One person's favourites

This map shows Kairanga County as it stood in 1916.

Tamihana Te Awe Awe and two of his daughters with Rakiwhata Te Awe Awe.

Samuel Jickell was the Palmerston North Borough Engineer from 1904-1919. This photograph shows a sewer pipe being lain in a swamp. The 24" sewer is being laid at a depth of 15' to the inlet.

The mobile library is seen here parked outside the Co-op on the corner of Main Street east and Upham Terrace. A mobile Library service began in Palmerston North 22 May 1967, in a 20 foot caravan towed by a Bedford van. It was first put into service to gauge the public’s response for such a service, and its initial route covered Hokowhitu, Manawatu Street, West End, Highbury, Milson and Terrace End. The caravan served as the Mobile Library until replaced by a 9 metre bus in 1973.

The railway lines ran through the central section of The Square. The Occidental Hotel, with clocktower,stands on the corner of Fitzherbert Street (now Avenue) in the background.

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the Young Collection is unknown, but W J Young lived on a farm in Mt Stewart, Rangitikei, and some of the photographs include his house. The Young family were apparently avid travellers and photographs later in the collection feature scenes from Rotorua, Auckland, Whanganui, as well as other unidentified locations. The portraits are all unidentified, but are presumably of members of the Young family. The photographers parents were George Henry (b 1833) and Jane McDowell (b 1842, d 1916). They came to New Zealand in 1877. The same year, they bought the home farm on Mt Stewart and called it Kilrudden after Kilrudden House, the home of the McDowell family in Ireland. The couple had four children: Ann (b 1873), Margaret (b 1876), John (b 1878) and William James (b 1880). William James married Mary Elizabeth Thompson and they had four children: Doris (b 1914, d 1989), George (b 1916, d 1991), Royden McDowell (b 1925, d 1992) and Noel William (b 1927, d 2013).

A photographic series prepared by the Prime Minister’s Department in 1947 to attract British migrants. The Evans family of 5 Mansford Place, Palmerston North were selected to show the living conditions of a typical New Zealand family. Betty Evans and baby sees John and Michael off to school. The family had two bikes which were in general use at this time. Betty and Jack Evans biked to work and the boys usually walked about a kilometre to West End School which adjoined the state housing suburb. The family bought a Model A Ford in the 1950s. There were also two younger boys in the family, Tony and Wayne. The baby is Julie Silvester, a neighbour’s baby, chosen to create a picture of the ‘typical’ family of two or three children.

He ope whakangahau i te wā o te whakahirahira o ngā tau tekau mā rima o te whakatūranga o te tāone ko Te Papaiōea. Nō te marae a Kai Iwi tēnei ope, nō Ngāti Kauwhata me Rangitāne hoki. E ai kī ngā nupepa ko Matene Maketa te kaiārahi. I tū te ope i te Wenerei, te tuarua o te marama o Pouitū-te-rangi me te rā tuawhā hoki, i te ahi ahi. Kei te ‘Show Grounds’ rātou. Ko F.J Nathan, e mau mohiti ana, he Mea mai i te tau 1923 ki te tau 1927, ko ia te tangata e tata ana ki te hongi i te wahine. Ko ngā tāngata kua whakapangohia ō rātou kanohi, ā, e mau pōtae ana, ko rātou ngā mema pea o te ope ‘ Manawatu Savage Club’. An entertainment group from Kai Iwi marae, at the Show Grounds during the 50th Jubilee celebrations. The group performed in the afternoon and evening of Wednesday 2 March and Friday 4 March 1927. The men who have painted their faces and are wearing hats may be members of the Manawatu Savage club. The man in glasses who is about to hongi with the young woman is thought to be the Mayor [1923-1927] F.J. Nathan. To access this image, please contact us.

The Floral Clock, situated opposite the Palmerston North Post Office on the Main Street corner, was a gift from the Directors of the Manawatu Evening Standard, to commemorate the Palmerston North's Centenary. The newspaper paid $3,210 for the Floral Clock and a further $500 towards its installation. It was eventually removed due to continued vandalism. Published in the Manawatu Standard 21 December 1971.

This photograph shows Bruce Watt posing at the Palmerston North Rod, Rifle and Gun Club with the weapons used in their shooting decathlon. The weapons are: hunting bow, pistol, target rifle, sporting rifle and shotgun. The winner of the event was John Scobie (Chateau Tongariro)

A cross was first erected on top of the Clock Tower in Palmerston North in December 1960. While intended to be temporary it became a permanent fixture. In 1981 it was replaced with a new more substantial cross, 2.7 metres by 2 metres, paid for by local churches and individuals. The Council paid for its erection and maintenance. The new cross was put in place by crane and was wired by electricians Brian Corsbie, Wayne Bower and David Foster, for lighting from dusk until dawn. A remodelling of the Clock Tower in 2007 saw it replaced by a 'lantern' cross.

This two roomed settlers cottage was probably built c 1910. It has vertical planking and is built with of pit-sawn timber. The cottage consists of a sleeping room and an eating room. Cooking was done on an outside stove. It was restored by the Apiti Historical Society in the 1980s. It was lived in for many years by a man whose name was not recorded - it was given to the society after his death by Charlie McKenzie. It was brought into the village from Ridge Road with the help of the Pohangina County Council.

It would appear the power line has broken and the workmen have spliced it together and are using poles with hooks to lift the power line back into position. 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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

Three of the children of Viggo and Olga Monrad taken near their home at Karere. The property was established by Bishop Monrad and family, early settlers from Denmark, in the 1860s.

A group of fishermen and their catch at Foxton Beach. From left: W (Bill) Lewis; Mr Dave; Mr Fraser or Litchfield; Mr Newth; John Anderson.

This photograph was taken from the second terrace above the river looking in an south-westerly direction. It is said that Wildbore, the photographer, wished to photograph a bush fire and was notified by Mr Roberts of Mount Richards of a burn taking place on his property. The fire burnt between Coal Creek and the site of the present Pohangina Valley West Road.

Joan Klee (middle) is dressed in an outfit she created for a Palmerston North Diamond Jubilee Parade. It caused quite the stir at the time because of its transparent bottom half. She was a window-dresser for the department store Collinson and Cunninghame, and was thought to be the first qualified female window-dresser in the country. She was instructed in the art of window-dressing by Claude Dixon, who had traveled to the United States to study at the prestigious Macy's Department Store.

This photograph of Joe Marston (left) and George Fitzgerald was probably taken before Joe went off to serve overseas in World War I, in 1915. George also went to war in 1916, and was said to have come back a 'ruined man'.

In this photograph they pose with their pet ferrets, which were used for hunting rabbits.

Both men lived in the Feilding area. Joe lived at Aorangi most of his adult life and was a printer, working for 'The Feilding Star'.

This photograph album contains photographs of the Seifert flaxmills Weka and Miranui. Flax workers are pictured cultivating, gathering, drying and processing the fibres. Details of the transport operations undertaken by cart and barge are also shown.
The album was given to R H Webb on 9 March 1918 by the Managing Director of the mills, Alfred Seifert.

The original of this photograph is entitled "Crazy photograph" and could be taken at Longburn Freezing works.

These men are working on a Mangahao Line power pole near Masterton. 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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

Workmen raising a pole on the Mangahao Line.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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

A new coal based Gasworks was opened by the Palmerston North Borough Council 21 December 1923, including a gasholder with a capacity of 500,000 cubic feet. The Gasworks went out of operation November 1970 when Palmerston North was connected to a pipeline from the Kapuni gas field, Taranaki.

The Shannon public school was established in July of 1889. By 1897 the school had 103 children in attendance.

Prior to the construction of the Opiki suspension bridge in 1917, a wire rope crossed the Manawatu River at Rangitāne – now known as Opiki. The rope was situated on the downstream side of bridge site, and was constructed in 1904 by Mr Louis Siefert, and a well-known local flaxmiller. The rope connected the “Rangitane” mill on the west bank with the ‘river’ mill on the east bank. Bales of fibre from the “Rangitāne” mill crossed the river on their way to the Rangiotu Railway station and the rope also carried bundles of green flax to the “River” mill.

This photograph shows Henry W. Bennett's farm at Apiti under snow. It shows the back of the old house with the main road and the Melton house in the distance. The felled logs, as shown, were cleared in about 1912. The first dance at Apiti was held in the woolshed pictured left of the middle.

This artesian well, on John Nairn’s property, was the first well bored in Palmerston North. Water was found at 210 feet and was used to water the Nairn’s glasshouses. The bore was situated between Nairn’s house and College Street in what is now Nairn Crescent. John Clark, 3rd from right, worked for John Nairn for many years and was active in the Salvation Army. The other men are thought to be from the boring firm of G H Blanche.

The men working on this Mangahao Line power pole near Masterton are as follows: Mick Gastern, top of pole; Wally Weastell, at left on the ground; Andy Rockel, M Astwood and G Clark on the right.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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

Concrete mixer built by A F Martin Ltd of 648-660 Main Street (at the time of the photograph). Martins were engineers, grinders and gear cutters. They also erected and repaired machinery, made concrete posts and manufactured 'Martins Concrete Mixers' and woodworking machinery (Wises Directory 1953).

This photograph is of Jack Slack and what appears to be a prize-winning cow at 'Waitoitoi', Awapuni.

This photograph shows an unidentified athlete in boxing stance. He is also one of the subjects in the "Demonstration of Ju-Jitsu" series. It is signed, 'faithfully yours, J Duffy'.

Panorama, made up of 4 images, of The Square, showing gardens, band rotunda, Chief Post Office and crowds congregating around the railway lines outside Child's Commercial Hotel. Flags are flying on buildings and the band rotunda. The crowds are perhaps waiting to see a train of soldiers leave Palmerston North.

A workman high up a pylon repairing a live broken wire.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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

Three workman high up a pylon repairing a live broken wire, on the Mangahao power line.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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

Shown here is the team of Radar operators who calibrated a ring of Radar Stations in the South Pacific during WWII. James (known as Lynn) Fielding, an engineer, is pictured second from right.

This panorama of The Square was taken from the tower of the Post Office. Some notable features include the original wooden All Saints Church (visible on the corner of Church Street West and The Square) and the Grand Hotel, built 1906. Scaffolding can be seen on the outside - this photograph captures its construction. In the centre of the photograph is the original band rotunda that sat in The Square from 1889 till 1907, when it was removed to the Victoria Esplanade to make way for a larger band rotunda.

Biscuits are being examined in the vacuum drying oven at the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute. The biscuits were developed by the Institute to distribute to children in under-developed areas particularly in Pacific and East Asian areas.

This is a photograph of the Klee brothers in uniform, taken sometime during the Boer War (1899-1902). From left: Louis, George and Victor Klee. They all survived the war and took up farming in the South Island of New Zealand. Victor later turned to a number of careers, including gold mining, where he met his wife, nicknamed Miss Gold. He, in turn, was Mr Silver.

Watchorns Ltd, located at 162-163 The Square, was founded in 1923 as Watchorn and McNaught, but was soon taken over and operated solely by Mr G Watchorn. This view is of the houseware department. The window display features Gillette products. Watchorn & McNaught were .

Members of the Manawatu Motor Cycle Club [MMCC] of Palmerston North shown with the 10 mile race winner, Alex Anderson. Anderson raced with considerable success around the lower North Island from 1913-1918. This race was held at the Tauherenikau Racecourse, Wairarapa, where Anderson entered and won both the 5 1/2 and 10 mile events. Third from right, with white shoes, is Harry Anderson. The photograph has the caption, "The Triumph wins a 10 mile race at MMCC Sports 22 1 1914. For an account of the race, see Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2135, 23 January 1914, Page 5 (Available online at paperspast.natlib.govt.nz) Harold Plimmer was killed in an accident at the event.

The Mayor, Mr D B Black, buried the capsule during a brief ceremony attended by company officials. A metal capsule containing documents commemorating Palmerston North’s Centenary is being buried at the site of the Dominion Life Assurance Office of New Zealand Ltd’s new building on the corner of King and Rangitikei Streets.

The image shows the re-enactment of the landing of early settlers on the riverbank, near the Fitzherbert Bridge, Palmerston North. The people are L to R: Unknown; G Tremaine, Mayor; Ian Watkins, 2ZA Radio Announcer; G Tremaine, Mayoress; Miss Ella Foster (with Bonnet); Miss Milner. Far Right: (partly obscured)Mr Dilks, commander of the canoe; Miss C Boddy, 2nd from right (stepping out of the boat).

Gathering in The Square, Palmerston North, for the annual Butcher's picnic. The cart in front belongs to A Coley, Carrier.

Includes an alphabetical list of streets, original sections in Borough, Index to Public Buildings and Palmerston North statistics. Map drawn by H R Farquhar, Authorised Licensed Surveyor

This photograph was created by William James Young in the early 20th century. A large variety of subjects are depicted in the collection, but family, rural life and travel are the most prominent themes. The exact location of the photographs in the Young Collection is unknown, but W J Young lived on a farm in Mt Stewart, Rangitikei, and some of the photographs include his house. The Young family were apparently avid travellers and photographs later in the collection feature scenes from Rotorua, Auckland, Whanganui, as well as other unidentified locations. The portraits are all unidentified, but are presumably of members of the Young family. The photographers parents were George Henry (b 1833) and Jane McDowell (b 1842, d 1916). They came to New Zealand in 1877. The same year, they bought the home farm on Mt Stewart and called it Kilrudden after Kilrudden House, the home of the McDowell family in Ireland. The couple had four children: Ann (b 1873), Margaret (b 1876), John (b 1878) and William James (b 1880). William James married Mary Elizabeth Thompson and they had four children: Doris (b 1914, d 1989), George (b 1916, d 1991), Royden McDowell (b 1925, d 1992) and Noel William (b 1927, d 2013).

School boys in uniform have fun at Victoria Esplanade. They are possibly a cricket team (see boy with bat) taking a break from play on an adjacent sports field.

Broad Street (now Broadway Avenue), Palmerston North, showing D O'Reilly (later Hopwood's premises) and Palmerston North Gas Company Ltd, which was in operation between 1889-1915.

A specialised tractor tyre, built by Reid and Gray of Palmerston North. Reid and Gray made agricultural implements and had branches throughout New Zealand.

This photograph shows Mrs Anereta Poananga and holding her eldest daughter.

Douglas DC-3 ZK-APA aircraft [Puweto], thought to have been taken at Milson Airport, with the Royal Mail insignia panted near the cockpit.This aircraft served with the RNZAF as NZ3555 from 20 August 1945 and was re-registered as a civilian aircraft on 28 April 1947 and given the name Puweto.

Three workers posing in front of a flax bale.

People dressed in period costume parading down Church Street by the Club Hotel. The 75th Jubilee celebrations were an eight day long series of events. On the afternoon of Wednesday, 19 March 1952, a parade around the square entitled ‘Cavalcade of transport through the ages’ was conducted.

Shown here are some of the pipes starting to be bolted into position upon the floor of the Power House. 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.

Douglas DC-3 ZK-APA aircraft [Puweto], thought to have been taken at Milson Airport, with the Royal Mail insignia panted near the cockpit.This airplane was used for military and civilian purposes. This photograph was almost certainly taken after 1947.

Aroha Clifford was the first pilot trained by the Canterbury Aero Club in 1928. She may have been New Zealand’s first woman pilot.

Two workman high up a pylon repairing a live broken wire, on the Mangahao power line. The men use long poles with a hook on one end to bring the lines closer for repairs. 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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.repair;

This composite panorama was published in the Auckland Weekly News on 23 June 1904. The realism of the panorama is marred by the presence of the same children on both sides of the frame.

Ernest Davis (1901-1981) in army uniform and his mother, Harriet Davis, walking outside the Post Office, in The Square, Palmerston North. Ernie served in WWII, and soon after this photograph embarked for Italy. Ernie, was the son of James and Harriet Davis. He later became a housing inspector, and married Dot Rennet in 1954. He died in Wanganui.

A gang of four men atop of a wooden pylon undertaking repairs. 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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

This postcard comes from the Mackrell Archive. They came to be in possession of the Mackrell family by way of Huia Mackrell's wife, Doris Cammock (later Mrs Mackrell, of Woodville). They were sent by Doris' brother Frank while he was serving in the European campaign during WW1. He was killed at Passchendaele in 1917.

The postcards in this series are all hand-embroidered, some of them have writing on the reverse, while others contain smaller decorated cards in the silk pouch on the front.

Men using hand sickles to reap grass from between felled trees and stumps. The man looking at the camera is Thomas Harrison and the site is probably his farm on Pohangina Valley West Road, about two miles south of Utuwai School.

Three rows of transmission lines are shown here on a wooden telegraph pole complete with ceramic insulators. 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 WWI, construction began in late 1919 and the station opened in November 1924.

April 1 1972 was the day a clash between a 120-strong motorcycle gang and members of the Mongrel Mob took place in Palmerston North. According to news reports, a derelict house was burnt down, a hotel in Ashhurst was badly damaged, 30 arrests were made and a number of people required hospital treatment during the conflict. This image shows the brawl that took place in The Square.

April 1 1972 was the day a clash between a 120-strong motorcycle gang and members of the Mongrel Mob took place in Palmerston North. According to news reports, a derelict house was burnt down, a hotel in Ashhurst was badly damaged, 30 arrests were made and a number of people required hospital treatment during the conflict. This image shows the brawl that took place in The Square.

D Higgins and Son’s mobile smoko room being towed into place by a tractor during work to reseal the runway. Photograph published in the Manawatu EveningStandard 22 November 1979.

While the assembly was in progress the demolition vehicles were already arriving. The hall, 9 classrooms and the staff room were demolished during the school holidays. 7 classrooms, a library and staff areas had already been built but the hall was not replaced, in spite of the efforts of the school committee. The principal of the school, Mr B H Wilkinson said that until the hall was replaced the school programme would be limited. The hall was built by the community in 1926.

George Shailer (1848-1918) was a well known local photographer in Palmerston North at the end of the 19th century. He later established an orchard in Scandia Street (now Albert Street). George Shailer is at right spraying the fruit trees, helped by (possibly) his son Alfred Shailer and another unidentified person. The print was taken from broken glass negative, as indicated by the line running through the middle of it.

The Historic Turongo Anglican Church was originally built from local timber c.1879 at Moutoa. Being built upon a small hill with somewhat sandy foundation, Turongo fell into decay. This building is said to be the third on the same site. In the 1930s local elders gathered up the sound totara and re-erected this smaller building from the old timber. It was rededicated 5 March 1937 by the Bishop of Aotearoa, assisted by Canon W. G. Williams and Reverends P. H. Leonard, P. Temuera and H. Rangiihu of Hawke's Bay. The church was moved to Poutu Marae near Shannon in 1965.

In 1970, to mark Palmerston North's centennial, the Council arranged to purchase a section of the 1969 Light of London Christmas decorations from Regent Street. Ten lines of lights were purchased at a cost of £2,820 - 9 lines consisting of 1 large centre star, 2 reflector stars and 4 triple drapes. The 10th line was a shield based on the Palmerston North coat of arms. The lines were placed on Broadway Avenue, Rangitikei Street and in the Square. The coat of arms was in Fitzherbert Avenue. It cost $3000 per year to power the lights. They were taken down in March of 1972 for refurbishing and put up for Christmas in 1972-1974. However, the lights were expensive to maintain and they have not been used since [2014].

Three young "Bush-whackers" of Tiriraukawa, near Taihape. From left: Bill, Jack and Peter Munro, the three sons of Mr Alex Munro, who was a builder in Palmerston North during the 1880s – 1890s.

The three Munro brothers were the children of Alexander Munro and Christina Munro (formerly Carville), who moved to Palmerston North in c.1885 and started farming at Tiriraukawa c.1900, where what was known as the Sandon Small Farm Block was being settled. The couple had six children in total, four sons and two daughters. John, William and Peter all worked as farmers.

John Carville Munro (c.1881-1915). Lance-Corporal, F. Squadron, Sixth Reinforcements died aged 34 years from septicaemia while in Trentham Military Camp. He is buried in Taihape cemetery. For a detailed account of his funeral see: “Military Funeral: Lance-Corporal J. C. Munro,” Taihape Daily Times, 29 July 1915, p.4.

William “Billy” Munro (c.1883-1955) died aged 72 years, buried in Taihape cemetery.

Peter Munro (c.1886-1980) died aged 94 years, buried in Tauranga cemetery.