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| June 2003 |
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150 years of Canterbury
More 40km/h In July 1853 the voters of Canterbury gathered outside to listen to speeches and then elect the province’s first superintendent. The right to vote was only available to men over 21 who owned property worth at least £50 a year. Plans are under way to commemorate this and other associated events, such as the Provincial Government’s first sitting in September, 1853. They are two of several anniversaries being marked this year in the lead-up to Carter Group Heritage Week (17-24 October) — the annual celebration of the city’s heritage buildings and places. Heritage Week is core-funded by the City Council. Three candidates vied for the position that day and James Edward FitzGerald won. He got 135 of the 318 votes cast. In those days the settlement was taking its first steps. Christchurch then was described as a “rather dreary little village”, a “collection of scattered houses, separated by wide paddocks and uncultivated tracts”. Canterbury was the youngest of six colony provinces set up in New Zealand. Because they were scattered and communications were slow, the provincial system of government was used from 1853 until 1876. Each province elected a Provincial Council and a Superintendent, who was not a council member. From the council, an executive was appointed to advise the Superintendent. Provincial governments had substantial powers, especially after 1856 when they got control of revenue from land sales. It was this which gave Canterbury a secure and independent financial base. In 1853 Canterbury's population was still only a few thousand. An 1856 census showed Christchurch and Lyttelton had a combined population of 1475. During their time provincial government controlled surveying, land regulations, immigration and public works like roading, railways and harbours. They were in charge of education, hospitals and public health. For Canterbury the provincial years were a time of strong growth and achievement. In the 1860s the province marked several New Zealand firsts - the first telegraph, railway and tunnel. By 1864 Christchurch's population had grown to 4423 residents.
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