1889 in New Zealand explained

The following lists events that happened during 1889 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State – Queen Victoria
Governor – The term of Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois ends on 23 March. The Earl of Onslow takes up the position of Governor on 2 May.

Government and law

The 10th New Zealand Parliament continues.

Speaker of the House – Maurice O'Rorke.
Premier – Harry Atkinson.
Minister of Finance – Harry Atkinson.
Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – John Ballance (Liberal Party).^[1] This is the first year in which there is a recognised opposition leader.

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland – Albert Devore followed by John Upton
Mayor of Christchurch – Charles Louisson
Mayor of Dunedin – Hugh Gourley followed by John Roberts
Mayor of Wellington – John Duthie

Events

21 January – American "Professor" Baldwin makes the first balloon ascent in New Zealand at Dunedin.^[2]
2 December – The S.S. Alice, the first mechanically powered vessel on the Rotorua Lakes, is launched.^[3] ^[4]

Arts and literature

Reputedly the first science fiction novel written by a New Zealander, Anno Domini 2000, or, Woman's Destiny by former Premier Julius Vogel is published.

Sport

National Champions, Men

100 yards – T. Lewis (Hawkes Bay)
250 yards – H. Reeves (Canterbury)
440 yards – H. Reeves (Canterbury)
880 yards – P. Cox (Southland)
1 mile – F. Ellis (Hawkes Bay)
120 yards hurdles – Harold Batger (Wellington)
Long jump – Leonard Cuff (Canterbury)
High jump – T. McNaught (Otago)

Chess

National Champion: Arthur Ollivier, of Christchurch^[5]

Horse racing

Major race winners

New Zealand Cup – Tirailleur
New Zealand Derby – Scots Grey
Auckland Cup – Leopold
Wellington Cup – Dudu

Lawn bowls

National Champions

Singles – H. Toomer (Canterbury)
Fours – M. Elliott, P. Dow, W. Allnutt and W. Carlton (skip) (Roslyn)

^[6]

Polo

The Christchurch Polo Club is formed.^[7]

Rowing

Coxless pairs and Double sculls are held at the championships for the first time.

National Champions (Men)

Single sculls – T. McKay (Wellington)
Double sculls – Wellington
Coxless pairs – Wellington
Coxed fours – Wellington

Rugby union

Provincial club rugby champions include:

see also

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Sergeant Parslow (Auckland)

Tennis

After this year the mixed doubles championship are not held again held until 1900.

New Zealand championships

Men's singles – P. Fenwicke
Women's singles – E. Gordon
Men's doubles – Richard Harman and Frederick Wilding
Women's doubles – K. Hitchings and E. Gordon
Mixed doubles – Frederick Wilding and E. Gordon

Births

27 February: Melville Lyons, politician
19 June: Cora Louisa Burrell, politician (MLC).

Deaths

26 July: Thomas Gillies, politician
26 July: Arthur Fulton, engineer
10 December: Robert Campbell, politician
13 December: Sarah Greenwood, artist

References

General

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

Specific

Notes and References

Web site: Elections NZ – Leaders of the Opposition. 6 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081017200326/http://www1.elections.org.nz/democracy/leaders-opposition.html. 17 October 2008. dead.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/RecreationSeaAndSky/AerialRecreation/1/en Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand: Ballooning
Web site: Woodenboatparade: S.S. Alice . 27 October 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070704191320/http://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/SS%20Alice.htm . 4 July 2007 . dead .
It is not clear if the Alice was actually operating on Lake Rotorua in 1889 or started the following year.
http://www.poisonpawn.co.nz/nzcftitles.htm List of New Zealand Chess Champions
As the New Zealand Bowling Association at this time consists largely of South Island clubs, the first truly "national" championships are not deemed to have begun until 1914.
Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications.