1876 in New Zealand

Decades:	1850s ; 1860s ; 1870s ; 1880s ; 1890s ;
See also:	History of New Zealand ; List of years in New Zealand ; Timeline of New Zealand history ;

Last updated October 29, 2024

The following lists events that happened during 1876 in New Zealand.

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

Head of State – Queen Victoria
Governor – The Marquess of Normanby

Government and law

The 1875 general election, which started on 29 December, concludes on 4 January. The 6th New Zealand Parliament commences.

Premier Atkinson abolishes the New Zealand provincial system on 1 November.^[1]

Speaker of the House – Sir William Fitzherbet replaces Sir Francis Dillon Bell who did not stand for election at the end of 1875
Premier – Daniel Pollen resigns on 15 February. Julius Vogel takes over until retiring on 1 September and is in turn replaced by Harry Atkinson.
Minister of Finance – Julius Vogel takes over as Treasurer (Minister of Finance) from Harry Atkinson when he becomes Premier on 15 February. When Vogel retires on 1 September Atkinson resumes the position.
Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland City – Benjamin Tonks followed by William Hurst
Mayor of Christchurch – Fred Hobbs
Mayor of Dunedin – Keith Ramsay followed by Henry John Walter
Mayor of Wellington – William Hutchison

Events

18 February: The first trans-Tasman submarine communications cable is completed, allowing telegraph communications with the rest of the world.^[2]
4 April: Speight's is first brewed in Dunedin.
30 December: The Daily Southern Cross publishes its last issue, and merges with The New Zealand Herald . The Auckland-based newspaper began publishing as The Southern Cross in 1843.^[3]

Sport

Cricket

The Otago Cricket Association is formed.^[4]

Horse racing

Major race winners

New Zealand Cup – Guy Fawkes
New Zealand Derby – Songster
Auckland Cup – Ariel
Wellington Cup – Korari

Lawn bowls

The first interclub competition in the country is held between the Dunedin and Fernhill clubs.^[4]

Rugby union

Rugby clubs were founded in Marton, Bulls, and Sanson, Oamaru, Hawera, Patea, Invercargill, Otautau, Riverton, Greytown, Masterton, Rangiora, Waimate, Kaiapoi and Te Awamutu.^[5]
A combined side from Canterbury toured Nelson, Wellington (at Lower Hutt), and Auckland (at Ellerslie)^[5]

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Private J. Willocks (Clutha)^[6]

Births

21 January: Tom Cross , rugby union and rugby league player.
24 February: Ernie Booth , rugby union player.^[7]
23 March: Sally Low , social reformer and peace campaigner.^[8]
6 April: Harold Williams , linguist.^[9]
11 April Michael Reardon , political activist
7 June: Albert Samuel , politician

Deaths

26 August: Henry Balneavis , soldier
22 November: Charles Flinders Hursthouse , author and settler.

References

General

Romanos, J. (2001) New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ISBN 1-86958-879-7

Specific

↑ New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline
↑ "Completion of the cable". Nelson Evening Mail . 19 February 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
↑ "Daily Southern Cross". National Library of New Zealand . Retrieved 18 June 2008.
1 2 Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-00-7
1 2 McLintock, A. H., ed. (1966). "RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
↑ "New Zealand champion shot / Ballinger Belt winners". National Rifle Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
↑ All Blacks profile of Ernie Booth
↑ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Low, Caroline Sarah". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
↑ "NZ Edge - Harold Williams". Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2009.

External links

Media related to 1876 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons

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[1] New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline

[2] "Completion of the cable". Nelson Evening Mail . 19 February 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 17 April 2009.

[3] "Daily Southern Cross". National Library of New Zealand . Retrieved 18 June 2008.

[Moa-4] 1 2 Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-00-7

[ru-5] 1 2 McLintock, A. H., ed. (1966). "RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.

[6] "New Zealand champion shot / Ballinger Belt winners". National Rifle Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

[7] All Blacks profile of Ernie Booth

[8] Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Low, Caroline Sarah". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 24 July 2017.

[9] "NZ Edge - Harold Williams". Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2009.

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v t e 1876 in Oceania
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Associated states of New Zealand	Cook Islands Niue