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Christchurch’s First Stone Church Opened – 25th December 1864
On 25 December 1864, Durham Street Methodist Church opened its doors. It was the city’s first stone church. Materials were gathered from the Port Hills, Halswell and even as far away as Charteris Bay on Banks Peninsula. After the first Methodist Chapel – situated on High Street – was sold earlier that year, a competition …
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Gas Street Lamps Light Up Christchurch’s Streets – 24th December 1864
On 24 December 1864, Christchurch’s first gas powered street lights flickered to life. The first ever street lamp was erected in Market Place (now known as Victoria Square) in 1862 and was powered by kerosene. The following year the Christchurch Gas Company opened and by 1876, 152 gas street lights lit up the city. By …
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Cornerstone Of The Christchurch Cathedral Laid – 16th December 1864
December 16, 1864 was a very special day for Canterbury, for two very good reasons. Firstly, it was the 14th anniversary of the arrival of the Canterbury Association’s First Four Ships – the Charlotte Jane, the Randolph, the Sir George Seymour (arrived 17 Dec) and the Cressy (arrived 27 Dec). Secondly, the cornerstone of what …
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Canterbury’s First Steeplechase – 4th August 1864
As ‘The Press’ reporters made their way from their Cashel Street offices to the Riccarton property of Edward Jerningham Wakefield, they noted the sudden increase in traffic – especially difficulties being caused around ‘…Triangle Corner…’. It was such a reoccurring problem that the area (the intersection of Colombo, Hereford and High Streets) had earned the …
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