The following lists events that happened during 1854 in New Zealand.
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Population edit
The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1854 is 60,650 Māori and 32,554 non-Māori.[1]
Incumbents edit
Regal and viceregal edit
- Head of State – Queen Victoria
- Governor – Sir George Grey resigns on 6 January. Colonel Thomas Gore Browne is appointed later in the year, but does not arrive to take up his position until 6 September 1855.
Government and law edit
After New Zealand's first general election, held on 1 October 1853 the 1st Parliament opens on 24 May.[2]
There is neither an official Prime Minister/Premier/Colonial Secretary or Finance Minister/Colonial Secretary in the government at this point in time. (see 1st New Zealand Parliament)
- Speaker of the House – When the 1st Parliament opens on 24 May Sir Charles Clifford is unanimously elected as New Zealand's first Speaker of the House.
- Chief Justice – William Martin
Events edit
- 4 May: The Māori language magazine, The Maori Messenger or Ko te Karere Maori, which started in 1849, stops publishing. In 1855 it will be revived with a different Māori title.[3]
- June: The Canterbury Standard begins publication. The Christchurch newspaper continues until 1866.[4]
Sport edit
Horse racing edit
- 2 December – The Canterbury Jockey Club is formed, the first club of its kind in New Zealand.[5][6] It holds its first meeting, at Riccarton Racecourse, in 1855.
Births edit
- 15 February: Peter Webb, rugby union player
- 8 April: George Carter, rugby union player
- 11 May: Westby Perceval, politician (in Tasmania)
- 11 December: James Edward Fulton, civil engineer
- 12 December: Alfred Brandon, Mayor of Wellington.
- (unknown date): William Thomas Wood, politician
Deaths edit
- April: Robert Fyffe, whaler and runholder
- 5 May: Te Ruki Kawiti, tribal leader
- 23 June: John Deans, Christchurch pioneer
- 19 October: Joseph Zillwood, policeman, farmer and innkeeper
Unknown date edit
- Te Aitu-o-te-rangi Jury, tribal founding mother, landowner and farmer
- Ngātata-i-te-rangi, tribal leader
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (interpolating where necessary) at "Long-term data series". Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008., in particular "A1.1 Total population.xls". Archived from the original (Excel) on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
- ^ New Zealand Parliament - Parliament timeline
- ^ "Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century" (PDF). Statistical publications 1840–2000. Statistics New Zealand. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2007.
- ^ "Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century" (PDF). Statistical publications 1840–2000. Statistics New Zealand. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2007.
- ^ Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-00-7
- ^ Christchurch: a chronology - 1854
External links edit
Media related to 1854 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons