In 1947, after 104 years in residence (since 1843) and then ownership (since 1851), Riccarton House (built 1856, 1874 & 1900) and its estate leaves the ownership of the Deans family. It is purchased by the Christchurch City Council for £16,500! Since the death of Catherine Edith Deans (daughter-in-law of Jane Deans) 10 years earlier, …
From the time that New Zealand’s department stores adopted the idea of in-store Santas to help bring in the Christmas shoppers, new and exciting ways were dreamt up for how Saint Nick could arrive into the city. In 1905, Wellington’s children were invited to attend the arrival of Father and Mother Christmas as they made …
In 1947, Blue Star Taxis, a Christchurch founded company, introduced two way radios to their cabs – the first to do so in the South Island. Blue Star Taxis began operation in 1929 with 15 cabs. They introduced a unique and still-in-place working scheme where those who drive the cabs, own the cabs. In 1930, …
