Marlborough Province Explained

Marlborough Province
Settlement Type:Provinces of New Zealand
Total Type:Region
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:New Zealand
Subdivision Type1:Island
Subdivision Name1:South Island
Seat:Blenheim
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1859
Extinct Title:Abolished
Extinct Date:1876
Named For:John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

The Marlborough Province operated as a province of New Zealand from 1 November 1859, when it split away from Nelson Province, until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.[1]

History

Marlborough split away from the Nelson Province because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the Marlborough region, but the funds were mostly used in the Nelson region. Land sales in Nelson and Marlborough netted the Nelson Provincial Council £33,000 and £160,000, respectively. Of that, £200 were expended benefiting the Marlborough region. Marlborough settlers successfully petitioned for a split from Nelson.[2] Another reason was that large landholders feared the growing influence of smaller farmers and urban residents. By splitting the Marlborough Province off with its large farms, it was easier for these landholders to control the provincial council.[3]

When the province was formed, Sir Thomas Gore Browne, the Governor of New Zealand, named it after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. The settlement of Blenheim was subsequently named after the Battle of Blenheim (1704), where troops led by the Duke defeated a combined French and Bavarian force at the village of Blenheim (Blindheim) in Germany.[4]

Area

The Marlborough Province was notable for its intense personal rivalries among its politicians. This led to a farcical change of capital from at first Blenheim, then Picton from 1861, and back again to Blenheim from July 1865.[5] In a symbolic way, government buildings in both Blenheim and Picton burned down some months after the abolition of the provincial system.

Marlborough was not systematically settled like other regions, but capital-rich settlers from the Nelson area spilled over who wanted to invest in large land holdings. Frederick Weld was the first in 1847 to land sheep at Port Underwood, a sheltered harbour which forms the north-east extension of Cloudy Bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Because of its early start in sheep farming, other South Island areas were stocked from here.[6]

Anniversary Day

New Zealand law provides an anniversary day for each former province. Marlborough celebrates its founding on a Monday near 1 November each year.

Superintendents

The Marlborough Province had five Superintendents:[7]

No.fromtoSuperintendent
11 May 186020 Jul 1861William Adams
228 Aug 186118 Feb 1863Captain Baillie
325 Mar 186330 Jul 1864Thomas Carter
419 Sep 1864Oct 1865Arthur Seymour[8]
523 Oct 1865Feb 1870William Henry Eyes
28 Mar 187031 Oct 1876[9] Arthur Seymour (2nd time)

Legislation

External links

-41.514°N 173.96°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Regions of New Zealand. Statoids. 11 December 2013.
  2. Book: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts . 1906 . Cyclopedia Company Limited . 21 May 2010 . Christchurch . Superintendents of Marlborough.
  3. Book: . First published in 1966 . . http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/marlborough-province-and-provincial-district . A. H. . McLintock . Alexander Hare McLintock . 11 December 2013 . Province and Provincial Districts . 22 April 2009.
  4. Web site: Blenheim . New Zealand History . New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage . 11 October 2014.
  5. Book: . First published in 1966 . . http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/marlborough-province-and-provincial-district/page-2 . A. H. . McLintock . Alexander Hare McLintock . 11 December 2013 . Province and Provincial Districts . 22 April 2009.
  6. Book: . First published in 1966 . . http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/marlborough-province-and-provincial-district/page-4 . A. H. . McLintock . Alexander Hare McLintock . 11 December 2013 . Province and Provincial Districts . 22 April 2009.
  7. Web site: Provinces 1848–77 . Rulers.org . 16 September 2010.
  8. Book: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. 1906. Cyclopedia Company Limited. 21 May 2010. Christchurch. Mr. Arthur Penrose Seymour.
  9. Book: Scholefield, Guy Hardy . Guy Scholefield . New Zealand Parliamentary Record . 2nd . First published in 1913 . 1925 . Govt. Printer . Wellington . 203.