Following the redevelopment of the Feilding Public Library transitioned to Manawatū Community Hub Libraries. Mayor Helen Worboys and the libraries' most long standing customer Wendy Hart opened the new facility; Te Āhuru Mōwai on 18 July 2025.
Concrete blocks placed in a hole in the Makino stop bank when it gave way to the south of town after the second heavy rain event in a single week.
Manawatū District Libraries - Feilding Library (Temporary Site) while the redevelopment of Stafford Street took place. The library occupied this site from August 2022 and relocated back to 64 Stafford Street in June 2024.
Information with photograph: Apiti Lake June 1947. This lake situated on Makoura Road was destroyed by a landslide after heavy rain. The landslide took out about 14 chains of road plus the lake and about 8 acres of Gillies property. It occured between the saddle of Makoura Saddle and to a point just above the lake. That night five people from Apiti were on their way from Utuwai and were on the slip when it started to move. These folk were Bill and Stacey Peate, Mabel Mc Nicol Millita Cawood and Ngaire Hogan. No one was hurt. The women had to lift and push the car over the slip on the road while Mr Peate was steering the car.
Originally known as Whisker's Bush, Kitchener Park was officially opened on January 25, 1916 by Mayor Ongley.
Constable James Joseph Tuohy was the officer in charge of the Feilding Police Station from 1889. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1839. His father was a farmer, and Tuohy was unable to attend school and was entirely self taught. In 1859, he went to Australia, and worked at the diggings in Castlemaine. He then took part in the gold rush in Otago, before moving on to Invercargill. He joined the New Zealand police force in 1862.
Tuohy rapidly rose through the ranks of the police force, becoming a "first-class" sergeant, and transferring to the detective department in 1878. In 1881, he was sent to Christchurch to assist in the suppression of the riots there. From Christchurch, he was sent to Wellington, and then to Auckland, where he remained for seven years. According to the Cyclopedia of New Zealand, during his time as a detective, Tuohy was sent on the most difficult business to various parts of Aotearoa, and "enjoyed the complete confidence of the department". In 1889, he was placed in charge of Feilding.
As part of his private life, Tuohy was a prominent Oddfellow, and assisted in the opening of a lodge in Invercargill. He was also married with six children, two of which are believed to be pictured above.
'Helen McGregor' and her driver 'Tom' Rodgers, who brought the first passenger train into Feilding. 'Tom' Rodgers was later killed in a bush felling accident at Halcombe.
Colonists Land and Loan Corporation - Accommodation House. Kimbolton Road opposite Tivoli - 1874/75
The Feilding Municipal Buildings, which housed the Feilding Public Library. This building was completed in 1895. The exact date of this photograph is unknown, as are the identities of the two men standing outside the building.
A blank invitation to the opening of the Feilding Municipal Library, located on the corner of Stafford and Bowen Street. The library moved to this location in 1980.
Architectural plans for the original Feilding Library, drawn by architect Alex James.
Architectural plans for the Feilding Public library building on the corner of Bowen and Stafford Street. These were drawn for the Feilding Borough Council in 1975, by architect Lindsay Durrant.
A duplicate copy of the application for subsidy to Public Library, signed on the 8th of January, 1919. The application states that the library reading room "is open to the public free of charge".
(Lydia Smith, 2024)
Hector James Booth, 1854 - 1938. His wife was Emma Volkner (1866 - 1941). They married on July 28, 1891, in Foxton, and had a son in September 1893, and a daughter in May 1901. Booth was a founder of Feilding Agricultural High School.
John Alden D. Belk, 1845-1937 Wife : Emma F., 1856-1942 Mr Belk was a wheelwright and coachbuilder. He died on 21 June, 1937, aged 92. Residence 174 Manchester Street. John .A.D. Belk - arrived in Feilding with parents, from Middlesex, aboard the "Du
Douglas Hastings Macarthur was born in Edinburgh, in 1839. He came to New Zealand in 1856, and farmed land near Collingwood before trying his hand at mining. He was part of the 'unofficial' gold rush in Collingwood, and like so many others, attempted to seek fortune further afoot on the goldfields of Marlborough, Otago, Westland, and Nelson.
In 1872, Macarthur was back in the Collingwood District, and by some stroke of luck, was named a sub-agent for the settlement of the Manchester Block. When Arthur Halcombe relinquished the management of the Feilding settlement, it was Macarthur who succeeded him, being appointed through London.
At any rate, after his early gold-seeking days, Macarthur became a prominent figure in the Feilding District. He was the first Mayor of Feilding, Chairman of the Manawatu Highway Board, Chairman of the Manawatu and Oroua counties, and Captain of the Manchester Rifles. In 1884, he was elected Member of the House of Representatives for the Manawatu, and then re-elected in 1887. He then took a turn at representing Rangitikei in 1890, two years before his sudden death at age 53. According to the eulogies given at his funeral, he was regarded as the coming Treasurer of the Opposition Party, and he had also been suggested for the post of Agent-General in London.
Built in 1876 by Douglas Hastings Macarthur, Feilding's first mayor (See PEO:in86). Situated at 185 West Street.
Feilding Staff of the Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board.
Back Row: ?, ?, ?, ?, D. Davis, , ?, ? Derek Elmers, ?, ?, ?, Michael Bradley (Jock), ?, ?, ?, ?, Ross Monk.
Middle Row: Jim Fowles, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, Bruce Matthews, ?, John Guard, Richard Willan (Dick), Keith Esler, ?,?, Jack Wills
Front Row: Stan Carter, Keith Hingston, William Fowles, ? ?, ?, Jim Cleverly, Murray (M.D.) Macphee, ?, ?, ?, Rodger Meads, ?, ?, Bill Prouse, ?, ?, Norm Copestake,
Frederick Pope was born in 1824, and received his education at the Grammar School, Hanley, Staffordshire. He then entered the service of Coxon & Son, as an architect and builder, and remained there for two years before being apprenticed elsewhere.
In Feilding, he was a well-known builder and undertaker. He married Margaret Taylor in 1893 at the Primitive Methodist church, and had several children, both biological and adopted.
Colonel, the Honourable William Henry Adelbert Feilding was a director of the Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation, formed in 1869. He came to New Zealand via Australia to buy land for settlement and bought 100,000 acres of the Manawatu-Rangitikei Bloc
An historical picture 0 Of particular interest in relation to the Feilding Centennial Celebrations taking place this week, this group picture, taken in the 1870's, shows officers and surveyors of the Emigrants' and Colonists' Aid Society who were concerne