

In 1901 Buick & Young, Printers, commenced business from the Elizabeth Buildings, Cuba Street. In February of 1905 they started a stationers’ shop in connection with their business, also on Cuba Street. By August of 1905 Messrs Buick and Young further extended, in opening a law and commercial stationers’ shop in the Bett and Monrad buildings. In 1912 Mr TL Buick left the business. Mr Henry Llewellyn Young disposed of the stationery business, concentrating on printing and book-binding at the original plant, which had seen considerable additions. New premises were built in Broadway Avenue in 1920.

In 1904, Mr Herbert John Woodfield, purchased and built on a site in Cuba Street to extend his George Street livery business. This new venue wasn’t without problems. In January 1908, he was fined for driving 26 horses loosely along Cuba Street. Just two months later he was further charged with allowing nine horses to stray without guidance. These were the types of incidences you would expect to come to the attention of the Inspector of Public Nuisances. To find out more, read this Back Issues article by Margaret Tennant. By 1922 the livery had evolved into Woodfields Motor Garage. The garage moved to Beresford Street in 1928.

A bucket brigade started as Palmerston North’s first fire-fighters in 1883. In 1887, a volunteer fire brigade was formed and housed in a wooden building in Coleman Place. In 1888, a Fire Brigade Station, opened in Terrace End at 224 Main Street east. The Terrace End brigade ran until 1936.

Meanwhile the Coleman Place station remained until 1910 when the Central Fire Station opened in Cuba Street, next to the Woodfield Stables. The foundation stone had been laid in March of that year by Mr Edward John Armstrong, chairman of the Fire Board. By August the Fire Brigade was in possession of the building designed by Mr LG West and erected by Mr CW Blackbourn. Comprised of two storeys, the ground floor housed the enquiry office, engine room, horse stalls (until horses were superseded by motor engines in 1913), a kitchen and two bedrooms for single men. Upstairs was the superintendent and foreman’s quarters, as well as the married men’s quarters and a social hall. In 1914 tenders were invited for additions and alterations to the station.

By 1925, running out of space, a tender was accepted for a new fire station to be built in Cuba Street on a vacant section more-or-less opposite the end of Campbell Street. Messrs Trevor Bros., were the builders and Messrs LG West & Sons, the architects. The new Central Fire Station opened 19th July, 1926. Additions to the living quarters were made in 1938. It remained in Cuba Street until 1977 when a new station opened in Cook Street.

In 1940, the 28th Māori Battalion trained at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. In 1964, Te Rau O Te Aroha Māori Battalion Hall was opened at 138 Cuba Street, as a national memorial to the men of the 28th Māori Battalion who lost their lives in the Second World War. The hall became a Poppy Place in 2018.

Renumbering

The addresses on Cuba Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.79 to p.83 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.

Built Heritage Inventory

• Bryant Building, 201-207 Cuba Street, 1905, 1911, 1915.
• Carlton Hotel, 169-199 Cuba Street, 1927.
• The Palmerston North Working Men's Club, 233 Cuba Street, 1928. The main entry was on Cuba Street with the lounge bar and some other spaces on Taonui Street.
• Returned Soldiers Club, 236 Cuba Street, 1917. The former Soldiers' Club became a Poppy Place in 2018.
• Mowlem Building, 268-270 Cuba Street, 1925.
• The Arcade, 256-258 Cuba Street, 1906.
• Ward Bros. Building, 213-215 Cuba Street, 1935.

The Felixstowe was a barque trading into Ōtaki. She was wrecked on 13 October 1878 when - like the Hydrabad in June of the same year - she mistook the northern end of Kāpiti, on which there was no lighthouse, for Stephens Island in Cook Straight. The captain, Piggot, was never found; three crewman were washed ashore dead. The ship's resting place is off the coast just to the south of Pakakutu - a little to the north of the mouth of Ōtaki.

This image is a black and white photograph of a watercolour drawing by John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913), a civil engineer, surveyor and amateur artist. The original drawing is part of the J. T. Stewart papers donated to the Whanganui Museum by W. T. Stewart.

This image is a black and white photograph of a watercolour drawing by John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913), a civil engineer, surveyor and amateur artist. The original drawing is part of the J. T. Stewart papers donated to the Whanganui Museum by W. T. Stewart.

This image is a black and white photograph of a watercolour drawing by John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913), a civil engineer, surveyor and amateur artist. The original drawing is part of the J. T. Stewart papers donated to the Whanganui Museum by W. T. Stewart.

The Hydrabad, 1350 tons, ran aground on the beach a mile south of Waitarere on the night of 24 June 1878. She was bound for Adelaide to Lyttleton, loaded with iron for the New Zealand railways and had few passengers. No lives were lost in the wreck but while still stranded a fire broke out and the ship was declared unsalvageable. She remains on the beach: her decks were still visible in the 1960s.

This image is a black and white photograph of a watercolour drawing by John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913), a civil engineer, surveyor and amateur artist. The original drawing is part of the J. T. Stewart papers donated to the Whanganui Museum by W. T. Stewart.

This image is a black and white photograph of a drawing by John Tiffin Stewart (1827-1913), a civil engineer, surveyor and amateur artist. The original drawing is part of the J. T. Stewart papers donated to the Whanganui Museum by W. T. Stewart. It has the inscription: "figures on stockade of a pa / Manawatu 1859 / at AwaPuni / near Palmerston N. / JTS Maraetarata Pa". The figure on the right is named as "Te Muri".

Name: David

This street is believed to be named after Mr David Joseph Nathan (1858-1920), sometimes described as the father of the dairying industry. Mr DJ Nathan may have also been the road contractor who put it through in 1875. At the time he was working for his father, Mr Joseph Edward Nathan, who certainly responded to tenders for town road works in the 1870s. Mr JE Nathan, was one of the largest landowners in the Manawatū. In February of 1883, a letter from Joseph Nathan and Co., the family business, was read at the Palmerston Borough Council meeting, requesting the forming of David Street, with a cheque for £25.

The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.

Mr David Joseph Nathan was born in Wellington on 30th of August, 1858, where he spent his school years and attended Wellington College. The eldest son, he then joined his father’s business, Joseph Nathan and Company Ltd., managing The Ready Money Store in the Square, Palmerston North. By 1883 Mr D Nathan was supervising the management of various branches of the family firm in the Manawatū district. He would eventually become managing director of the company and remain so until his death.

He married in 1886 to Miss Miriam ‘Minnie’ Jonas, daughter of Mr Hyam Jonas of London. They had four children together, Hilda Rebecca b.1888, Joseph Edward b.1889, Kathleen Madge b.1891 and Aileen Ida b.1895.

The first successful shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to Britain was made aboard the sailing ship Dunedin in 1882. In the 1890s, advances in technology meant that ocean-going steamers had been fitted with refrigerating machinery. Mr Nathan could see the possibilities for trade. He contacted owners of dairy cows in the region proposing they establish creameries and gave farmers a price to encourage production. Those who started creameries quickly gained success, but questioned Mr Nathan’s earnings in the enterprise. Mr Nathan offered to sell creameries at a reasonable rate of commission, his firm acting as the London agent, if the farmers would form co-operative companies. This was acceptable and The Ready Money Store became The United Farmers’ Co-operative Association Ltd in 1892. The co-operative dairy company movement spread throughout New Zealand.

Mrs Nathan died suddenly of peritonitis in May of 1897. The funeral was carried out in both Hebrew and English, as the Nathan’s were of Jewish faith. Mr Nathan was president of the congregation and president of the Jewish Socal Club.

In 1899 Mr Nathan re-married. His wife was Miss Cora Jonas, daughter of Mr Jonah Jonas of London. Together they had one child, Nell b.1904, and lived on a large estate in Wellington.

In 1903 in Wellington, Mr Nathan proposed a scheme for the consolidation of the frozen meat trade. He attended farmer’s meetings to discuss freight and generally encourage interest. Mr Nathan was passionate about the country’s commerce, and how New Zealand could capitalise on opportunities – especially in regard to flax, dairy and meat.

Mr Nathan also paid attention to local body matters in his home, the capital, and was a city councillor for three years. He was a member of the Harbour Board, steward of the Wellington Racing Club and director of the old Wellington-Manawatū Railway Company. Mr Nathan continued to speak publicly on world trade. As the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, he advocated for preferential trade with Great Britain. He was also a one-time director of the Bank of New Zealand and directed or served on the boards of many other companies.

His links with Palmerston North and the Manawatū continued. As President of the Bowling Association in Wellington, he attended the Palmerston North Bowling Club’s opening ceremony in 1903 and was elected vice-president of the Manawatu and West Coast A&P Association in 1904.

It was also in the early 1900s that Mr Nathan submitted proposals to Manawatū dairy farmers for the establishment of factories to produce dried milk. Cheltenham, Makino, and Bunnythorpe responded with sufficient support to induce him to either purchase or establish plant and start the venture. Glaxo was to become the brand name for their baby milk and eventually evolved into the name of this business. Mr D Nathan was the first head of the Glaxo Manufacturing Company.

On 20th of March 1920, Mr Nathan died suddenly from an aneurism at a private hospital in Wellington. He was 62 years old. Mr Nathan is interred at the Karori cemetery.

His younger brother, Mr Frederick Joseph Nathan, became Managing Director and Chairman of Joseph Nathan & Co. Ltd. Mr FJ Nathan had settled in Palmerston North and was a borough councillor, 1911-1915, and mayor of the city 1923-1927.

History

David Street was put through in 1875. D.P. 26, and formed in 1883. It was listed as a private street in 1885. After 1900 it appears to have been regarded as public, with the council laying service pipes and maintaining the road and footways.

Early residents included

Early settlers, Julius Emil Magnusson and Jacobine Marie Magnusson, made 9 David Street their home in 1878 and remained until their deaths in 1935 and 1940, respectively. These Swedish settlers began life in Palmerston as farmers at Fitzherbert and then Stoney Creek (now Whakarongo) and entered the carrying business on moving into the township.

Mr Axel Frederick Anderson came to New Zealand from Norway with his parents Mr and Mrs Nils Anderson in 1872. He made his home in Palmerston North in 1895, establishing the Anderson Private Hotel in David Street, which was taken over by Duncan Anderson in 1907. He also owned the Central Hotel in the Square, prior to its relocation to Main Street. In 1908 he left the Manawatū, returning to Palmerston North c. 1942. Married twice, he died at his home, 109 Te Awe Awe Street on March 31, 1945.

Early business, organisations and clubs included

The New Zealand Express Company Ltd, a cartage business, started its life in Palmerston North on the corner of Main and David Streets in the late-1880s. It moved to George Street in 1906.

The Railway Hotel, later known as the Old Railway Hotel, was built opposite the Railway Station on the corner of Main and David Street in 1892. Its proprietor was Mr Timothy O’Leary and the hotel had 24 guestrooms, besides those used exclusively by the owner’s family. He leased the hotel in 1897 to Mr Michael Hogan who, in turn, sold his interest to Mr Henry Border. Mr T Young became the owner in 1901 (after Mr O'Leary's death) and on-sold the hotel to Mr David Roux Bouisson in 1902. On changing hands in 1903, the Railway Hotel was condemned as old, rotten and full of vermin. Its license was not regranted until the new owners took measures to cleanse the building. It is unsurprising therefore that the owners, Staples and Co., of Wellington, made plans to re-erect the hotel. The first Railway Hotel was replaced by this building in 1904-1905.

Anderson’s Private Hotel, on the left of this image, was established on David Street some time between 1895 and 1897. Mr Axel Frederick Anderson, the proprietor, was active in seeking improvements in the street from the borough council. The hotel was taken over by Duncan Anderson in 1907. In January of 1908 local newspapers reported on an inmate of the hotel preparing a bath, only to find a 12-inch eel, the thickness of a finger, coming out of the water tap. In 1916 the hotel was taken over by Mrs A Trepo.

Other accommodation in the street between 1900 and the 1940s included JK Christensen Private Hotel, Wentworth Boarding House, and the Goldfern Boarding House. There were also a couple of billiard rooms.

David Street Stables at 8 David Street, this livery was operated by Mr John Jones from c. 1901 to 1908 when it was sold to Mr N Paulsen. He ran the business as a livery, general carrier and forwarding agent until 1917. Over that period its name changed from David Street Stables to Paulsen Stables to Railway Stables. Caleb Penman took over the Railway Stables in September 1917 and by 1921 the stables had passed into the hands of Messrs Peterson and Low. In April of 1930 they were the only remaining livery stables in Palmerston North.

In 1913 Frank Harris and Co. Ltd., moved their monumental yard to 12 David Street while in voluntary liquidation. The business was taken over by Messrs JW Fisher and Co., Sculptors and Monumental Masons in 1914. Here is an image of their business at 17 David Street (due to street renumbering) in 1997.

Renumbering

The addresses on David Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.85 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. From the late 1970s, Palmerston North became one of the leading centres for indoor hockey in New Zealand. The game was played in summer. At its peak in the 1980s, the competition, played at The Manawatu Sports Stadium in Pascall Street, included more than 100 teams. The faster indoor game had a profound effect on the rules of the outdoor game, making it a faster, more skilful and open game.

Name: Domain

Henry Jackson's survey plan of 1872 shows a large gravel pit occupying the future Domain Street site, accessed by a branch tram line (see map sections 694-698). The pit was subsequently filled to enable railway extensions. Scott’s plan in 1881 shows two acres of the railway yards reserved for a domain. Therefore, this street was intended as an access road to a domain which did not eventuate. Domain Street was surveyed in 1881, D.P.228, sections 322 and 339, and was originally a private street.

The map is a derivative of this Palmerston North Borough map from 1923.

History

In August of 1884 at a Palmerston Borough Council meeting, councillor Gatton presented a petition from residents of Domain Street. It requested that the street be taken over by the council as the requirements of the Borough Engineer had been complied with. The petition was discussed at the following meeting. Councillor Hawkins opined that the residents should tidy and repair the street first. Councillor Larcomb confirmed that the street was in disrepair. Others, including councillor West, argued that the residents had been paying rates and should expect the council to maintain their street in return.

In September of 1884 a special meeting was held to pass a resolution that Domain become a public street. However, the matter was once again adjourned. The issue? The street was forty-feet wide and the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, required public streets to be sixty-six feet wide.

This must have been resolved, as in November of 1884, Domain Street was included in the list of town streets to be metalled and formed. Street lamps, grading, a storm water outlet, sewer connections, and water tables were addressed from 1900 to 1910.

A reoccurring complaint was the state of the footpaths. As an access street directly across from the railway station, it became heavily congested (particularly on show days) and the footpaths suffered. They were regularly treated with tar and sand and received concrete curbing and channelling in 1925. It was also in 1925 that parking restrictions were made – a result of the narrow road. The tar-sealing of the street in April 1934 was welcome.

On June 21st, 1940, the Manawatū Standard reported on the 28th Māori Battalion leaving the city. Their final farewell parade left the Showgrounds, moved along Cuba Street, and marched up Domain Street to the railway station. Friends, whānau and members of the public accompanied and cheered the men on their way. At the station hundreds of people had assembled to wish the soldiers well and watch them depart for Wellington to board troopships. The mood was quieter and more emotional. Tiger, the battalion mascot, was led up and down the platform, leaning his front paws on the window ledges of the train for final pets and farewells. You can read more about Tiger in this Back Issues article by Tracey Armstrong.

Early residents included

Mr John Lynch purchased a section allotment in Domain Street in 1883 and a house was in situ the following year. Mr J Lynch was born in County Cork Ireland in 1852 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1876, on the ship Inverness. He is listed as a farm labourer. On arrival he worked as a farm contractor and carpenter. Mr John Lynch met and married a fellow immigrant, Miss Mary Hyam, in 1876, and in time they settled in the Manawatū district. The couple had eight children; Daniel b.1883, Thomas b.1886, Nora Lena b.1891, Kathleen Agnes b.1892, Mary Magdalene b.1894, John Jeremiah Patrick b.1894, Julia Bridget ‘Dolly’ b.1896, and Emily Theresa b.1898.

Mr Lynch successfully encouraged his brothers Daniel and Jeremiah, to join him in New Zealand. Mr Jeremiah Lynch lived with the family in Domain Street c. 1884 before moving and settling in Pohangina.

In 1887 Mr Lynch had sold the house in Domain Street and purchased a section allotment in Wood Street, at the edge of town. The house on this section was destroyed by fire the following year. By 1894 he purchased six acres of bushland on the corner of Featherston and Wood Streets and there the Lynch family made their home, initially farming in Linton and Tokomaru. Mr Lynch retired in 1912 and moved into town. He died at 37 Grey Street, on the 3rd of March 1931, aged 79 years.

Mrs Hannah Hansen owned the property at 2 Domain Street from 1899 until her death, September 1923, aged 70 years. Mrs H Hansen was born in Ireland and emigrated to New Zealand c. 1867. She first lived in Dunedin and was married to Doctor CJ Allen, he died in 1880. Mrs CJ Allen later met and married Mr Hansen and the couple came to reside in Palmerston North. Mr Hansen predeceased her by 15 years. She was a fruiterer with a store in the Square from 1899 and likely resided on premises while owning and letting several properties in the township. The store was located two down from the Bank of Australasia, corner of the Square and Broad Street (later Broadway Avenue). In June 1912 the business was taken over by Mrs J Anderson, and Mrs Hansen retired to Domain Street.

Mr Johannes Hansen, also known as John, was resident of 10 Domain Street from 1922. Even though he wasn’t an early resident of the street, he was an early resident of the Manawatū. The Manawatū Standard reported that on 21 Nov 1930, Mr J Hansen attended the ‘Old Identities’ lunch, catering to “pioneers and settlers, city makers and nation builders.” He died on the 1st of February 1939, in his 95th year, at 15 Domain Road (renumbered from 10) and was interred at the Kelvin Grove Cemetery.

Early business, organisations and clubs included

In 1890 Palmerston North Methodists purchased two sections in Cuba Street and an adjoining section in Domain Street. A cottage on the Cuba Street section was moved to the Domain Street section as a residence for the minister. A small church was built on the corner section and services commenced in 1891. In August of 1910 a kindergarten was built at the rear of the church on Domain Street. The school, designed by AW Corslett, was capable of seating 150 children.

John Black, proprietor, built the Café de Paris Hotel in 1892 and it opened in 1893. He had previously been a railway contractor in the South Island and had worked on the Napier breakwater. It was in Napier that he met his wife, and the couple moved to Palmerston North. The unlicensed 22-bedroom hotel, situated on the corner of Main and Domain Streets, was ideally situated opposite the railway station. As such, it provided accommodation for boarders and travellers and a place to obtain refreshments for the latter. The dining room, fitted with small tables, was sizable. On just one day of the A&P Show of 1893, over six hundred visitors had their luncheon in the establishment.

1893 proved an eventful year for Mr J Black. In June he was awarded a publican’s licence by the Palmerston Licensing Committee and was applauded by the public in attendance. In August, there was some excitement when a heavily disguised Wanganui Gaol escapee, George Harper, was arrested in the hotel. He had escaped from a hard-labour gang two months prior. When arrested the confidence trickster was in-the-act of trying to defraud Mr Black of money. In December, Mr W Hook of Timaru purchased the Café de Paris from Mr Black.

By February of 1895 the hotel had changed hands and was under the management of Mrs Susan Manson. Mrs Manson added further bedrooms, sitting rooms, billiard rooms and a dining room. The freehold and lease was purchased in April 1900 by the Ward Brewery Company who on-sold to Mr FJ Tasker. While the Café de Paris Hotel was in his hands, he added a billiard table and made alterations. In 1902, Mr Tasker added nine bedrooms and bathroom on the Domain Street frontage, and a balcony the full length of the building. Architect, Mr Ludolph Georg West, designed the plans.

In June of 1904, the Trasker’s sold the hotel to Mr E Woollright. In little over a year Mrs E Kennedy purchased Mr Wollright’s interest and disposed of it to Mrs Rebecca Tabor, who then transferred it to Mrs Mary Moynihan. Mrs Moynihan was licensee of Café de Paris until November 1906 when it was transferred to Mrs James Adams. She treated the hotel to a painting and refresh, with renovations being completed in June of 1908.

In September of 1912 the license was transferred to Mr John Smith Fletcher, who sold it to Mr Mark Dumbleton in January of 1916. Mr M Dumbleton renovated the hotel. Between December of 1920 to Feb of 1921 the hotel changed hands four times, from Mr Dumbleton to Mr Edmund Perkis to Mr Patrick John Purcell, to Mr Thomas Richards. Mr T Richards was well-known in trotting circles in Auckland and New Plymouth. Local newspapers show he was in trouble regularly for trading at Café de Paris outside of licensed hours. In 1923 an extension was built on the Domain Street frontage, with an opening to a courtyard.

In 1927 the license transferred between four owners, Mr Richards to Mr Henry Bodley, to Mr James Condy to Mr and Mrs F Jabez Bebbington. The Bebbington’s managed the Cafe de Paris Hotel for four years. In March of 1931, the new licensee was Mrs Florence Lucilla Mills. By June of 1935, Mrs ST Murphy was licensee, and in May of 1937 Mr William Charles Coldicutt took over the hotel. It continued to change hands throughout the years.

In 1963 the Main Street frontage was replaced.

The building was demolished in August of 2016 after significant fire damage eighteen months prior. Mr Gary Young was the owner. It had become an iconic bar in the 1980s, hosting live music from local and national acts.

Renumbering

The addresses on Domain Street were renumbered between 1936 and 1939. See p.86 of the Rates Register of Street Numbers - Old and New.

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 15th October 2024. Part 3 of 6. Lived in the country and was not able to be sociable as a teenager. Was reliant on other people for transport. The only bicycle in the family was heavy with a wicker basket at the front. Was young when New Zealand changed from imperial to metric measurements so can work easily between the two. Several acquaintances died within a short time.
Left school after the seventh form and went to the Palmerston North School of Nursing in 1980 for three and a half years.
First experience was involved with dealing with dead patients.
Shirley Kinsella was a very good anatomy and physiology tutor
As Marise started nursing, Massey University started its undergraduate degree nursing courses for already registered nurses.
Polytech course has been going for over 40 years.
Hospital training allowed nurses to be trained at minimal cost to themselves. 

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 22nd October 2024. Part 4 of 6. Sir Mason Durie and Hapai Winiata spoke during Marise’s training and made her think how she could make a difference for all the Maori people she worked with. Did curative and palliative work in the oncology ward in 1984 before there was a hospice. Had to sit hospital exams before sitting state finals – medicine, surgery and obstetrics. Low pass rate in Palmerston North she believed was political. She was one of the first nurses to administer IV chemotherapy. Maori were overrepresented in oncology. Worked in maternity unit then after the birth of her baby she worked part time in different wards. Started bachelor of nursing studies at Massey University. Qualified as a Plunket nurse and worked part time in the community. After the second baby was five months old resumed working full time. Became a hospital educator for new nurses from Polytech working alongside charge nurses. 

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 29th October 2024.  Part 5 of 6. Has done a lot of work in the community as did her parents and other people around her. As a 15 or 16 year old she became a Sunday School teacher at Kairanga. Joined Plunket Society and became chairperson of the Roslyn sub-branch then chairperson of the Palmerston North branch. Joined National Council of Women and became secretary. After the birth of her second child, she became consumer representative for Barnardos There was a push for women to rejoin the work force so there were not so many older women at home to support younger women with babies. In the 1980s nurses were seen as a burden on the health system. Went back to fulltime work in 1991 when youngest child was five months old. Stopped working for Plunket and National Council of Women. Marise was part of a large community who opposed the city council’s plans to turn Edwards Pit Park into a go-cart track. Instead it became a reserve. 

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 24th September 2024. Part 1 of 6.   Marise was born in Palmerston North and lived oEn rural properties in Manawatu near Alison Mildon’s family Marise’s father was a farm worker not a farm owner and, at one stage, worked for Alison’s father. She caught Weld Motors buses to school. If she missed the bus father would take her in the car. Good community spirit. Help each other. First vehicle an Austin A40 van. Only father drove. Grandmother had an Austin A30 until she died. Grandfather didn’t drive because of a head injury. Alison’s sister and brother-in-law had a feijoa farm. Marise developed a liking for the violin. 

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 5th November 2024. Part 6 of 6. Talks about the development of a reserve at Pit Park in Palmerston North. There were very few recreational facilities in Roslyn which is a heavy populated area. It involved a lot of reports and planning. About 1997 the community was strongly in favour of native plantings – no exotics. There were several changes in mayoralty. Mayors Jill White and Heather Tanguay were very supportive. It took almost eight years from the time the idea was first mooted until planting started. It is still an ongoing project. Lost $200,000 of Eastern & Central Community Trust funding because of delays. Bird life is increasing. Wetland contains the southern bell frog and eels. Rats kept at bay by cats. No possums. Marise is currently the chairperson of Pit Park People’s Society and received a civic honour award in 2015. Marise has also been involved in Norton Park and Vogel Street Reserve developments. 

 Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 1st October 2024. part 2 of 6. Attended Newbury school which had a roll of about 50 children. Loved reading. Enjoyed having access to books and was encouraged by her teacher. Learned to write on a chalk board before she wrote on paper. Covered exercise books with wallpaper. Moved from Newbury school to Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School. First teacher there was Tom Kelliher. Caught a Rutherfords bus to school. Talks about department stores in Palmerston North in the 1960s. She visited PNINS recently and found it very similar to when she was there. Talks about different teachers she had at school. Developed an interest in te reo Maori. Went to Freyberg High School with a roll of over 1500. Couldn’t take te reo Maori there. Her parents wanted her in the domestic stream, but she preferred and went into the professional stream.   

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 10th September 2024. 

Mike Lawrence First child born in 1965 when husbands weren’t allowed in the delivery suite. Had to wait in waiting room for eight hours. He had to work full time but enjoyed feeding the baby and doing what he could. Bottles sterilized in Milton Solution. Solid food was Farex. Washable nappies not easy to dry in a Taumarunui winter. Wringer washing machine and a drying cabinet.   

Anne Weir’s first child 1975. A big boy. Everything went well. Husband not present but would have been allowed in the room. Baby suffered from cholic but otherwise well behaved.   

Alison Mildon didn’t have the experience of a baby of her own but did observe other people’s babies and the different way babies were cared for over the years.   

Stuart Birks first child was born in 1981. Stuart was well involved in the birth process. The mother was Asian and there were some cultural differences.   General discussion about nappies, cradles and other equipment. Prams have changed over the years and now parents go jogging with a baby in a pram. Not the same concern about sun protection as there is now. 

 Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 17th September 2024. 

 Anne Weir – first days at school were different from anything she had experienced. The school had an outdoor unheated swimming pool. Enjoyed going to school and loved arithmetic. Still has her schoolbooks. Classes went on nature walks. 

Alison Mildon started school near the end of the year on her birthday and attended the fancy dress ball as a fairy. Children could use school swimming pool without supervision. Girls had to do sewing while boys did gardening. She would have preferred gardening. Associates the school toilets with horrible smell of Lifebuoy soap. 

Stuart Birks went to school in England. Danced around a maypole with music from a windup gramophone. Did the times tables by rote. 

Mike Lawrence started school in the 1940s. The school had a belfry with the rope from the bell hanging in the school foyer.   Learned to read by phonics and associating words with pictures. Cuisenaire sticks – coloured sticks of different lengths used for teaching mathematics.  

Name: Korimako

The lane is named for korimako, the bellbird. A native bird of Aotearoa New Zealand, December 2022.

The aerial map is a derivative of the Palmerston North City Council online mapping Geographic Information System (GIS).

Name: Piwakawaka

The lane is named for piwakawaka, the fantail. A native bird of Aotearoa New Zealand, December 2022.

The aerial map is a derivative of the Palmerston North City Council online mapping Geographic Information System (GIS).

Name: Greenwich

The name Greenwich acknowledges the importance of the Greenwich meridian which was used for worldwide time keeping and navigation from 1884 to 1974. This geographic reference line (0° longitude) passes through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London.

Greenwich Lane, for the Palmerston North community, suggests a base or grounding in time, December 2022.

The aerial map is a derivative of the Palmerston North City Council online mapping Geographic Information System (GIS).