1876 in New Zealand explained

The following lists events that happened during 1876 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Queen Victoria
• Governor – The Marquess of Normanby

Government and law

The 1875 general election, which started on 29 December, concludes on 4 January. The 6th New Zealand Parliament commences.

Premier Atkinson abolishes the New Zealand provincial system on 1 November.^[1]

• Speaker of the House – Sir William Fitzherbet replaces Sir Francis Dillon Bell who did not stand for election at the end of 1875
• Premier – Daniel Pollen resigns on 15 February. Julius Vogel takes over until retiring on 1 September and is in turn replaced by Harry Atkinson.
• Minister of Finance – Julius Vogel takes over as Treasurer (Minister of Finance) from Harry Atkinson when he becomes Premier on 15 February. When Vogel retires on 1 September Atkinson resumes the position.
• Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland City – Benjamin Tonks followed by William Hurst
• Mayor of Christchurch – Fred Hobbs
• Mayor of Dunedin – Keith Ramsay followed by Henry John Walter
• Mayor of Wellington – William Hutchison

Events

• 18 February: The first trans-Tasman submarine communications cable is completed, allowing telegraph communications with the rest of the world.^[2]
• 4 April: Speight's is first brewed in Dunedin.
• 30 December: The Daily Southern Cross publishes its last issue, and merges with The New Zealand Herald. The Auckland-based newspaper began publishing as The Southern Cross in 1843.^[3]

Sport

Cricket

The Otago Cricket Association is formed.^[4]

Horse racing

Major race winners

• New Zealand Cup – Guy Fawkes
• New Zealand Derby – Songster
• Auckland Cup – Ariel
• Wellington Cup – Korari

Lawn bowls

The first interclub competition in the country is held between the Dunedin and Fernhill clubs.^[4]

Rugby union

• Rugby clubs were founded in Marton, Bulls, and Sanson, Oamaru, Hawera, Patea, Invercargill, Otautau, Riverton, Greytown, Masterton, Rangiora, Waimate, Kaiapoi and Te Awamutu.^[5]
• A combined side from Canterbury toured Nelson, Wellington (at Lower Hutt), and Auckland (at Ellerslie)

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Private J. Willocks (Clutha)^[6]

Births

• 21 January: Tom Cross, rugby union and rugby league player.
• 24 February: Ernie Booth, rugby union player.^[7]
• 23 March: Sally Low, social reformer and peace campaigner.^[8]
• 6 April: Harold Williams, linguist.^[9]
• 11 April Michael Reardon, political activist
• 7 June: Albert Samuel, politician

Deaths

• 26 August: Henry Balneavis, soldier
• 22 November: Charles Flinders Hursthouse, author and settler.

See also

• 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

General

• Romanos, J. (2001) New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett.

Specific

Notes and References

1. http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/HstBldgs/History/Resources/3/6/e/36e40376aa2842e6bcce0a4557ebf2bc.htm New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline
2. News: Completion of the cable. 19 February 1876. Nelson Evening Mail. 2. 17 April 2009.
3. News: Daily Southern Cross. National Library of New Zealand. 18 June 2008 .
4. Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications.
5. Web site: RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. A. H. . McLintock . Alexander Hare McLintock. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 1966. 13 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090108122511/http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/R/RugbyUnionFootball/History/en. 8 January 2009. live.
6. Web site: New Zealand champion shot / Ballinger Belt winners . National Rifle Association of New Zealand . 18 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150125012900/http://www.nranz.com/competitions/ballinger_belt . 25 January 2015 .
7. http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=73 All Blacks profile of Ernie Booth
8. Web site: Taonga. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. Low, Caroline Sarah. teara.govt.nz. 24 July 2017. en.
9. Web site: NZ Edge - Harold Williams . 12 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100123184938/http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/williams.html . 23 January 2010 . dead .