In this segment we take a look at 26 different illustrations which accompanied some of the biggest news stories between the 1860’s and 1880’s. From fires, to floods and all the way to religious riots, let’s take a look back these big stories.
1. Great Fire at Lyttelton (1870)
The ‘Great Fire’ at Lyttelton of 25 October 1870 started in the Queen’s Hotel, raged for some four hours, and destroyed the entire block of buildings surrounded by London, Oxford, and Canterbury Streets and Norwich Quay. The lack of an efficient local fire brigade contributed to the disaster and it was only after firemen and their equipment were conveyed by special train from Christchurch that the fire was brought under control. Damage was estimated at £80,000, a very large sum in those days. Few New Zealand towns in the nineteenth century escaped serious fires at some time during their growth. Just three years later a major fire in Auckland destroyed 54 shops, factories and houses.
2. Fatal Fire in Dunedin (1879)
At 2.30 a.m. on 8 September 1879, fire broke out in Ross’s Buildings in the Octagon, Dunedin. (The site is now occupied by the Regent Theatre.) The brick building, four stories high at the rear and three fronting the street, proved a fire-trap for the many sleeping upstairs. As graphically shown in the engraving, some of the tenants escaped by ladders, others by jumping into blankets held by rescuers, but 12 people died as a result of the fire. Although arson was suspected and one of the occupants, William Waters, arrested and tried for murder, the accused was found ‘Not Guilty’. This was an unpopular verdict.
3. Riots at Christchurch (1880)
In December 1879, some 100 members of the Orange Society assembled and, pre- ceded by a band, began to march to Prebbleton. Outside Barrett’s Hotel at the junction of Gloucester and Manchester Streets a brawl erupted which reflected the traditional hostility between the two Irish religious factions, the Protestants and Roman Catholics. Barrett’s Hotel later required a guard to prevent its being wrecked. A similar riot took place in Timaru on Boxing Day.
4. Otago on the Rocks (1877)
Sea travel round New Zealand was a hazardous adventure last century, and many vessels were lost. The steamship Otago, on a voyage from Dunedin to Melbourne, was wrecked on 4 December 1876 on Chasland’s Mistake, a point 66km (41 miles) northeast of Bluff. The 2nd mate, who was on watch at the time of the mishap, was subsequently found to have been at fault, having failed to keep the vessel on its proper course, or to have taken the accepted precautions when the vessel was close to the coast in foggy weather. His certificate was suspended for two years.
5. Rescuing Passengers off the Otago (1877)
All the Otago’s passengers and crew were rescued and some 3,000 oz of gold on board saved, together with luggage and mail. Although the engraving suggests the vessel was on fire, the artist has in fact attempted to show the fog which enveloped the vessel at the time of its grounding. Ten minutes after the Otago had struck the atmosphere cleared.
6. Wreck of the Tararua (1881)
One of the most tragic wrecks in New Zealand’s history was that of the steamship Tararua off Waipapa Point, Southland, on 29 April 1881, The wreck was the result of the negligence of Captain F,G, Garrard in failing to correctly ascertain the Tararua’s position an hour before she ran on to Otara reef, The vessel struck at 5 a.m., but all attempts to get a line ashore failed, At 2 p.m. on the same day the Tararua began to break up, as depicted in the engraving. Many of the survivors huddled in the fore-part of the vessel, and signs of life could be observed on board until shortly after 2,30 a.m, on 30 April, Help from Dunedin arrived too late, and of the 151 on board, 131 perished.
7. Lawrence’s Swim Ashore (1881)
Shortly after the Tararua struck, a life boat with five crew members and a passenger, G. Lawrence, attempted to get ashore. Lawrence bravely swam half the distance and gave the news of the wreck to a settler, who then rode 56km (35 miles) to Wyndham to raise the alarm. The life boat returned to the stricken Tararua.
8. Wrecks at Timaru (1882)
Heavy seas at Timaru Sunday 14 May 1882 caused the grounding of two vessels, the Ben Venue and the City of Perth. The cargo of coal carried by the former vessel shifted in the heavy swell, causing her to list, and eventually to break loose from her moorings and drift broadside on to the cliffs where she capsized and became a total wreck. Her crew had already abandoned her, havaing taken refuge on the City of Perth, but when this vessel also broke loose both crews took to the boats. An attempt at salvage by the Timaru harbourmaster ended in tragedy when three small boats were swamped and seven men drowned. All these events took place in view of crowds of onloookers lining the high ground overlooking the port. The City of Perth whic had drifted ashore alongside the Ben Venue remained upright and was later refloated
9. Eastern Side of The Rimutaka Incline (1880)
The railway crossing the steep Rimutaka Ranges between Wellington and the Wairarapa needed special Fell locomotives (inset) to provide the motive power, for grades on the east averaged 1 in 15. Beside the normal driving engine, Fell locomotives made use of a second engine that drove horizontal wheels which gripped a third centre rail. As can be seen in the engraving this third rail was raised. The rail- way from Wellington to Featherston was opened in October 1878, and to Masterton two years later. Fell locomotives continued to be used on the line until the opening of the Rimutaka tunnel in 1955.
10. Train Blown Off Line (1880)
On 11 September 1880 the morning train to Wellington was blown off the rails at a spot called ‘Siberia’ on the Wairarapa side of the Rimutaka incline. The name ‘Siberia’ had been given to the area because ‘of the violent and piercing blasts’ of wind that swept down here. To assist in the ascent the locomotive was in the middle of the train, and it was the leading two passenger carriages and a van which were blown off the line. The artist’s dramatic drawing of carriages and bodies flying through the air is not a true portrayal of the incident. The couplings held the train together, although the body of the first carriage was torn off and the passengers thrown out. Unfortunately three children were killed and 11 adults injured.
11. The Eruption of Mt Tarawera (1886)
In the early hours of 10 June 1886 Mt Tarawera erupted with great violence, and the artist has attempted to do full justice to this catastrophic event. During the six hours of the eruption, which was accompanied by earthquakes, the world famous Pink and White Terraces were destroyed, and an estimated 153 people killed, all but six being Maoris.
12. Results of the Eruption (1886)
Ash and debris from the eruption were scattered over thousands of square kilo- metres, though greatest destruction of property occurred in the immediate vicinity. Three Maori villages were destroyed, and the roofs of the few European buildings in the area, such as that of the schoolmaster Charles Haszard, caved in with the weight of the ash. The Maori shown at top right was Rewea, reputed to be 106 years old, who was reported to have been buried in his whare for several days before being rescued. Unfortunately he died shortly after.
13. Sketches on Board an Immigrant Ship (1875)
The 1870s were a major period of immigration inflow into New Zealand, with some 140,000 people arriving over the years 1870 to 1881. Events of the long sea voyage — perhaps three months or more — shown in the engraving include the departure from London; scrubbing the decks with sandstone, or ‘holystoning’; life on the decks in good weather, and bad; catching an albatross; and getting what was called ‘medical comforts’, namely a glass of port wine or brandy.
14. Immigrants Landing at Lyttelton (1877)
The 1870s were a major period of immigration inflow into New Zealand, with some 140,000 people arriving over the years 1870 to 1881. Events of the long sea voyage — perhaps three months or more — shown in the engraving include the departure from London; scrubbing the decks with sandstone, or ‘holystoning’; life on the decks in good weather, and bad; catching an albatross; and getting what was called ‘medical comforts’, namely a glass of port wine or brandy.
15. Turuturumokai Redoubt (1868)
Despite its solid-looking appearance in the engraving, Turuturumokai Redoubt (near present-day Hawera) was undergoing repairs and strengthening when attacked by some 60 Hauhaus on 12 July 1868. Of the 20 European defenders, ten were killed and six wounded, but even so the Maori attackers were held at bay until a relief party arrived and saved the survivit defenders.
16. Mt. Egmont and Redoubt (1869)
Throughout the 1860s Taranaki suffered from war and threats of war, and redoubts were built in a number of locations. The redoubt at Turuturumokai had been built in 1866 by the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, but was poorly sited, its interior being open to fire from nearby higher ground.
17. Assault on Nukumaru Pa (1869)
This pa at Tauranga-ika, some 29km (18 miles) from Wanganui, was a well-designed fortification occupying a strategic position on the edge of an almost trackless forest. Colonel G.S. Whitmore, with a mixed force of Armed Constabulary, Volunteers, and Wanganui Maoris fired on the pa on 2 February 1869, the Hauhau defenders vigorously responding. The next day the attacking force cautiously advanced on the pa, only to find it abandoned.
18. Departure of Timaru Volunteers for Parihaka (1879)
By 1872 the Maori Wars were largely over. However, disputes over land and the confiscation policy continued to engender bitterness and distrust. In the late 1870s the biblical prophet and pacifist, Te Whiti, opposed Government attempts to have the Waimate Plains in Taranaki surveyed and opened for settlement, for although confiscated in 1865, the land had never been occupied by the European, and the Maori considered the land still his. Soldiers were used to prevent Te Whiti’s followers halting surveys and ploughing settlers’ pasture. The final government response to the continued peaceful opposition of Te Whiti was to send militia to his settlement at Parihaka. Te Whiti was arrested on 5 November 1881 and his followers dispersed. From the background of the engraving, we may assume that the Timaru Volunteers embarked at Lyttelton.
19. Hoisting the First Truck of Coals, Greymouth-Brunner Railway (1876)
The 11km (seven mile) railway along the Grey Valley, Westland, was formally opened on 7 April 1876. Greymouth celebrated the occasion with a procession of school children and friendly societies, a luncheon, and a ball. West Coast coal was in growing demand elsewhere in the Colony and the railway link to the port enabled the Brunner coal to be more easily exported. The length of track is now part of the Midland Line between the West Coast and Canterbury.
20. Balclutha Under Water (1878)
The floods in Central Otago in 1878 were among the worst in New Zealand’s history. A long severe winter which left snow lying up t 30.5 metres (100 feet) thick, was followed by warm wi and rains in September. By the end of that month all the rivers and streams of Central Otago were in flood, the Clutha reached some 12 metres (40 feet) above normal Cromwell, Balclutha was completely inundated, and th Port of Molyneux left high and dry as the river formed new channel which it has since continued to occupy.
21. Assault on Mt Cook (1882)
In the latter quarter of the nineteenth century the magnificent mountain ranges of the South Island attracted experienced climbers from overseas. An Irishman, the Rev. W.S. Green, (image 1) together with two Swiss guides made three attempts on Mt Cook in 1882. Based on Green’s own sketches, the second engraving (image 2) shows the party on its unsuccessful attempt to ascend by the eastern ridge, and the third engraving (image 3) the party ‘benighted’ on a ledge of rock some 46cm (18 inches) wide. This latter event occurred on their descent after the three men had reached the highest ridge about 61 metres (200 feet) from the summit at 6.20 p.m. Mt Cook was finally conquered 12 years later by a party of three New Zealanders, Tom Fyfe, George Graham, and Jack Clarke.
22. Sir George Grey (1878)
Often described in school texts of 30 or more years ago as ‘the great pro-consul’, Sir George Grey was the first person to have served both as Governor and Prime Minister of New Zealand. His two terms as Governor were 1845-53 and 1861-68, and he held the Premiership from 1877 to 1879.
23. Triumphal Arch, Dunedin (1867)
This arch was erected it Princes Street in honour of Sir George Grey’s visit. Arches such as this were erected throughout New Zealand during the nineteenth, and indeed into the early twentieth century, to mark the visit of important persons.
24. The Vogel Ministry (1873)
Politicians, along with senior clergymen, actors and actresses, and notorious criminals, were popular subjects for the illustrated papers of Victoria times. Shown here is the Ministry of Sir Julius Vogel (centre) Clockwise from top left: Edward Richardson, Donald McLean, G.M. O’Rorke, Daniel Pollen, W.H. Reynolds, and John Bathgate.
25. Bishop Harper (1867)
In the religious atmosphere of nine- teenth century New Zealand, bishops and other clergymen played an important role in the life of the Colony. Bishop Henry James Chitty Harper, who was the first Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, was a well-known and loved figure throughout his Diocese, which included the goldfields of the West Coast, and for a time Otago and Southland. Harper thrived on the rough life and hardships inseparable from the growth of a new land, and in 1865 when he was 61 years of age, crossed the Southern Alps by foot to visit the West Coast Diggings. Harper succeeded Selwyn as Primate of New Zealand, and in 1893 died aged 89.
26. Dunedin Murders — the Dewars and Butler (1880)
Sinners, as well as saints, provided a continual fascination for Victorians, and full accounts of local murders were printed in newspapers throughout the Colony. In March 1880 Dunedin was thrown into a state of excitement by the brutal murder of James Dewar, his wife, and their baby. Robert Butler (shown in the centre), a confirmed criminal, was arrested near Waikouaiti on suspicion after he had hurriedly left Dunedin. At his trial Butler successfully addressed the jury for six hours in his own defence, and was acquitted. Jailed for 18 years on a separate charge of arson, Butler was eventually hanged in 1905 in Queensland for a murder committed there.
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