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 …
“It is a far cry from the ancient cathedral cities of the Old Land, hoary with years and traditions, to a busy Colonial town, raised in little more than half a century, in the midst of a tussock-covered plain. Yet, as the years roll by, something, perchance, of the stately repose of Salisbury, or of …
When Mrs. Maria Sophia Pope opened her shop on Colombo Street in 1862, the street that ran along the front of her door was nothing more than a muddy runty track that would fill with water every time it rained. But I’m sure on those fine Christchurch days; Maria would take a breather on her …
I don’t know about you guys but growing up in Christchurch, the odd substation was an accepted part of every suburb. The ones in Harewood and Bishopdale had M.E.D on them above the doors and I never really understood what these little square buildings really did. During a history hunt, Chris and I were poking …
Gebbies Valley and Pass were known during the 1830’s as ‘Maori Valley” by the Rhodes brothers of Purau as it was a busy trail that the Maori used when heading south. The Maori called it Kawa Taua. Captain Fredrick Tuckett used the trail on the 4th June 1844. He was inspecting the Peninsula and the …
“The road round the foot of the hills, and from Christchurch, was little better than a track with large holes here and large boulder stones there, in the middle of the road. The Ferry Road was not much more than wide enough for one carriage at a time, with deep ditches on both sides. From …
The term ‘Triangle Corner’ first appears in The Lyttelton Times in August 1864. There appears to be no recorded history of how the name came in to being but it is quite obvious how this junction of Colombo, Cashel and High Streets became known as such. These three roads made a triangle. When the Triangle …
This unfortunate accident happened on Victoria Street during the 1960’s. This bus first collided with an on coming car where the impact send it across the road to ride up this parked Chevy. Thankfully the the driver had just stepped away from his car to take care of some quick errand. *image courtesy of …
Along the side of the Waimariti Stream – that joins the Avon River at Mona Vale – Jane Deans planted an unknown number (unknown these days it seems) of old English Oaks. Only one now remains, in the garden at 40a Weka Street, Fendalton. The very kind house owner was more than happy to show …
The Ngai Tahu and those before them thought nothing of walking from their Pa at Rapaki (a bay of Lyttelton Harbour) to the northern stronghold of Kaikai-a-waro, the area now known to us as Kaiapoi. Of course, they knew the quickest routes, their tracks through the marshlands and over the Peninsula resembling an over-land rabbit …
