Views of the Towns

27. North Dunedin (1880)

Asa result of the goldrushes of the 1860s, Dunedin became the leading city of the Colony. A Dunedin correspondent, writing to the New Zealand Herald in 1874, commented that ‘socially considered, we of the South are a century behind you in the North; whilst commercially we are a century in advance of you.’ Prominent in the engraving is Knox Church, a symbol of Otago’s Presbyterian heritage. The Church, still in use today, was built in 1876, replacing an earlier church built in 1860 on a site a block away.
Asa result of the goldrushes of the 1860s, Dunedin became the leading city of the Colony. A Dunedin correspondent, writing to the New Zealand Herald in 1874, commented that ‘socially considered, we of the South are a century behind you in the North; whilst commercially we are a century in advance of you.’ Prominent in the engraving is Knox Church, a symbol of Otago’s Presbyterian heritage. The Church, still in use today, was built in 1876, replacing an earlier church built in 1860 on a site a block away.

28. Invercargill (1884)

With a population of over four thousand in 1881, the Borough of Invercargill was known in Victorian New Zealand for its remarkably wide streets. With telephones yet to come, and light provided by gas, there was no necessity for the maze of wires and poles which typify our townscapes today. Even shop verandahs were not then compulsory.

29. Bluff (1882)

The harbour at Bluff was described as accessible at all phases of the tide, but having a tortuous passage and ‘subject to baffling winds from the north.’ The township, then known as Campbelltown, had a population of some 350. The town reverted to the name of Bluff in 1917.

30. Clyde (1872)

A bustling, mining township of the 1860s, Clyde (formerly known as Dunstan or Hartley Township) had changed to a quiet country centre with the exhaustion of easily available alluvial gold in the neighbourhood. Clyde was proclaimed a municipality in 1866, and became the administrative centre of Vincent County when it was formed in 1876.

31. Lawrence (1885)

By the mid ‘eighties the Central Otago township of Lawrence had settled down to a placid rural existence. The hustle and bustle of the goldrushes of the early ‘sixties which had called Lawrence into being were but a memory, although gold sluicing was still carried on in nearby Gabriel’s Gully and elsewhere.

32. Balclutha (1872)

‘Situated on the finest and the most capable of the rivers of the colony, it is by no means chimerical to see in her the future commercial metropolis of this antipodean dependency of Britain.’ These were the high hopes of a writer in the Illustrated New Zealand Herald a century ago, hopes based on the strategic location of the town on the Clutha River. It is no reflection on Balclutha to say that this has not come to pass.

33. Oamaru (1877)

With nearly 5,000 inhabitants, Oamaru was the most important town of North Otago, and was well known for its many buildings constructed from locally- quarried white limestone. In its commentary on the engraving, the Illustrated New Zealand Herald proudly proclaimed the virtues of Oamaru’s climate saying that ‘anything like a continuance of cold or wet weather, even in the depth of winter (so called) is rarely known.’

34. Lyttelton (1876)

In 1876 the port of Lyttelton was just beginning a period of major expansion. The second of two breakwaters was nearing completion, while between 1877 and 1881 six jetties were built.

35. Christchurch on the Plains (1870)

Sketched from the Port Hills, the capital city of Canterbury Province stands amidst a checkerboard pattern of fields marked off by gorse hedges.

36. Christchurch from the Cathedral (1884)

The Square focal point of Christchurch, was an unhurried place last century, with pedestrians rather than traffic dominating the scene. The brick building with the tower is the Post Office, and this still continues to give character to the square today, though now dwarfed by more modern structures.

37. Christchurch (1877)

A century ago Christchurch was described as not possessing ‘the natural attractions of Dunedin’ nor presenting ‘such a scene of business bustle’, though it was recognised as ‘the most English-like city in the Colonies.’ In the foreground is the Victoria bridge, behind it the Supreme Court, and at middle left the Provincial Council buildings.

38. Akaroa (1871)

Founded by French settlers in 1840, the town had become a popular tourist resort by the 1870s. The Illustrated Australian News commented thus: ‘Possessed of a lovely climate, and surrounded by beautiful scenery, Akaroa is one of the pleasantest summer retreats for the hard-worked merchants and tradesmen of Christchurch and Dunedin, by whom and their families it is annually crowded.’ The sea voyage from Dunedin added to the enjoyment of the vacation.

39. Kaiapoi (1878)

Situated on the banks of the Waimakariri River, Kaiapoi had in the late 1850s and 1860s seemed destined to become a major centre because of its function as a river port. Development had been hindered in the 1860s, however, by a series of devastating floods, which forced the Provincial Council to undertake flood protection works. In 1878 it seemed to be on the point of further growth, as in that year the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory was established. The engraving shows the town as seen from near the Railway Station.

40. Revell Street, Hokitika (1881)

‘The feature which most startles a visitor to Hokitika is the extraordinary number of places for the sale of drink. Revell-street, with its grog shanties and bar-gifls, has not its fellow in New Zealand, nor probably in Australia — at least in any settled town. At every few steps you pass a liquor saloon, sometimes three or four in unbroken row.’ Such was the reaction of a liberal-minded Wesleyan (later Anglican) minister, the Rev. A.R. Fitchett, in 1875.

41. Greymouth (1885)

Built on the southern bank of the Grey River, Greymouth in the ’eighties was still essentially a mining town. One curious custom a tourist noted in 1893 was that ‘all through the night the watchman at intervals calls out the time and the state of the weather’ — a custom that was unique in New Zealand and which had disap- peared from the European cities where it had originated.

42. Nelson (1877)

Known far and wide as ‘Sleepy Hollow’, Nelson was nevertheless envied for her ‘glorious climate, cloudless sky, pleasant drives, and sylvan retreats.’ Being the main town of New Zealand’s hop-growing district, Nelson in the 1870s was famous for its ale, supporting three breweries. The engraving was taken from a photograph by the English and Continental Photographic Company — of Nelson!

43. A Distant View of Wellington (1869)

Based on a sketch by the artist Nicholas Chevalier, the engraving gives an unfamiliar view of Wellington in the late 1860s. The scenery around Wellington was described as ‘bold and picturesque’ though ‘the situation is considered to be rather windy.’ An early inhabitant was more forthright. Writing in 1842 Matilda Blake stated: ‘As to churches and chapels, there is not one built here yet, the people are afraid the devil will blow them down here, as the place is called the Devil’s Bellows, so they say prayers in buildings hired for the purpose.’

44. New Post and Telegraph Office, Wellington (1880)

An engraving of the prize design of Mr Thomas Turnbull for the new building fronting on Customhouse Quay.

45. Wellington (1884)

Succeeding Auckland as the capital of New Zealand in 1864, Wellington was very much a government city. At centre right is the large wooden Government Building, and facing it (with tower) is Parliament Building. Because of fear of earthquakes most houses and many commercial buildings were constructed of wood.

46. Wanganui (1869)

Although founded as early as 1841 as an offshoot of the Wellington settlement, the town had witnessed only slow growth, its 1867 population being a little over 2,000. The river was not bridged until 1871. The view is from Durie Hill with Victoria Avenue at right.

47. Tauranga (1876)

Originally a Mission station, Tauranga in the 1870s occupied a significant position as the starting off place for coach trips to the ‘Hot Lakes’ of Rotorua. Described as ‘accessible to the largest vessels’ and ‘affording shelter from every wind’ the harbour offered the only protected anchorage between Auckland and Wellington via the East Coast.

48. Napier (1875)

The capital of the Province of Hawke’s Bay, Napier boasted a population of about 3,000 in 1875 Its prosperity was based largely on the sheep runs which occupied the fertile Ahuriri Plains shown in the background of the engraving, as well as the hill country further inland.

49. Queen Street, Auckland (1883)

The centre of Auckland business and finance, Queen Street terminated its northern end on the city’s longest wharf, which stretched 517 metres (1,696 feet) out into the Waitemata Harbour. In the left foreground are a number of ‘Jacks’ bargaining for water melons with two gaily-dressed women, while at right a newsboy dodges nimbly between horse and waggon.

50. Grey Street, Auckland (1884)

Now known as Grey’s Avenue, this street was the site of one of the earliest attempts in Auckland to improve the visual appearance by the planting of trees. Mooted first in 1873, the planting programme finally got under way four years later. The land behind the fire bell is now occupied by the city’s town hall.

51. The Ups and Downs of Life (1873)

Why did I put this in section 2?

Move to News of the Day?

A comment from the National Punch published in Auckland, on the problems faced by urban dwellers before cities and towns formally declared street levels.

52. Russell (1885)

Originally known as Kororareka, meaning ‘tasty blue penguin’, the town could claim to be the oldest urban settlement in New Zealand having been founded well before the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Although the capital of New Zealand from early 1840 to March 1841, once the seat of government was moved to Auckland the town languished, and in 1885 could claim a population of only about 300 inhabitants.