New Zealand’s First Telegraph Line – 1st July 1862

On the 1st July 1862, English news fresh from the recently arrived ships at Lyttelton, was transmitted to Christchurch and namely ‘The Press’ by New Zealand’s first telegraph line. From the very first issue of ‘The Press’ on the 25th May 1861, the paper had an ongoing battle with not only the 10 year old …

Canterbury’s First Organised Boxing Match – July 1862

In July 1862, on the banks of the Waimakariri River, around 600 spectators gathered around local man, George Barton and London prize fighter, Harry Jones for Canterbury’s first organised boxing match.   With Jones came the rules of London boxing – meaning bare fists with elbowing and kneeing allowed. The match lasted an hour and 10 …

The Dream Of Nga Hau E Wha National Marae Began – 25th June 1862

On 25th June 1862, the Canterbury Provincial Council decided to temporarily set aside Settler’s Corner (now known as Little Hagley Park), as a Maori Reserve. Although a map was drawn up, the project was never started as talks for a planned land swap with the Ngai Tahu never eventuated. This was one of many examples …

Christchurch Public Hospital Opened – 1st June 1862

On 1st June 1862, a two storied ‘…barn-like structure…’ was opened at the edge of Hagley Park. Despite the huge ‘Hands Off Hagley’ protest rally against its construction, the building of the Christchurch Public Hospital went ahead. The site of the Canterbury Provincial Chambers was one of the first locations considered but it was thought …

Edward Gibbon Wakefield Died – 16th May 1862

On 16 May 1862, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, the owner of the New Zealand Company (the organisation who purchased land from the Maori for the settlements of Canterbury, Wellington, New Plymouth and Nelson) and the co-founder of the Canterbury Association died of Rheumatic Fever and Neuralgia. By the 1830′s, Wakefield was a politician with a keen …

The Christchurch City Council Held Its First Meeting – 3rd March 1862

On the 3rd March 1862 – in the old timber land office on the corner of Worchester Street and Oxford Terrace – the first meeting of the Christchurch Municipal Council or the Christchurch Town Council as they have also been called, held their first meeting. The building they used was fitting for such an historical …

The B.N.Z Bank Opened – 1st March 1862

In the first two weeks following the news of the discovery of gold on the West Coast, over two thousand of Christchurch’s young and able working men had left their jobs to hopefully ‘…find a bit of the colour…’ for themselves. Already set up in Cashel Street (very close to another Christchurch icon, The Press …

First Chairman Of The C.C.C Elected – 1862

  I’m sure from the age of ten Sir John Hall may have gotten the idea that his life was going to be more than just ordinary.  He was far from home, being educated in the finest schools in Europe.  Due to his bad health, the advertisements and promises of a warmer climate from the …

Lyttelton Hosted New Zealand’s First Rowing Regatta – 1st January 1862

As the sun rose over Lyttelton on 1st January 1862, the sky was clear and not a bit of wind disturbed the harbour waters. Not the sort of weather suited for a rowing regatta by any means. As excited crowds gathered around the harbour’s edge to witness New Zealand’s first rowing regatta, a sudden breeze …

Mrs. Popes Opened – 1862

When Mrs. Maria Sophia Popes opened her shop on Colombo Street (opposite Victoria Square) in 1862, she was in a great position retail-wise. Her little newspaper/stationary shop proved to be so popular that by 1866, she had increased her wares to sell smoking caps, slippers, wool, beads and needlework, all imported from Europe. Beside her …