1908 in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Regal and Vice Regal
- Head of StateHead of StateA head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
- Edward VIIEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... - GovernorGovernor-General of New ZealandThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
- The Lord Plunket GCMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
KCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
Government
The 16th New Zealand Parliament, Liberal concluded but the Liberal Party retained in power following the 1908 General ElectionNew Zealand general election, 1908
The New Zealand general election of 1908 was held on Tuesday, 17 November, 24 November and 1 December in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 2 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 80 MPs to the 17th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
in November/December
- Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the New Zealand House of RepresentativesIn New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
- Sir Arthur GuinnessArthur Guinness (New Zealand)Sir Arthur Robert Guinness was a New Zealand politician, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.-Personal information:... - Prime MinisterPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
- Joseph WardJoseph WardSir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:... - Minister of FinanceMinister of Finance (New Zealand)The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
- Joseph WardJoseph WardSir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:... - Attorney-GeneralAttorney-General (New Zealand)The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters...
- John FindlayJohn Findlay (New Zealand)Sir John George Findlay was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, and was a Cabinet minister from 1906 to 1911.-Political career:He represented the Hawke's Bay electorate from 1917 to 1919...
Parliamentary opposition
- Leader of the OppositionLeader of the Opposition (New Zealand)The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Parliament. In the debating chamber the Leader of the Opposition sits directly opposite the Prime Minister...
- William MasseyWilliam MasseyWilliam Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...
, (Independent).
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of AucklandMayor of AucklandThe Mayor of Auckland is the directly elected head of the Auckland Council, the local government authority for the Auckland region in New Zealand...
- Arthur MyersArthur MyersSir Arthur Mielziner Myers was a New Zealand politician. He was Mayor of Auckland City from 1905 to 1909, Member of the House of Representatives from 1910 to 1921, and a Cabinet Minister... - Mayor of WellingtonMayor of WellingtonThe Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
- Thomas HislopThomas William HislopThomas William Hislop was the Mayor of Wellington from 1905 to 1908, and had represented two South Island electorates in the New Zealand Parliament.-Early life:... - Mayor of ChristchurchMayor of ChristchurchThe Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
- George Payling then Charles Allison - Mayor of DunedinMayor of DunedinThe Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the municipal government of Dunedin, New Zealand, and presides over the Dunedin City Council. The Mayor is directly elected, using the Single Transferable Vote system in 2007....
- John Loudon then John McDonaldJohn McDonald (mayor)John McDonald was the Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand from 1908–1909, the first New Zealand born person to hold the office. While mayor he took part in a public demonstration of the country's first radio transmission, sending and receiving messages in Morse code from Andersons Bay to Hagberth Moller...
August
- 7 August: First through passenger train on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, over temporary track north of Taonui, the 11-car Parliamentary Special carrying the Prime MinisterPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Sir Joseph WardJoseph WardSir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
and other parliamentarians north to see the American Great White FleetGreat White FleetThe Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
at Auckland.
November
- 6 November: The North Island Main Trunk Railway linking WellingtonWellingtonWellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
is completed, with the last spike driven in by Prime MinisterPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Joseph WardJoseph WardSir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
at Manganui-o-te-Ao. - 9 November: A two-day NIMT rail passenger service service starts, with an overnight stop at Ohakune.
December
- 2 December: Dunedin Public Library opens, aided by a grant from Andrew CarnegieAndrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
. - Late December: WanganuiWanganuiWhanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
(population 9000) became the first provincial town to introduce trams
Undated
- Blackball, New ZealandBlackball, New ZealandBlackball is a small town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, approximately 29 km from Greymouth.Blackball was named after the Black Ball Shipping Line, which leased land in the area to mine for coal. It was formerly known as Joliffetown and Moonlight Gully.Blackball is a centre...
coal miners strike for 11 weeks, an important step in the formation of the New Zealand Labour PartyNew Zealand Labour PartyThe New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. - AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. Three cultivars of the FeijoaFeijoaAcca sellowiana, a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, is native to the highlands of southern Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. It is widely cultivated as a garden plant and fruiting tree in New Zealand, and can be found as a garden plant in Australia and...
are introduced into New Zealand. - See also Current events in Australia and New Zealand
Appointments and awards
See:- Archbishop of New ZealandArchbishop of New ZealandThe Archbishop of New Zealand is the primate, or head, of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. However, since Whakahuihui Vercoe stepped down at the end of his two-year term as archbishop in 2006, the church has decided that three bishops shall share the position and style of...
- Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and PolynesiaAnglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and PolynesiaThe Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is a church of the Anglican Communion serving New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands...
, see appointments to Diocese
Boxing
The welterweight division is included in the national championships for the first time.National amateur champions
- Heavyweight - M. Ryan (Invercargill)
- Middleweight - J. Smith (Auckland)
- Welterweight - R. Mayze (Christchurch)
- Lightweight - T. Metcalfe (Auckland)
- Featherweight - W. Elliott (Timaru)
- Bantamweight - J. Parker (Christchurch)
Billiards
The Auckland Sports Club, the national representative to the British Billiards Association, holds the first national championship.- National Champion: J. Ryan (Auckland)
Chess
- The 21st National Chess Championship was held in Wellington, and was won by of A.W.O. Davies of Wellington, his second title.
Golf
- The second New Zealand OpenNew Zealand OpenThe BMW New Zealand Open is the leading men's golf tournament in New Zealand. In 2011, it will be hosted by The Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from 1–4 December. The tournament is being promoted by New Zealand Golf...
championship was held at Balmacewen golf club and was won by 19-year old professional J.A. Clements - The 16th National Amateur Championships were held in Otago
- Men: H.C. Smith (Otago)
- Women: Miss ? Christie
Thoroughbred racing
- Auckland CupAuckland CupThe Stella Artois Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club . It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race is graded as a Group One and was first contested in 1874...
- All Red - AJC DerbyAJC DerbyThe Australian Derby also known as AJC Derby, is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run by the Australian Jockey Club at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia. Open to three year olds, the race is held annually in the latter part of March or early April...
- - CJC New Zealand Cup -
- Wellington CupWellington CupThe Wellington Cup is a Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand held annually in late January at Trentham Racecourse in Trentham by the Wellington Racing Club....
-
Olympic Games1908 Summer OlympicsThe 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
- New Zealanders compete at the Olympic Games for the first time, as part of the Australasian teamAustralasia at the 1908 Summer OlympicsAustralasia was the name of a combined team from Australia and New Zealand that competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. It was the fourth appearance of Australia, which had not missed any edition of the Summer Olympic Games, and the first appearance of New Zealand...
. Harry KerrHarry KerrHarry Kerr was a New Zealand athlete who competed mainly in the 3500 metre walk....
becomes the first New Zealander to win an Olympic medal.
Rugby league
- New Zealand national rugby league teamNew Zealand national rugby league teamThe New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
tour of Great Britain:- lost to Wales, 9 - 8
- 1st test: lost to Great Britain 8 - 5 at Cheltenham
- 2nd test: beat Great Britain 18 - 6 at Chelsea
- 3rd test: beat Great Britain 14 - 6 at leeds
Rugby union
- Auckland defend the Ranfurly ShieldRanfurly ShieldThe Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
against Marlborough (32-0), Wellington (24-3), Taranaki (9-0) and Otago (11-5)
Soccer
Provincial league champions:- Auckland: Auckland Corinthians
- Canterbury: Christchurch Club
- Otago: Northern Dunedin
- Southland: Murihiku
- Taranaki: Hawera
- Wellington: Diamond WellingtonWellington UnitedWellington United AFC is an association football club in Wellington, New Zealand competing in the Capital Premier League.-Wellington Diamond United:Wellington Diamond United was the result of the merger of Diamond and Zealandia/Wellington United in 1968....
Tennis
- Anthony WildingTony WildingAnthony "Tony" Frederick Wilding was a champion tennis player from Christchurch, New Zealand and a soldier killed in action during World War I near Neuve-Chapelle, Pas-de-Calais, France....
pairs with Australian Norman Brookes, as the Australasian team, to win the Davis CupDavis CupThe Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
, beating the United States 3-2. The final is held in MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. - Anthony Wilding, partnered with Norman BrookesNorman BrookesBrookes was also an Australian rules footballer in his youth, playing two matches for Victorian Football League club St Kilda Football Club in 1898, kicking two goals.-Honours:Norman Brookes was knighted "in recognition of service to public service" in 1939...
, wins the men's doubles at the Wimbledon Championship
Births
- 12 March: Rita AngusRita AngusRita Angus was a New Zealand painter born in Hastings. Along with Colin McCahon and Toss Woollaston, she is credited as one of the leading figures in twentieth century New Zealand art...
, painter. - 2 June: Lindsay WeirLindsay Weir (cricketer)Gordon Lindsay Weir played 11 Tests for New Zealand. He was known as Dad Weir. He was the world's oldest Test cricketer upon his death.-References:...
, cricketer. - 5 June: Les GeorgeLes GeorgeVictor Leslie George was a New Zealand rugby union player. He was born in Winton, New Zealand.Les or 'Tussock' as he was known, played 3 tests for the All Blacks as a prop on the 1938 tour of Australia. He also played 66 matches for Southland.The outbreak of world war 2 brought Les's playing days...
, rugby player. - 18 August: Bill Merritt, cricketer.
- 21 September: Charles UphamCharles UphamCaptain Charles Hazlitt Upham VC and Bar was a New Zealand soldier who earned the Victoria Cross twice during the Second World War: in Crete in May 1941, and at Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, in July 1942...
, double Victoria Cross winner. - 25 September: Herbert Dudley PurvesHerbert Dudley PurvesHerbert Dudley Purves, CMG, ChB, MB, MSc, HonDSc, Fellow RSNZ, Fellow RACP was a New Zealand academic, chemist, mathematician, medical researcher and scientist....
, medical researcher. - 17 December: Sylvia Ashton-WarnerSylvia Ashton-WarnerSylvia Constance Ashton-Warner, , New Zealand writer, poet and educator, was born on 17 December 1908, in Stratford, New Zealand. She spent many years teaching Māori children, using stimulating and often pioneering techniques which she wrote about in her 1963 treatise Teacher and in the various...
, writer and educator.
- Fred BakerFred BakerLieutenant-Colonel Frederick Baker led the NZ 28 Battalion in World War II, from 13 July to 2 November 1942, and was injured at the commencement of the Battle of El Alamein.-External links:***...
, soldier.