411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
1855 in New Zealand
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
none
February 2020August 2023
1855
The following lists events that happened during 1855 in New Zealand.
Population
The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1855 is 59,500 Māori and 37,192 non-Māori.Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (interpolating where necessary) at http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm Long-term data series 2008-03-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20080305185447/http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm 5 March 2008 dead , in particular http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm A1.1 Total population.xls 2008-03-14 Excel https://web.archive.org/web/20080305185447/http://www.stats.govt.nz/tables/ltds/ltds-population.htm 5 March 2008 dead
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
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.http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf Statistical publications 1840–2000 Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources – 19th Century 11 PDF Statistics New Zealand https://web.archive.org/web/20071125112530/http://www.stats.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/9E78F21A-EF20-4C82-934B-1587FC7489CC/0/StatPubschapter2.pdf 25 November 2007
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.Today in History | NZHistory It is the strongest known New Zealand earthquake since European settlement.GeoNet Earthquake FAQ https://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/faq 2024-04-28 GeoNet en
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.Lyttelton Times 18 April 1855.
July: New Zealand's first postage stamps are issued.
Sport
Horse racing
The Canterbury Jockey Club holds its first meeting, at Riccarton Racecourse, including the Canterbury Cup (which is run in heats).Todd, S. (1976) Sporting Records of New Zealand. Auckland: Moa Publications. 0-908570-00-7
Births
23 April: Walter Carncross, politician.
Deaths
26 June: Samuel Stephens, member of the New Zealand House of Representatives
21 August: William Hulme, British army officer
17 September: Alfred Christopher Picard, member of the New Zealand House of Representatives
24 September: Ruawahine Irihapeti Faulkner, tribal leader and landowner
18 November: Te Rangihaeata, tribal leader
6 December: William Swainson, ornithologist, malacologist, conchologist, entomologist and artist
12 December: Anne Maria Chapman, missionary
See also
History of New Zealand
List of years in New Zealand
Military history of New Zealand
Timeline of New Zealand history
Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
Timeline of the New Zealand environment
References
1855 in yes