Charles Cole arrived in Dunedin from Victoria, Australia in 1861 into the madness of the Otago Gold Rush but he wasn’t chasing gold…well, not that way. He brought with him quite a cargo; 1 coach, 5 wagons and 54 horses. Within a week, he had his first service run; the coach leaving the Provincial Hotel …
The first time I heard about Ted d’Auvergne was from the comedian Billy Connolly during his New Zealand tour so I was chuffed to come across the story again as it was a great one. “Froggie” as his mates would call him, was born in Rangiora in 1906. His french ancestors arrived in Akaroa in …
“This, the first day of heavy gales, produces something strange and uncomfortable every hour. Dinner was an awful scramble, plates and dishes falling about, of course, but that was the least. You were as likely to find your neighbour in your plate as your plate in your neighbour’s lap, or your lap in your neighbour’s, …
Hope you are hungry! So, what was for breakfast and dinner aboard the ‘Charlotte Jane’ – the first of our first four ships? Things were much more palatable for those in upper class, complete shocker! Breakfast was at 8.30am and consisted of roast beef or beef steaks. Dinner was at 3pm and consisted of soup, …
Was totally delighted to come across a diary entry from Mrs. Emma Barker, wife of the well known early Canterbury doctor and photographer, Dr. A.C. Barker (pictured), while she was aboard the Charlotte Jane. I have always known of the belief that cats were bad luck to have on a ship so I was surprised …
It’s well known knowledge that the first four ships were the Charlotte Jane, the Randolph, the Sir George Seymour and the Cressy. 16 more Canterbury Association ships followed them in 1851 :- * Castle Eden * Isabella Hercus * Travancore * Duke of Bronte * Steadfast * Labuan * Bangalore – pictured above – arrived …
We celebrate (well, we should more often) the arrival of the First Four Ships – the Charlotte Jane, Randolph, Sir George Seymour and the Cressy – when in reality, they should number as the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th ship instead! The Canterbury Association sent over 16 ships to Lyttelton before the Charlotte Jane sailed …
A sketch of the Randolph done by James Edward Fitzgerald from the deck of the Charlotte Jane as they left England for Canterbury on the 6th September 1850. Boy, James could draw!!! During its journey, it had the company of 2 ships, one being the Sir George Seymour where Cyrus Davie was transferred over as …
The Sir George Seymour was the third ship to dock at Lyttelton, arriving 24 hours (to the hour) after the Charlotte Jane dropped her anchor. She was though, the last of the four to leave England, carrying 227 souls to a new life. Before her journey to Lyttelton in 1850, she had a history as …
The deck of the Charlotte Jane drawn by one of Canterbury’s future Superintendants, James Edward Fitzgerald. What an amazing window this man has given us of the first ship that arrived at Lyttelton at 10am on the 16th December 1850. James also was the first off the Charlotte Jane, scrambling almost over the side to …
