- 1879 in New Zealand
Incumbents
Regal and Vice Regal
*
Head of State - Queen Victoria
*Governor – The term of The Marquess of Normanby ends on21 February . Sir Hercules Robinson takes up the appointment on27 March .Government and law
The general election is held between
15 August and1 September . The 7th Parliament commences.*Speaker of the House -
Maurice O'Rorke becomes Speaker when his predecessor, Sir William Fitzherbert, is appointed to the Legislative Council.
*Premier – John Hall replaces Sir George Grey on8 October .
*Minister of Finance – John Hall replaces Sir George Grey on8 October . Grey had taken up the post on10 July afterJohn Ballance had resigned on1 July .
*Chief Justice - HonSir James PrendergastVoting rights are extended to all males. [http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/HstBldgs/History/Resources/3/6/e/36e40376aa2842e6bcce0a4557ebf2bc.htm New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline] ]
The term of parliament is reduced from five years to three years. [http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/HstBldgs/History/Resources/3/6/e/36e40376aa2842e6bcce0a4557ebf2bc.htm New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline] ]
Main centre leaders
*
Mayor of Auckland - Thomas Peacock
*Mayor of Christchurch -Henry Thomson followed byCharles Thomas Ick
*Mayor of Dunedin -Henry John Walter
*Mayor of Hamilton -John Blair Whyte followed by Thomas Dawson
*Mayor of Wellington -Joseph Dransfield followed by George Allen followed byWilliam Hutchison Events
*
21 February : An explosion in the coal mine atKaitangata kills 34 men. [ [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/timeline&new_date=21/02 New Zealand History online: Today in History - 21 February] ]
*30 March : "The Ross Guardian" ceases publication. It began in 1866. [cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NOT18790401.2.11.3&cl=&srpos=0&st=1|title=HOKITIKA. March 31|publisher=North Otago Times|date=1 April 1879 |pages=2]Arts and literature
Music
Appointments and awards
*Primate of New Zealand -
Henry John Chitty Harper (Bishop of Christchurch)
*Bishop of Auckland -William Garden Cowie
*Bishop of Dunedin -Samuel Tarratt Nevill
*Bishop of Nelson -Andrew Burn Suter
*Bishop of Waiapu -Edward Craig Stuart
*Bishop of Wellington -Octavius Hadfield port
Athletics
Chess
The first
New Zealand Chess Championship is held .Todd, S. (1976) "Sporting Records of New Zealand." Auckland: Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-00-7]National Champion
H. Hookham (
Christchurch )Cricket
Golf
Horse racing
*New Zealand Cup winner: Chancellor
*New Zealand Derby winner: Hornby
*Auckland Cup winner: Ariel
*Wellington Cup winner: Maritana:"see also ."
Rowing
Rugby Union
*
26 July : The first union in New Zealand,Canterbury Rugby Football Union , is formed atTimaru .
*October: TheWellington Rugby Football Union is formed.hooting
Ballinger Belt:
Corporal W. Ballinger (Wellington)Tennis
Births
*
30 August (in London): Maud Ruby "Daisy" Basham, radio personality.Unknow date
* Miriam Cummings (later Miriam Soljak), activist.
Deaths
*
2 February (in England): General Sir Thomas Pratt, commander British forces in NZ 1860-61.
*14 July : Thomas Outhwaite, first registrar of the Supreme Court.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 1879 not specifically related to New Zealand see":
1879 References
;General
* Romanos, J. (2001) "New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists." Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86958-879-7;Specific
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