1854 in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following lists events that happened during 1854 in New Zealand.
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Population
The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1854 is 60,650 MÄori and 32,554 non-MÄori.[1]
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
- Head of State â Queen Victoria
- Governor â Sir George Grey resigns on 6 January. Colonel Thomas Gore Browne is appointed later in the year, but does not arrive to take up his position until 6 September 1855.
Government and law
After New Zealand's first general election, held on 1 October 1853 the 1st Parliament opens on 24 May.[2]
There is neither an official Prime Minister/Premier/Colonial Secretary or Finance Minister/Colonial Secretary in the government at this point in time. (see 1st New Zealand Parliament)
- Speaker of the House â When the 1st Parliament opens on 24 May Sir Charles Clifford is unanimously elected as New Zealand's first Speaker of the House.
- Chief Justice â William Martin
Events
- 4 May: The MÄori language magazine, The Maori Messenger or Ko te Karere Maori, which started in 1849, stops publishing. In 1855 it will be revived with a different MÄori title.[3]
- June: The Canterbury Standard begins publication. The Christchurch newspaper continues until 1866.[4]
Sport
Horse racing
- 2 December â The Canterbury Jockey Club is formed, the first club of its kind in New Zealand.[5][6] It holds its first meeting, at Riccarton Racecourse, in 1855.
Births
- 15 February: Peter Webb, rugby union player
- 8 April: George Carter, rugby union player
- 11 May: Westby Perceval, politician (in Tasmania)
- 11 December: James Edward Fulton, civil engineer
- 12 December: Alfred Brandon, Mayor of Wellington.
- (unknown date): William Thomas Wood, politician
Deaths
- April: Robert Fyffe, whaler and runholder
- 5 May: Te Ruki Kawiti, tribal leader
- 23 June: John Deans, Christchurch pioneer
- 19 October: Joseph Zillwood, policeman, farmer and innkeeper
Unknown date
- Te Aitu-o-te-rangi Jury, tribal founding mother, landowner and farmer
- NgÄtata-i-te-rangi, tribal leader
