Kirwee
Encyclopedia
Kirwee is a town located west of Christchurch
in the Canterbury
region of New Zealand
's South Island
. It was named after Karwi
in India
by retired British Army colonel De Renzie Brett. The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
revealed that Kirwee and its surrounding rural area has a usually resident population of 2,646, an increase of 393 or 17.4% since the 1996 census. The actual township population is much smaller and is considered a minor town compared to nearby Darfield
, which has a lot more services.
State Highway 73
and the Midland Line
railway both pass through the town. In the early 1870s, Kirwee was intended to be the junction of two branch lines, one to Whitecliffs
and the other to Sheffield and Springfield
. The line from Kirwee to Darfield
, intended to be the first portion of the Whitecliffs Branch, was built first and the decision was taken to establish the junction of the two branches in Darfield instead. The section of line from Kirwee to Darfield, as well as the branch to Sheffield and Springfield are now part of the Midland Line.
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...
in the Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. It was named after Karwi
Karwi
Karwi is a town in Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh in India. Before the Sepoy Mutiny it was the residence of a Maratha noble, whose accumulations constituted the treasure afterwards famously known as the Kirwee and Banda Prize Money. It comes under the Karwi tehsil. The town has its own...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
by retired British Army colonel De Renzie Brett. The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
revealed that Kirwee and its surrounding rural area has a usually resident population of 2,646, an increase of 393 or 17.4% since the 1996 census. The actual township population is much smaller and is considered a minor town compared to nearby Darfield
Darfield, New Zealand
Darfield is a town in the Selwyn District of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 35 kilometres west from the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand on State Highway 73 and the town is on the Midland railway line, route of the famous TranzAlpine train service...
, which has a lot more services.
State Highway 73
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
and the Midland Line
Midland Line, New Zealand
The Midland line is a 212 km section of railway between Rolleston and Greymouth in the South Island of New Zealand. The line features five major bridges, five viaducts and 17 tunnels, the longest of which is the Otira tunnel.-Freight services:...
railway both pass through the town. In the early 1870s, Kirwee was intended to be the junction of two branch lines, one to Whitecliffs
Whitecliffs
Whitecliffs is a small town with a population of 117 in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It has also been known as South Malvern , and the name of Whitecliffs comes from terrace cliffs above the Selwyn River...
and the other to Sheffield and Springfield
Springfield, New Zealand
Springfield is a small town in the Selwyn District of Canterbury, in the South Island, of New Zealand. In 2001 it had a population of 219. At the foot of the Southern Alps, west of Christchurch, it is the most westerly town of the central Canterbury Plains...
. The line from Kirwee to Darfield
Darfield, New Zealand
Darfield is a town in the Selwyn District of the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 35 kilometres west from the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand on State Highway 73 and the town is on the Midland railway line, route of the famous TranzAlpine train service...
, intended to be the first portion of the Whitecliffs Branch, was built first and the decision was taken to establish the junction of the two branches in Darfield instead. The section of line from Kirwee to Darfield, as well as the branch to Sheffield and Springfield are now part of the Midland Line.