Museum Rush To Claim Blue Whale Find – 17th February 1908

On 17th February 1908, Canterbury Museum’s curator, Edgar R. Waite couldn’t quite believe the goss circulating around Christchurch that day. A dead whale had washed up on a beach at Okarito, a dot on the map, roughly 137 km south-west of Hokitika. So excited by the news, I don’t think Edgar even finished his cup …

‘Strange’s Fire’ – 6th February 1908

On the night of 6th February 1908, a fire broke out in a furniture display showroom belonging to the Strange’s Department Store (New Zealand’s largest at the time), at the intersection of Manchester, High and Lichfield Streets. Due to the time of the disaster, there were no deaths or injuries. Fanned by an easterly wind, …