Photo taken from the Lakelet quadrant in The Square, Palmerston North, looking across to the corner of Church Street west

1910s

Further works to the Turitea Dam; an electric tram; theatres; churches and swimming baths. World War I begins and ends.

1910	1-17 April	Manhunt for Joe Pawelka (known to police as John Joseph Pawelka)
	5-Apr	3 major fires in one night, Pawelka was convicted of lighting 2 of them
	31-Aug	Opening of new fire station in Cuba Street (in use until 1926)
1911		Population 10,991 (excludes Maori)
		Work begins to enlarge the Lower Turitea Dam to 15m
	6-Feb	His Majesty's Theatre (cinema) opens in George Street, later known as Ballroom Astoria, it is the first purpose built cinema in the City
	28-Aug	Dedication of rebuilt St Paul's Methodist Church on Broad Street (now Broadway Avenue)
	17-Nov	Coronation Hall opens in Main Street for the Terrace End community
1912	19-Jun	Electric Tramway system voted for by ratepayers
1913		West End School opens
	17-Feb	Enlarged Lower Turitea Dam is completed giving Palmerston North a 140,000 m³ water reserve, estimated as enough for a 2-3 month drought, a filter plant with 6 mechanical filters was opened later in the year
	20-Mar	Electric Tramway system voted against by ratepayers
1914		Biennial elections for the Council begin
	6-May	All Saints' Anglican Church dedicated, the largest brick structure in Palmerston North
	4-Aug	First World War declared
	August	Awapuni Racecourse becomes an army training camp
1915		Premier Drapery Company (PDC) formed
		Palace, Everybody's & Kosy cinemas opened
		Gasworks purchased by Borough Council
	15-Apr	Old Men's Hospital opens in Awapuni, later Awapuni Hospital, the first public institution for geriatric care in the City
1916		Population 12,829 (excludes Maori)
	14-Jun	Electric Tram system voted for by ratepayers, the controversy continues
1917		Council buys the Awapuni abattoir
	3-Aug	YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) formed in Palmerston North, assists in the war effort
	3-Oct	Street names changed by Borough Council to remove all German and foreign names
	1-Dec	Public Swimming Baths open in Ashley Street
	5-Dec	Anzac Club opens on corner of George and Cuba Streets, later known as Soldiers Club and then RSA
1918		James Alfred Nash elected as MP for Palmerston North
		YWCA opens a hostel for women
	19-Mar	Smoke from Raetihi bush fires turns daylight into gloom, forces schools to close for the day
	11-Nov	World War One ends with Germany's surrender
	November	Influenza epidemic causes widespread illness and deaths and delays peace celebrations, also known as the '1918 Flu', an estimated one in five residents are infected
	Mid-November	All schools, picture theatres, dance halls, racetracks and billiard rooms are closed, bars must close by 4pm and public meetings not concerning the Flu epidemic are banned
1919		Bowling and croquet greens are completed on the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue and Park Road
		Cuba Street Fire Station is expanded
	19-Jul	Peace celebrations to mark the end of the Great War

Disclaimer

Most dates are taken from tertiary sources and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Researchers are strongly advised to check specific dates in other sources to confirm accuracy to their own satisfaction. All corrections or additional information and dates gratefully considered - please contact the Ian Matheson City Archives.