1856 in New Zealand

After several attempts at a Government collapse, New Zealand finally achieved "Responsible Government", with a majority of the members of the House of Representatives supporting the Government. [ [http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/HstBldgs/History/Resources/3/6/e/36e40376aa2842e6bcce0a4557ebf2bc.htm New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline ] ]

Population

The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1856 is 58,300 Māori and 45,540 non-Māori. [Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (interpolating where necessary) at cite web |url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm |title=Long-term data series |accessdate=2008-03-14 |format= |work= , in particular cite web |url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm |title=A1.1 Total population.xls |accessdate=2008-03-14 |format=Excel|work= ] The total population reaches the 100,000 mark during the year.

Incumbents

Regal and Vice Regal

*Head of State - Queen Victoria
*Governor – Colonel Thomas Gore Browne

Government and law

The 2nd Parliament is formed on 15 April. The election of its members had in fact concluded on 28 December the previous year.

*Speaker of the House – Sir Charles Clifford
*Colonial Secretary – Henry Sewell becomes New Zealand’s first Colonial Secretary on 7 May. His government is defeated on 20 May and he is replaced by William Fox. Fox’s government is in turn defeated on 2 June and Fox is replaced by Edward Stafford.
*Colonial Treasurer – Dillon Bell becomes the first Colonial Treasurer on 7 May. When the Sewell government is defeated on 20 May he is replaced by Charles Brown. When the Fox government is defeated on 2 June Brown is replaced by William Richmond
*Chief Justice – William Martin

Events

*18 September: The "Wanganui Chronicle" publishes its first issue. The paper starts as a fortnightly publication, moves to tri-weekly in 1867, and then to daily in 1871. It continues today. [cite web|url=http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/name-401644.html|title=Wanganui Chronicle|publisher=New Zealand Electronic Text Centre]
*11 December: "The Auckland Examiner" begins publishing. It continues until 1861. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf|title=Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century|format=PDF|pages=p 11|work=Statistical Publications 1840–2000|publisher=Statistics New Zealand]
* 26 December: The "Otago Colonist" publishes its first issue. The newspaper changes its name to "The Colonist" in 1862 and is absorbed into the "Daily Telegraph" at the beginning of 1863. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf|work=Statistical publications 1840-2000|title=Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century|pages=p 12|format=PDF|publisher=Statistics New Zealand]

Arts and literature

Music

*A choral society performance of Handel's "Messiah" is given in Auckland. [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/Music/GeneralHistory/en Te Ara: Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966 - Music:General History] ] This the first known performance by such a musical ensemble in New Zealand.
*A Harmonic Society is formed in Dunedin in this year (or possibly earlier).

Appointments and awards

The Diocese of New Zealand is split in two with the creation of the Diocese of Auckland and the Diocese of Christchurch. Bishop Selwyn continues as the Primate of New Zealand with the duties of Archbishop.

*Primate of New Zealand - George Augustus Selwyn (Bishop of Auckland)
*Bishop of Christchurch - Henry John Chitty Harper [http://www.chch.anglican.org.nz/main/history/ Anglican Diocese of Christchurch: History] ]

port

Cricket

Horse racing

Births

* 10 October: Florence Young, missionary.

Unknown date

* Arthur Brown, Mayor of Wellington.

Deaths

ee also

*List of years in New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand history
*History of New Zealand
*Military history of New Zealand
*Timeline of environmental history of New Zealand
*Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica

"For world events and topics in 1856 not specifically related to New Zealand see": 1856

References