“He was second to none of New Zealand’s public men in learning, knowledge of literature, and administrative capacity…he showed the same soundness of judgement as in every office which he filled in the [Canterbury] Provincial Council, in the General Assembly, and in the Senate of the University, apparently without effort and with no superficial display. …
On the 22nd November 1867, a city meeting took place at Christchurch’s Town Hall concerning the ‘…too bold and brazen…’ and ‘…professionally quite openly…’ attitude of Christchurch’s fallen sisters of the night. No women were in attendance. Even before the arrival of the First Four Ships, prostitutes were known to frequent Lyttelton. With the jump …
As Mrs. Fanny Fitzgerald bustled along The Terrace, Wellington, she had one arm around her infant daughter while her free hand hitched her long petticoats away from the stomping heels of her shoes. To strangers, the frustrated crease between her eyebrows were no doubt caused by the stress of the recent break out of Scarlet …
“I will not attempt to draw aside the veil which clothes, or half reveals, the invisible power which has had so large a share in government”. Spoken by William Rolleston, who was referring to his wife, Mary Rolleston – 2nd February 1900 William was Canterbury’s 4th and last Superintendent and is remembered today in the …
“We can excuse your being stupid but we cannot excuse your being dirty”. As told by one of his older sisters when a young boy – Year Unknown. William was Canterbury’s 4th and last Superintendent and is remembered today in the naming of the township of Rolleston. *text from ‘William and Mary Rolleston – an …
Henry John Tancred had a career that would make anyone’s head spin!!! Born in the Isle of Wight in 1814, Henry became an officer in the Austrian Army. In 1848, he had a nasty fall from his horse which left him mildly handicapped. He took his sick leave in England and it was there that …
Known by the locals as Aylesbury’s Bend, the intersection of Railway, Bealey, Aylesbury, West Coast (once known as Bealey’s Track) and Station Roads in Aylesbury, Canterbury used to be known as Bealey’s Crossing. Bealey Road begins here and ends in Hororata. As the West Coast Road was once known as Bealey’s Track, this would have …
So, how long do you to take before you marry the sister of your dead wife? Not long enough when it concerned Dr. Joseph Brittan. The scandal that chased Joseph and his new bride Sophia (pictured) down the church aisle was bad enough to make emmigration to Canterbury look real good!!! Dr. Joseph Brittan, the …
“…nothing said about the Pilgrim mothers? Yet, they bore the same discomforts, hardships and privation and in addition had to put up with the Pilgrim fathers.” Mary Rolleston – Woman’s Division of the Farmer’s Union – Year Unknown As the bells of The Holy Trinity of Avonside tolled over the eastern side of Christchurch – …
Ever wondered what its looks like when two avenues fight? Well, it looks like this 😉 James Edward Fitzgerald (left) and William Rolleston (right) play it up for Dr. A.C. Barker’s camera sometime in the early 1860’s. This photo was most likely taken in Dr. A.C. Barker’s garden on the corner of Worcester Street and …
