Canterbury Province
Encyclopedia
The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand
from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River
in the north and the Waitaki River
in the south. The boundary on the west coast was largely undefined before the West Coast
became its own province.
The capital of the Province of Canterbury was Christchurch
and it was there the Provincial Council sat. Elections were held in 1853 for Superintendent
and, later that year, for the 12 member council. These elections pre-dated any elected national assembly. The franchise was extended to men over the age of 21 who owned property in the province. The council first sat in temporary facilities but later the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
were completed in 1859 to house the council.
In 1868 the West Coast was separated from the Province with the formation of the County of Westland
on the West Coast with the boundary line defined as the crest of the Southern Alps
. In 1873 the County formed its own Province, the short-lived Westland Province
.
In the south the course of the Waitaki River was not known and disputes arose with the Province of Otago
over pastoral leases in the inland high country.
In the 1860s South Canterbury made two bids to become separate province but this was rejected by the national government. Instead in 1867 the General Assembly
created the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works which received a proportion of the Canterbury provincial land revenues and was authorised to maintain and build the Timaru harbour and local roads and bridges.
in 1863. Edward Dobson
was the Provincial Engineer.
The Canterbury Provincial Railways
were eventually absorbed into the New Zealand Railways Department
in 1876.
Provinces of New Zealand
The Provinces of New Zealand existed from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. They were replaced by counties, which were themselves replaced by districts.Following abolition, the provinces became known as provincial districts...
from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River
Hurunui River
The Hurunui River is the fourth largest of the four principal rivers in north Canterbury, New Zealand, with a catchment area of 2,670 square kilometres. The river flows from the eastern side of the Southern Alps, to the Pacific Ocean....
in the north and the Waitaki River
Waitaki River
The Waitaki River is a large river in the South Island of New Zealand, some 110 km long. It is the major river of the Mackenzie Basin.It is a braided river which flows through Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki. These are ultimately fed by three large glacial lakes, Pukaki, Tekapo,...
in the south. The boundary on the west coast was largely undefined before the West Coast
Westland Province
The Westland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1873 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The capital was Hokitika.-Area:...
became its own province.
The capital of the Province of Canterbury was Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and it was there the Provincial Council sat. Elections were held in 1853 for Superintendent
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
and, later that year, for the 12 member council. These elections pre-dated any elected national assembly. The franchise was extended to men over the age of 21 who owned property in the province. The council first sat in temporary facilities but later the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
The Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings were the buildings of the Canterbury Provincial Council that administered the Canterbury Province from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The buildings are the only purpose-built provincial government buildings in New Zealand still...
were completed in 1859 to house the council.
Geography
Westland District
Westland District is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island. Its population is - Government :The Westland District is governed by an elected Council, headed by an elected Mayor. The Mayor is elected at large. The current Mayor is Maureen Pugh. Councillors are...
on the West Coast with the boundary line defined as the crest of the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
. In 1873 the County formed its own Province, the short-lived Westland Province
Westland Province
The Westland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1873 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The capital was Hokitika.-Area:...
.
In the south the course of the Waitaki River was not known and disputes arose with the Province of Otago
Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
over pastoral leases in the inland high country.
In the 1860s South Canterbury made two bids to become separate province but this was rejected by the national government. Instead in 1867 the General Assembly
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
created the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works which received a proportion of the Canterbury provincial land revenues and was authorised to maintain and build the Timaru harbour and local roads and bridges.
Railways
The Canterbury Province was the first to open a public railway in New Zealand, at FerrymeadFerrymead Railway
The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealand's first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. On the opening of the line to Lyttelton on 9 December 1867, the Ferrymead Railway became the Ferrymead Branch and...
in 1863. Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson was Provincial Engineer for the Canterbury Province from 1854 to 1868.-Early life:Edward Dobson was born in London, probably in 1816 or 1817. His parents were John Dobson, a merchant, and Elizabeth Barker. By the time he started his apprenticeship as an architect and surveyor in...
was the Provincial Engineer.
The Canterbury Provincial Railways
Canterbury Provincial Railways
The Canterbury Provincial Railways were an early part of the railways of New Zealand. Built by the Canterbury Provincial government to the broad gauge of 5 feet 3 inches , the railway reached most of the Canterbury region by the time the province was abolished in 1876...
were eventually absorbed into the New Zealand Railways Department
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
in 1876.
Superintendents
Canterbury had four Superintendents:| No. | from | to | Superintendent |
| 1 | 20 Jul 1853 | Oct 1857 | James FitzGerald James FitzGerald James Edward FitzGerald was a New Zealand politician. According to some historians, he should be considered the country's first Prime Minister, although a more conventional view is that neither he nor his successor should properly be given that title. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand... |
| 2 | 24 Oct 1857 | Feb 1863 | William Sefton Moorhouse William Sefton Moorhouse William Sefton Moorhouse was a New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province.-Early life:... |
| 3 | Mar 1863 | May 1866 | Samuel Bealey Samuel Bealey Samuel Bealey was a 19th century Canterbury, New Zealand politician.He came out to Canterbury in 1851, a pastoralist with capital to invest in farming. He married Rose Ann, daughter of Archdeacon Paul in 1852. Having made money, he returned to England, in 1867 and died there... |
| 30 May 1866 | May 1868 | William Sefton Moorhouse (2nd time) | |
| 4 | 22 May 1868 | 1 Jan 1877 | William Rolleston William Rolleston William Rolleston was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.-Early life:... |
Legislation
- Canterbury Ordinances 1853 - 1875 The full text of the legislation enacted by the Canterbury Provincial Council between its inception in 1853 and its demise in 1875.
- Church Property Trust Ordinance 1854
- Christ's College Ordinance 1855
- Municipal Councils Reserves Ordinance 1862
- Municipal Corporation Reserves Ordinance 1868
- Reserve No 424 Ordinance 1873
- Educational Reserves Leasing Ordinance (No 2) 1875
- Reserve No 168 Ordinance 1875
- Reserve No 62 Ordinance 1875