Great Innovator Farmer Arrived In Canterbury – 31st July 1852

Marmaduke Dixon was only 14 years old when he first went to sea.  Born at Caistor, Lincolnshire, England, his bad health caused his parents so much concern that they sought an occupation that would take their son to a more beneficial surrounding.  As a result, Marmaduke saw the world! He first laid eyes on New …

Christchurch Gets Its First Lock-Up – July 1852

On 9th October 1846, New Zealand received its first law enforcers.  After the Police Act 1886 was passed, this developed into New Zealand’s first national, civil police force – and the first recognised Sergeant was Westport local, John Nash. It didn’t take the new settlements of Lyttelton and Christchurch very long to need a lock-up …