Palmerston North Timeline
1840 - Jack Duff, probably the first white man to pass through the Gorge
1859 - Papaioea reccomended as a good site for a township
1864 - Purchase of Papaioea and surrounding land by the government
1865 - Palmerston North township surveyed and named
1866 - First sale of sections
1871 - Bridle track through Manawatu gorge
1872 - Manawatu Gorge Road open for horse and foot traffic
1871 - Scandinavian settlements established at Awapuni and Whakarongo
1871 - First sawmill (steam), cabinetmaker, wheelwright, shoemaker, tailor, & blacksmith
1872 - Road opened through the Manawatu Gorge
1872 - first policeman - constable WC Wilson.
1873 - The first public school opened
1873 - wooden tramwy between Palmerston North & Foxton, opened
1875 - First newspaper published. The Manawatu Times
1875 - Construction began on first Anglican church
1875 - Telegraph Communication established between Palmeerston North & Foxton
1876 - Town Board Formed
1876 - Railway opened btween Palmerston North & Foxton
1877 - First Presbetarian church opened
1877 - Borough of Plamerston North incorporated. population 800.
1877 - First mayor, George Matthew Snelson
1878 - Railway opened Palmeerston North to Wanganui
1880 - First daily newspaper . The Evening Standard
1880 - Manawatu Racing Club
1883 - Volunteer Fire Brigade Formed
1884 - First dairy factory opened in Manawatu
1886 - Railway opened Longburn to Palmerston North
1889 - First gasworks
1889 - First dam and resovoir - Tiritea
1890 - Freezing works at Longburn
1890 - Sewerage system constructed
1891 - Railway through Manawatu gorge to Napier
1893 - Public hospital opened
1897 - Rating system on improved property introduced
1899 - Begining of Boer war
