1878 in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following lists events that happened during 1878 in New Zealand.
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Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Government and law
The 6th New Zealand Parliament continues.
- Speaker of the House â Sir William Fitzherbet
- Premier â Sir George Grey
- Minister of Finance â William Larnach resigns on 5 March. He is succeeded by John Ballance on 12 July.
- Chief Justice â Hon Sir James Prendergast
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland â Henry Brett followed by Thomas Peacock
- Mayor of Christchurch â James Gapes followed by Henry Thomson
- Mayor of Dunedin â Richard Henry Leary followed by Henry John Walter
- Mayor of Wellington â Joseph Dransfield
Events
- 2 February: Alois Lubecki makes the first telephone call in the country, between Dunedin and Milton. Later in the year the first public demonstration of the telephone is made with a call between Blenheim and Nelson.[1]
- 30 September: Great Flood of 1878, caused by the rapid melting of heavy winter snows in Central Otago, kills at least three people and destroys several bridges in Clutha and Southland.[2]
- Undated
Sport
Cricket
An Australian team tours New Zealand in January and February, playing seven provincial teams.[4] None of the matches have first-class status as the home sides fielded between 15 and 22 players. A win by the Canterbury XV is the first ever win by a New Zealand side over an international touring team.
Horse racing
- New Zealand Cup winner: Maritana
- New Zealand Derby winner: Natator
- Auckland Cup winner: Ariel
- Wellington Cup winner: Lara
Rugby union
New clubs were formed in Featherston and Carterton, both in the south Wairarapa. Existing football clubs in Gisborne, Palmerston North and Feilding adopted rugby rules.[5]
Shooting
Ballinger Belt: No competition
Births
- 10 September: Fanny Irvine-Smith, teacher and writer
- 9 May: Jessie Buckland, photographer[6]
Deaths
- 9 February: William Williams, first Bishop of Waiapu.[7]
- 11 February: William Barnard Rhodes, businessman and politician.
- 6 December: Sir John Richardson, politician.
- 25 December Thomas Bartley, politician.
