1897 in New Zealand explained

The following lists events that happened during 1897 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Queen Victoria
• Governor – The term of David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow as Governor ends on 8 February. He is succeeded on 9 August by Sir Uchter John Mark Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly

Government and law

The 13th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Liberal Party in power.

• Speaker of the House – Sir Maurice O'Rorke
• Prime Minister – Richard Seddon
• Minister of Finance – Richard Seddon
• Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Opposition Leaders

See:,

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Abraham Boardman followed by Peter Dignan
• Mayor of Christchurch – Harry Joseph Beswick followed by Walter Cooper
• Mayor of Dunedin – Hugh Gourley followed by Edward Bowes Cargill
• Mayor of Wellington – Francis Bell

Events

• 3 May: Margaret Cruickshank becomes New Zealand's first registered woman doctor.^[1]
• 14 May: Pigeon post is introduced between Auckland and Great Barrier Island.

Arts and literature

Music

Sport

Athletics

National Champions, MenArthur Holder is the first athlete to win four titles at a single championships (he is also second in the 100 yards).^[2]

• 100 yards – Alfred J. Patrick (Wellington)
• 250 yards – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 440 yards – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 880 yards – James McKean (Auckland)
• 1 mile – James McKean (Auckland)
• 3 miles – E. Reynolds (Auckland)
• 120 yards hurdles – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 440 yards hurdles – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• Long jump – Leonard Cuff (Canterbury)
• High jump – C. Laurie (Auckland)
• Pole vault – tie Jimmy Te Paa (Auckland) and Hori Eruera (Auckland)
• Shot put – Timothy B. O’Connor (Auckland)
• Hammer throw – J. Callender (Auckland)

Chess

National Champion: R.J. Barnes of Wellington.^[3]

Golf

The National amateur championships were held in Auckland^[4]

• Men – D. Pryde (Hutt)
• Women – L. Wilford (Hutt)

Horse racing

Harness racing

• Auckland Trotting Cup (over 2 miles) is won by Awahuri^[5]

Thoroughbred racing

• New Zealand Cup – Waiuku
• New Zealand Derby – Multiform
• Auckland Cup – Antares
• Wellington Cup – Strath Braan

Season leaders (1896/97)

• Top New Zealand stakes earner – Multiform
• Leading flat jockey – R. Derrett

Lawn Bowls

National Champions^[6]

• Singles – W. McLaren (Kaitangata)
• Pairs – W. Cowie and W. Thomson (skip) (Dunedin)
• Fours – H. Nalder, W. Thomas, R. Struthers and H. Thomson (skip) (Christchurch)

Polo

• Savile Cup winners – Manawatu

Rowing

National Champions (Men)

• Single sculls – C. Chapman (Wairewa)
• Double sculls – Wairewa, Little River
• Coxless pairs – Picton
• Coxed fours – Queen's Dr, Port Chalmers

Rugby union

• 1897 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia

Provincial club rugby champions include:

see also

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Private A. Ballinger (Wellington Guards)

Soccer

Provincial league champions:^[7]

• Auckland: Auckland United
• Otago: Roslyn Dunedin
• Wellington: Wellington Swifts

Swimming

National Champions (Men)

• 100 yards freestyle – T. Wauchop (Canterbury)
• 220 yards freestyle – W. Stratton (Canterbury)

Tennis

National Championships

• Men's singles – J. Marshall
• Women's singles – Kathleen Nunneley
• Men's doubles – H. Parker and C. Gore
• Women's doubles – Kathleen Nunneley and T. Trimmell

Births

• 28 January: Howard Kippenberger, soldier.
• 23 March: Leslie Andrew, soldier.
• 10 August: Maurice Brownlie, rugby union player.
• 2 December: Rewi Alley, writer, educator, friend of China.
• 3 December: John Buckland Wright, engraver and book illustrator.

Deaths

• 22 April: Charles John Taylor, politician (in England).
• 21 May: Abraham Boardman, Mayor of Auckland.
• 23 September: Henry Fish, politician
• 27 September: John Lillie Gillies, politician.
• Mary Anne Rymill, missionary, teacher, nurse and companion (born 1817).

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. Web site: Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Margaret Cruickshank. 24 April 2011.
2. Heidenstrom, P. (1992) Athletes of the Century. Wellington: GP Publications.
3. http://www.poisonpawn.co.nz/nzcftitles.htm List of New Zealand Chess Champions
4. Web site: Men's Golf – National Champions. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. McLintock. A. H.. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 1966. 13 February 2009.
5. http://www.hrnz.co.nz/data/major_races/major_race2.htm Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
6. As the New Zealand Bowling Association at this time consists entirely of South Island clubs, the first truly "national" championships are not deemed to have begun until 1914.
7. Web site: New Zealand: List of champions. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 1999.