Chronological Record

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 36 (Supplement)

Chronological Record

1770—Feb. 16, Captain Cook sighted Banks Peninsula. 1829—Captain Wiseman named Port Cooper (Lyttelton) and Port Levy. 1838—Aug. 2. Langlois bought Banks Peninsula from the Maoris. 1840—Jul. 17. British sovereignty proclaimed over South Island. 1843—Feb. William Deans settled at Riccarton. 1849 Jul. 3. Preliminary road and surveys for Canterbury settlement began. 1850— Apr. 12. John Robert Godley landed in Lyttelton. Dec. 16. The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph arrived. Dec. 17. The Sir George Seymour arrived. Dec. 27. The Cressey arrived. 1851— Mar. 1. Work began on road between Heathcote ferry and Christchurch. Jun. 21. ChristchurchRiccarton road opened. 1853—May 14. First weekly market held in Christchurch. Jul. 23. James Edward Fitz Gerald elected first Superintendent of Province. Sep. 27. First Canterbury Provincial Council elected. 1856—Mar. 27. First wool ship left Lyttelton for London direct. 1860— Jan. Work began on the Lyttelton end of the tunnel. 1861— May 25. First issue of “The Press.” Jul. 17. First sod of Lyttelton railway turned at Heathcote. 1862 Feb. 28. First Christchurch Municipal Council elected. Jun. 1. Telegraph line from Christchurch to Lyttelton opened. Oct 22. A. and P. show held near Latimer square. 1863 Mar. 17. “The Press” became a daily newspaper (first in Canterbury). May 5. Twenty-five acres bought in Moorhouse avenue for railway station.

1864 —Apr. 19. Bridge over Heathcote opened. 1867 May 24. Lyttelton tunel headings met 1868— Feb. 5. Great damage to Christchurch by Waimakariri flood. May 28. Christchurch, Lyttelton and Kaiapoi declared boroughs. 1869 Apr. 22. Duke of Edinburgh visited Christchurch. 1872—Christchurch Drainage Board established. 1874—Nov. 18. Addington saleyards opened. 1877—May 24. Foundation stone of Post Office laid in Square. 1879 Mar. 25. First telephone tried in Christchurch. 1880— Mar. 9. First tramway opened (railway to Square). 1881— Sep. 24. Christchurch telephone exchange opened (first in New Zealand). 1888—Sep. 1. Top of Cathedral spire fell in earthquake. 1891—First phonograph exhibited in Christchurch. 1898 —Dec. 7. Tramway to Cashmere Hills opened. 1901—Jun. 22. Duke and Duchess of York (later King George and Queen Mary) arrived in Christchurch. 1903 Jan. 22. Poll carried in favour of greater Christchurch. 1904 — Nov. 1. Completed Christchurch Cathedral consecrated. 1905 Feb. 12. Christchurch Roman Catholic Cathedral dedicated and opened. Jun. 5. Electric tramway service inaugurated. Jul. 13. Foundation stone of King Edward Barracks laid. 1906 Nov. 1. International exhibition opened in Christchurch. 1908—Feb. 6. Sixteen buildings destroyed or damaged in fire which began in Strange and Company and spread through block bound-

ed by High, Lichfield, Colombo and Cashel streets. 1910—Feb. 1. Sanatorium opened at Cashmere. Feb. 21. Lord Kitchener visited Christchurch. 1914 —May 1. First supply of electric current from Lake Coleridge. 1917—Nov. 11. Canterbury Hall destroyed by fire. 1920—Visit by Prince of Wales. 1927 Mar. 17. The Duke of York (later King George VI) visited Christchurch. 1928 — Sep. 11. Kingsford Smith landed at Wigram after first flight over the Tasman. 1929 Feb. 14. Electric trains put on Lyttelton service. 1931 Jul. 5. Trolley-bus service began (North Beach route). 1932 May 1. Christchurch tramway strike. 1935 Jun. 19. Duke of Gloucester visited Christchurch. 1936 Jan. 1. Inter-island air services began from Christchurch. Nov. Diesel motor buses introduced on tramway service. 1938—Febfl 2. Summit road opened. 1940 Jan. 5. First troops left Lyttelton for Second World War in the Dunera and the Sobieski. 1941 Dec. 12. Silt trenches dug in Christchurch after Japan’s entry into the war. 1942 Mar. 4. Christchurch Emergency Precautions Scheme order made for protection of buildings from war damage. 1944 Sep. 11. City Council decided to seek legislation to take over the Domains, Tramways, and Drainage Boards. 1945 July 14. Record snowfall in Christchurch.

1946—Dec. 20. Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens taken over by City Council from Christchurch Domains Board.

1947—Ju1. 22. Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery visited Christchurch. Nov. 18. Ballantynes destroyed by fire with the loss of 41 lives. | 1950 Dec. 18. Harewood airport dedicated as | an international ter1951 April 21. Floods break : power lines, city on 50 per cent cuts. June 29. Weekly air service starts, Mel-bourne-Christchurch 1952 — March 18. Contract for £895,000 Princess Margaret Hospital let. July 7. First baby born in new St Helens Hospital. 1953 October 8. Centennial air race, London to Christchurch starts, 1954 January 18-22. Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh in Christchurch. September 11. Last city tram runs to Papanui. 1955 June 7. Parking meters in operation for first time. 1958 October 8. First Deep Freeze flights to Antarctic. November 10. Centenial Wing, Canterbury Museum opened. 1959 June 11. Christchurch Airport Terminal building in use. November 26. Memorial avenue dedication and opening. 1960 July 18. Colombo street overbridge opened. November 1. New railway station opened. 1961 May 5. Christchurch television station in service. 1962 October 27. Centennial of Christchurch Hospital. 1963 February 15 to 17. Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh in Christchurch. 1964 — February 27. Christ-church-Lyttelton road tunnel opening. 1965 February 21. PanPacific Arts Festival opened. March 6. Cashin Quay in use for first time.