The following lists events that happened during 1896 in New Zealand.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal Head of State – Queen Victoria Governor – David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow
Government and law The Liberal Party is re-elected and begins the 13th New Zealand Parliament.
Speaker of the House – Sir Maurice O'Rorke Prime Minister – Richard Seddon Minister of Finance – Joseph Ward resigns on 16 June and is replaced by Richard Seddon Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast The Female Law Practitioners Act was passed in 1896, and Ethel Benjamin who had graduated in law from the University of Otago in 1896 was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in 1897.
Parliamentary opposition Leader of the Opposition – William Russell.
Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland – James Holland followed by Abraham Boardman Mayor of Christchurch – Walter Cooper followed by Harry Joseph Beswick Mayor of Dunedin – Nathaniel Wales followed by Hugh Gourley Mayor of Wellington – George Fisher
Events 26 March: Brunner Mine disaster; 65 miners killed in explosionBrunner mine disaster 13 April: National Council of Women of New Zealand is founded, with Kate Sheppard as its first president. 30 September: The government increases the New Zealand head tax to £100 per head from £10, and tightens the other restriction to only one Chinese immigrant for every 200 tons of cargo from 100 tons. 13 October: First public screening of a motion picture in New Zealand, in Auckland.MIC - Film pioneers 4 December: 1896 New Zealand general election.
Undated
Census measures national population as 743,214.
Arts and literature
Music
Media The Waikato Argus starts publication. The newspaper runs until 1915. The Gisborne Times is founded. It became a daily in 1901, and continued to publish until being bought out by The Poverty Bay Herald in 1938. July: The Waikato Times and Waikato Advocate merge, and the former moves to daily publication.
Sport
Athletics National Champions, Men 100 yards – E. Robinson (Canterbury) 250 yards – W. Kingston (Otago) 440 yards – W. Low (Otago) 880 yards – W. Low (Otago) 1 mile – W. Bennett (Otago) 3 miles – W. Bennett (Otago) 120 yards hurdles – W. Martin (Auckland) 440 yards hurdles – J. Thomas Roberts (Auckland) Long jump – Leonard Cuff (Canterbury) High jump – P. Brown (Canterbury) Pole vault – tie R. Hunter (Hawkes Bay) and H. Kingsley (Wanganui) Shot put – W. Rhodes (Wellington) Hammer throw – P. Brown (Canterbury)
Chess National Champion: W. Meldrum of Rangitikei.List of New Zealand Chess Champions
Cricket
Golf Men's national amateur champion – M.S. Todd (Otago) Women's national amateur champion – L. Wilford (Hutt)
Horse racing
Harness racing Auckland Trotting Cup (over 3 miles) is won by FibreAuckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz
Thoroughbred racing New Zealand Cup – Lady Zetland New Zealand Derby – Uniform Auckland Cup – Nestor Wellington Cup – Brooklet
Season leaders (1895/96) Top New Zealand stakes earner – Euroclydon Leading flat jockey – C. Jenkins
Lawn Bowls National ChampionsAs the New Zealand Bowling Association at this time consists entirely of South Island clubs, the first truly "national" championships are not deemed to have begun until 1914. There are no national championships this year.
Polo Savile Cup winners – Manawatu
Rowing National Champions (Men) Single sculls – C. Chapman (Wairewa) Double sculls – Wairewa, Little River Coxless pairs – Canterbury Coxed fours – Queen's Dr, Port Chalmers
Rugby union
Shooting Ballinger Belt – Sergeant Wakelyn (Honorary Reserve Corps, Christchurch)
Soccer Provincial league champions: Auckland: Auckland United Otago: Roslyn Dunedin Wellington: Wellington Swifts
Swimming Not held
Tennis National Championships Men's singles – H. Parker Women's singles – Kathleen Nunneley Men's doubles – Richard Harman and D. Collins Women's doubles – Kathleen Nunneley and T. Trimmell
Births 15 June (in England): Archie Fisher, painter. (died 1959) 7 July: Harold Beamish, World War I flying ace. (died 1986)Flight Lieutenant Harold Beamish
Deaths 18 May: Daniel Pollen, politician (born 1813) 2 August: James FitzGerald, politician (born 1818). 28 August: James Hume, medical doctor (born 1823).
See also 1896 New Zealand census List of years in New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history History of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of the New Zealand environment Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica
References General Romanos, J. (2001) New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. Specific
External links