ARTHUR’S PASS NO PICNIC

Upon seeing this wonderful painting of the road between Canterbury and Westland reminded me of a very interesting – and mostly unknown additional adventure concerning Arthur Dudley Dobson and his now much beloved passage through our Southern Alps. Arthur was barely 23 years old when the Canterbury Provincial Council sent him off to find the …

The Lyttelton Times

On the 11th January 1851, the first issue of The Lyttelton Times hit the shelves. As the Canterbury Association made their plans for New Zealand’s newest Church of England (Anglican) settlement, they spoke of a grand Cathedral and college being at its heart with a good number of public domains for recreation and oh yes, …

The Rollestons, The Fitzgeralds And Scarlet Fever

As Mrs. Fanny Fitzgerald bustled along The Terrace, Wellington, she had one arm around her infant daughter while her free hand hitched her long petticoats away from the stomping heels of her shoes.  To strangers, the frustrated crease between her eyebrows were no doubt caused by the stress of the recent break out of Scarlet …

To Be In Fact The Governor – Henry Sewell

“Altogether he [Captain Charles Simeon – remembered in the naming of Simeon Street] is not merely the fittest, but the only fit man.  To [James Edward] Fitzgerald the objections are manifold; though very clever he is wild and harum scarum.  A Superintendent, the chief executive person in the Colony should be especially slow and steady.  …

Best Superintendent Of His Time – William Sefton Moorhouse

“…with all his failings, was perhaps the best superintendent of his time in New Zealand”. Written by James Edward Fitzgerald (Canterbury’s 1st Superintendent) about William Sefton Moorhouse (Canterbury’s 2nd Superintendent) – 1863 *text from ‘Blest Madman’ by Edmund Bohan *image courtesy of http://earlycanterbury.blogspot.co.nz* Illustrated London News, March 20, 1886; pg. 292; Issue 2448

Sir Charles Christopher Bowen (1830 – 1917)

As a teenager, Charles Bowen found himself rubbing shoulders with worldly wisdom and business knowledge in the shape of John Robert Godley, James Edward Fitzgerald and Lord Lyttelton.  He was a budding Irish law student absorbing all he could amongst the upper class ranks of the Canterbury Association in which he had taken a keen …