Twenty miles to the northwards of Wanganui, in the Electorate of Patea and in the Waitotara Riding of the Waitotara County, at an altitude of 264 feet above sea-level, is the flag station of Nukumaru, which serves the extensive farming district, better known as Maxwelltown. Nukumaru village has a population of ninety, while the Maxwelltown settlement has 153. Daily mails are made up and received at Maxwelltown, which has also a telephone bureau. There is a public school in the district, with a locally-elected committee of management.

Maxwelltown Public School, which was erected in 1882, has accommodation for sixty children. There are seventy-five scholars on the roll, with an average attendance of sixty.

Mr. Alfred Goldsbury, Master in charge of the Maxwelltown Public School, was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, in 1849, and came to Auckland per ship “Ben Nevis” in 1879. He commenced teaching at Waiuku, in the Kariotahi District, where he remained for seven years. Afterwards he took charge of the Hiwinui District School for two years, under the Wanganui Education Board, and in 1892 was removed to Maxwelltown, where he also acts as postmaster. Mr. Goldsbury is married to a daughter of the late Mr. Alfred Lambert, of Ipswich, and has three daughters and five sons.

Billinghurst, C. E., Butcher and Baker, Maxwelltown. An extensive business is done in both branches. The proprietor's carts deliver not only within the immediate vicinity of his business premises, but they travel twice weekly from Brunswick to Waitotara, calling upon customers far and near, delivering goods and receiving orders. Mr. Billinghurst executes large or wholesale orders at reduced rates. He does a considerable trade in sheep-skins, hides, tallow, wool, and other produce, in all which lines he is a cash buyer.

Smith, Charles, Horseshoer and General Blacksmith, Great North Road, Maxwelltown. Established 1892.

Brown, Daniel, General Storekeeper, Maxwelltown. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1871.

Mills, Henry Porter, General Storekeeper, Great North Road, Maxwelltown. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1885.