1855 in New Zealand

1855 in New Zealand
Other years in New Zealand
1852 • 1853 • 1854 • 1855 (1855) • 1856 • 1857 • 1858

1 Population
2 Incumbents
- 2.1 Regal and Vice-Regal
- 2.2 Government and law
3 Events
4 Arts and literature
- 4.1 Music
5 Appointments and awards
6 Sport
- 6.1 Cricket
- 6.2 Horse racing
7 Births
- 7.1 Unknown date
8 Deaths
9 See also
10 References

Population

The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1855 is 59,500 Māori and 37,192 non-Māori.^[1]

Incumbents

Regal and Vice-Regal

Head of State — Queen Victoria
Governor — Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, appointed in 1854, arrives to take up his position on 6 September.

Government and law

The 1st Parliament is dissolved on 15 September in preparation for the 1855 general election. The election starts on 26 October and concludes on 28 December. The 2nd Parliament is not formed until 15 April 1856.

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 — Sir Charles Clifford
Chief Justice — William Martin

Events

January: The Māori language magazine, The Maori Messenger or Te Karere Maori resumes publication with a change to the Māori title. It stopped publication the previous year. Under this name, it continues until 1861.^[2]
23 January: The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake causes extensive damage but few deaths. The quake, estimated at magnitude 8.2, raises parts of the Wellington harbour foreshore by as much as 6 metres.^[3]
April: James McKenzie is found guilty of stealing 1000 sheep and sentenced to five years hard labour in Lyttelton. He is pardoned the following year.^[4]
July: New Zealand's first postage stamps are issued.

Arts and literature

Music

Appointments and awards

Bishop of New Zealand — George Augustus Selwyn

Sport

Cricket

Horse racing

The Canterbury Jockey Club holds its first meeting, at Riccarton Racecourse, including the Canterbury Cup (which is run in heats).^[5] (see also 1854)

Births

Unknown date

Walter Carncross, politician.
William Whitehouse Collins, politician.

Deaths

References

^ Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (interpolating where necessary) at "Long-term data series". Archived from the original on 2008-03-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20080305185447/http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-14. , in particular "A1.1 Total population.xls" (Excel). Archived from the original on 2008-03-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20080305185447/http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
^ "Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources — 19th Century" (PDF). Statistical publications 1840–2000. Statistics New Zealand. p. 11. Archived from the original on November 25, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071125112530/http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf.
^ Today in History | NZHistory
^ Lyttelton Times 18 April 1855.
^ Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-00-7