1879 in New Zealand
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The following lists events that happened during 1879 in New Zealand.
Incumbents[edit]
Regal and viceregal[edit]
- Head of State – Queen Victoria
- Governor – The term of The Marquess of Normanby ends on 21 February. Sir Hercules Robinson takes up the appointment on 27 March.
Government and law[edit]
The general election is held between 15 August and 1 September; a law was passed to confirm the result in three electorates (Marsden, Northern Maori and Western Maori);[1] and to clarify the law about electoral petitions (1880).[2] The 7th New Zealand Parliament commences.
- Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke becomes Speaker when his predecessor, Sir William Fitzherbert, is appointed to the Legislative Council.
- Premier – John Hall replaces Sir George Grey on 8 October.
- Minister of Finance – John Hall replaces Sir George Grey on 8 October. Grey had taken up the post on 10 July after John Ballance had resigned on 1 July.
- Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast
Voting rights are extended to all males.[3]
The term of parliament is reduced from five years to three years.[3]
Main centre leaders[edit]
- Mayor of Auckland – Thomas Peacock
- Mayor of Christchurch – Henry Thomson followed by Charles Thomas Ick
- Mayor of Dunedin – Henry John Walter
- Mayor of Wellington – Joseph Dransfield followed by George Allen followed by William Hutchison
Events[edit]
- 21 February: An explosion in the coal mine at Kaitangata kills 34 men.[4]
- 30 March: The Ross Guardian ceases publication. It began in 1866.[5]
- Education (secular or denominational) was being debated. In two by-elections the winner was described as a Secularist: David Goldie in the 1879 City of Auckland West by-election and Acton Adams in the 1879 City of Nelson by-election. They opposed Curtis's bill before parliament.
Sport[edit]
Chess[edit]
- The first New Zealand Chess Championship is held and was won by H. Hookham (Christchurch)[6]
Horse racing[edit]
Major race winners[edit]
- New Zealand Cup – Chancellor
- New Zealand Derby – Hornby
- Auckland Cup – Ariel
- Wellington Cup – Maritana
Lawn bowls[edit]
The first annual competition between clubs from different centres begins between Christchurch and Dunedin clubs.[7]
Rugby union[edit]
- 26 July: The first union in New Zealand, Canterbury Rugby Football Union, is formed at Timaru, incorporating Christchurch, Christ's College, Temuka, North Canterbury, Eastern, South Canterbury, Ashburton, and Southbridge rugby clubs.[8]
- 20 October: The Wellington Rugby Football Union is formed, initially consisting of the Wellington and Athletic clubs.[8]
Shooting[edit]
Ballinger Belt – Corporal W. Ballinger (Wellington)
Births[edit]
- 18 January: Agnes Weston, politician (MLC).
- 25 May: Andrew Kennaway Henderson, illustrator, cartoonist and pacifist
- 30 August (in London): Maud Ruby "Daisy" Basham, radio personality.
- 15 June: Miriam Cummings (later Miriam Soljak), activist.
- 28 December: Claude Weston, politician.
Deaths[edit]
- 2 February (in England): General Sir Thomas Pratt, commander British forces in NZ 1860–61.
- 3 March: Jerningham Wakefield, politician and pioneer settler.
- 24 April – John Munro, politician (b. 1798/99)
- 14 May: Henry Sewell, politician.
- 14 July: Thomas Outhwaite, first registrar of the Supreme Court.
See also[edit]
- List of years in New Zealand
- Timeline of New Zealand history
- History of New Zealand
- Military history of New Zealand
- Timeline of the New Zealand environment
- Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
References[edit]
- General
- Romanos, J. (2001) New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86958-879-7
- Specific
- ^ "Elections Validation Act, 1879". New Zealand Law online.
- ^ "Electoral Petitions Act, 1880". New Zealand Law online.
- ^ a b New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline
- ^ New Zealand History online: Today in History - 21 February
- ^ "HOKITIKA. March 31". North Otago Times. 1 April 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
- ^ List of New Zealand Chess Champions Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-00-7
- ^ a b McLintock, A. H., ed. (1966). "RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
External links[edit]
Media related to 1879 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons