Manawatu District Libraries

Celebration of Queen's Coronation & Visit

Souvenir Booklet celebrating the Coronation & the Visit to Feilding on 8th January 1954, at 10.30am by Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh.

Article on First Aerial Photographs

W. Carthews Booksellers, c. 1915

Shop assistant for the Bookseller, Stationer, Fancy Goods, & Musical Instrument Dealer, on Manchester Street. The business was established by William Carthew in 1879, and the premises was comprised of 2000 square feet of floor space.

Feilding Box Factory Fire, c. 1939

On December 12, 1939, there was a fire at the Feilding Box Factory, owned by A. Broadbelt and co. The Box Factory was located on Haybittle Street. Photographed by Hobday.

(Lydia Smith, 2022)

John Cobbe and Co. Drapers, c. 1953

John Cobbe and Co. Drapers, located on the corner of Manchester Street and Manchester Square. The shop was decorated for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the II.

This building was demolished after 2008, due to fire damage from two separate instances. The first fire broke out in November 2007, and the second fire occurred in October 2008.

Photographed by Bert Hobday

Hato Pāora College

The homestead at Hato Pāora (Saint Paul's) College. This building was originally constructed in 1913 for a local farming family on the outskirts of Feilding. In 1947, the property was bought by the Catholic church and transformed into Hato Pāori College, a boarding school for Māori boys. In it's prime, the pictured building housed the priests and four dormitories, and was named Ihaka House. Sadly, it was demolished in 2016 after concerns were raised with the school board regarding black rot bacteria and extensive water damage.

Written on the back of this photograph: 'Originally stud sheep farmer's residence, now Catholic college to aid agricultural training to Māori boys.'

Edited by Lydia Smith, 2023.

Feilding

Feilding - Aerial view looking north up Manchester Street Square on bottom right.

Visit of Duke and Duchess of York, March 1927

Photographer: Hobday. Visit took place 3rd March 1927

Feilding Box Factory fire - 1939 : 43-4

Feilding Box factory (Broadbelts). Haybittle Street. Fire - 20/12/1939. Photographers : Hobday.

Feilding box factory fire - 1939

Feilding Box Factory (Broadbelts). Haybittle Street. Fire - 20/12/1939. Photograhers : Hobday

Feilding box factory fire - 1939

Feilding Box Factory (Broadbelts). Haybittle Street. Fire - 20/12/1939. Photograhers : Hobday

Feilding

Feilding - Aerial view showing Kimbolton Road in the left corner, and the East and Lytton Streets intersection. Lytton Street School in centre. Photograph : Hobday.

Feilding - 1920 : 54-8

1920 - Aerial view of West Sttreet, Kimbolton Road, Kowhai Park and the Racecourse.

Wilkinson Homestead

Completion of George Wilkinson's house at 44 Monmouth street. Photographer, Hobday, c. 1915.

Mr Hobday

Mr Hobday standing by the plane with the camera. Mr Hobday was very interested in planes and paid 15 pound to be the first passenger to fly with Captain Russell from the Feilding Racecourse to Parorangi, now Hato Paora College, on August 17, 1920. He also flew with Francis Chichester and George Bolt, and is believed to be the first professional aerial photographer in New Zealand. Mr Hobday was also commissioned by the Auckland Weekly to photograph the damage to Napier after the 1931 earthquake.