Victory over Japan Day Celebrations, 1945

1940s

World War II; New Zealand Centenary celebrations, the Manawatu River floods and there are severe earthquakes

1940		A&P Showgrounds, Awapuni racecourse and Awatapu Golf Course all utilised as army training camps during the war
		Milson aerodrome placed under the control of the RNZAF and a radar training school established
		Maori Battalion formed and trained at Showgrounds
		Centennial Drive constructed as part of the New Zealand Centenary celebrations
	25-Apr	Maori Battalion paraded in the City for ANZAC day
	1-May	Maori Battalion marched to Railway Station for embarkation overseas
		Celebrations of New Zealand Centenary (100 years)
	20-Apr	Pioneer Memorial on Mount Stewart opened
1941		Peter Black Conservatory established at the Esplanade
	5-Feb	First Intermediate School opens on Ferguson Street
	4-5-May	Major flood of the Manawatu River, most of Hokowhitu and Awapuni is under water, 62 houses in Hokowhitu are flooded and some residents evacuated (river peaks at 5.8m)
	Christmas	Intermediate School in Ferguson Street taken over as an army hospital for American casualties from the Pacific theatre
1942		Linton Army Camp established
	23-Jun	Severe earthquake
	18-Jul	ANA (Army, Navy, and Air Force) Dance Hall opens on George Street, later known as Astoria Ballroom
	2-Aug	Severe earthquake
1943		Kosy theatre renamed The Vogue (cinema)
1944		Summer drought causes water shortages in City; the Council digs a soak well on the riverbank to increase the available water supply
1944	31-Dec	Winter Show Buildings at Showgrounds destroyed by fire
1945		Population 25277
		Second World War ends
	13-Jun	New City Council Chambers and administration building opens on Church Street by The Square (now known as Square Edge)
	November	Transit Camp established at Hokowhitu to provide temporary accommodation during the post-war housing shortage
		During the late 1940s the Council names a number of streets after winners of the Victoria Cross including Upham and Ngarimu
1946		George Hamish Ormond Wilson elected as MP for Palmerston North
1946		A house in Queen Street is officially opened as the YWCA clubrooms
1947		Geoffrey Tremaine elected Mayor
1947		Clothes rationing finally comes to an end
1949		William Blair Tennent elected as MP for Palmerston North
1949	9-Feb	Poll of ratepayers approves loan proposal of £100,000 pounds for a new filtration plant and water mains and £71,000 for a new 23m dam to improve the Palmerston North water supply

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.