1878 in New Zealand

Updated on Dec 07, 2024

Edit

Comment


Decades: 1850s1860s1870s1880s1890s See also: Other events of 1878Timeline of New Zealand history

Regal and viceregal

Head of State — Queen Victoria

Governor — The Marquess of Normanby

Government and law

The 6th New Zealand Parliament continues.

Speaker of the House — Sir William Fitzherbet

Premier — Sir George Grey

Minister of Finance — William Larnach resigns on 5 March. He is succeeded by John Ballance on 12 July.

Chief Justice — Hon Sir James Prendergast

Main centre leaders

Mayor of Auckland — Henry Brett followed by Thomas Peacock

Mayor of Christchurch — James Gapes followed by Henry Thomson

Mayor of Dunedin — Richard Henry Leary followed by Henry John Walter

Mayor of Wellington — Joseph Dransfield

Events

Undated

Ashburton is made a borough.

The government makes the first telephone test between Dunedin and Milton. Later in the year the first public demonstration of the telephone is made with a call between Blenheim and Nelson.

Cricket

An Australian team tours New Zealand, playing seven provincial teams. Itinerary None of the matches have first-class status as the home sides fielded between 15 and 22 players. A win by the Canterbury XV is the first ever win by a New Zealand side over an international touring team.

Horse racing

New Zealand Cup winner: Maritana

New Zealand Derby winner: Natator

Auckland Cup winner: Ariel

Wellington Cup winner: Lara

Rugby union

New clubs were formed in Featherston and Carterton, both in the south Wairarapa. Existing football clubs in Gisborne, Palmerston North and Feilding adopted rugby rules.

Shooting

Ballinger Belt: No competition

Deaths

Sir John Richardson, politician.

William Williams, first Bishop of Waiapu.

References

1878 in New Zealand Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA