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Christchurch, "City of the the Plains," which is some eight miles from Port Lyttelton, in the provincial district of Canterbury, county of Selwyn, nearly on the east coast centre of the Middle or South Island, New Zealand.

Passenger lists for Lyttelton:

  First four ships- cabin passengers "Canterbury Pilgrims"
  Cabin passengers for Lyttelton
  Canterbury Association manifests
  Canterbury Pilgrims & Early Settlers Assoc. Ship info, lists & school rolls (offsite)
  South Canterbury arrivals
  Lyttelton Arrivals Denise & Peter's lists (offsite)
  Ships to Port of Lyttelton (offsite)

Lyttelton Harbour, a drowned volcanic cone on the east coast, is the port to the largest South Island city, Christchurch, which is minutes away by road or rail.  Christchurch has been an important trade centre on the fertile Canterbury Plains which extend south towards Timaru.  Lyttelton was gazetted an official port-of-entry on 30th August 1849 and was renamed nine years later in honour of Lord George Lyttelton, chairman of the Canterbury Association.  It was known as Port Cooper in the 1830s and appears as Port Victoria on a map of 1849.  Edward Gibbon Wakefield and J.R. Godley formed the Canterbury Association to establish an Anglican settlement on the Canterbury Plains. Godley Head on the left commands views of the Lyttelton Harbour entrance. Facing the rising sun, sheer 150m cliffs tower from the Pacific Ocean. The Head was renamed in honour of John Godley, the co-founder of the Canterbury Association and a leader of the Canterbury Province. Early Canterbury surveyors recognised the headland's strategic position, setting it aside in 1852 for defence and signalling purposes. Between 1850 and 1855 Godley Head and all the land east of Taylors Mistake was declared a reserve by the Canterbury Provincial Council. Reflecting on the Canterbury settlement at a later date Crater Rim Walkway  population school attendence 

Pre-adamite settler
Someone who settled in Canterbury before the First Four Ships, that is, before 16th December 1850. They became self-sufficient farmers, exporting produce to Wellington and even Sydney.  The Pre-adamite file is held at the Canterbury Public Library, the Canterbury Museum, the Hocken Library, Dunedin and the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, contains some biographical information and then detail of where more information can be obtained. Families include: Hay, Sinclair, Deans, Mason, Gebbies.

In mid 1842 William Deans sailed the length of the east coast of the South Island in the cutter Brothers which, under the command of Captain James Bruce, served the southern whaling stations. It is likely that during this journey Captain Bruce brought Deans to Port Levy, where he heard of the plains beyond the Port Hills. Phillip Ryan, a one-time whaler living at Port Levy, later recalled that Deans, Bruce and he went by whaleboat some distance up the or Otakaro River (Avon River) and then overland through swamp. Climbing on to Ryan's shoulders, Deans sighted the bush called  Putaringamotu and exclaimed, "That will do for me! I will make it my home."

William and John Deans, farmers, settled at Riccarton Bush about 1843. They named the Avon after a river in their native Scotland.  William Deans arrived at Port Nicholson in January 1840 aboard the 'Aurora' their farm workers the Gebbies. John Gebbie born c. 1813 in Loudoun, Ayrshire, wife, Maria, and son. John Deans had arrived at Nelson on the Thomas Harrison on 25 October 1842 with the Samuel & Jean Manson family, farm workers. Samuel Mason b. 25 May 1815, Riccarton, Ayrshire, arrived NZ Feb 1840, d. 18 April 1890 in NZ.  In May 1845 after their term with the Deans expired the Gebbies and Manson's took up land at the head of Lyttelton harbour - the Manson's on the west and Gebbies to the east. John Gebbie died on the farm 16 March 1851. Maria and with her six children managed the farm.  Today the valley and pass is known as Gebbie's Flat / Gebbies Pass. An area near Governors Bar is known as Manson's Peninsula.  

The Star 19 June 1902. Obit. John Deans. Mr Deans was the only son of the late Mr John Deans who had established himself on the site of the Riccarton Estate before the arrival of the Canterbury Pilgrims in the historical four ships. Mr Deans was educated at the original High School (West Christchurch school). Mr Deans was in his fiftieth year, married a daughter of Mr R. G. Park, civil engineer, Wellington, who, with his mother, survives him, as well as a family of one daughter and seven sons.

The Anglican Settlement of Canterbury was the fruit of two ideas, the one held by Edward Gibbon Wakefield, the other by John Robert Godley, a Protestant Irishman. Irish poverty pointed to a need.  In 1847 Wakefield sought Godley's help to promote the other Canterbury.  In 1849 Captain Joseph Thomas, surveyor to the Canterbury Association, began preparations for the arrival of the colonists and brought with him to the site of Lyttelton workmen, Maori and Pakeha, from the North Island including assistant surveyor Edward Jollie, mapped streets. When the First Four Ships arrived at Lyttelton in December 1850 they found that Canterbury was already home to hundreds of people. The settlement had a fine harbour, few Maoris, absence of rival land claims, the vast expanse of grassland easy to plough and sparsely timbered.  No other colonial venture ever started so smoothly or progressed so fast. In the first three years 3,000 settlers were brought in, in 1851 self-government was granted, and the colony was already financially self-supporting; in 1856 the guarantees advanced by members of the corporation had all been paid off. Farming has often been an extractive industry rather than husbandry, and soil erosion is part of the price paid for overstocking, excessive burning and the rabbit pest.

Situated on the south side of Banks Peninsula is Akaroa Harbour, another deep crater, where the French established a colony 1840. Banks Peninsula was in honour of the botanist on the Endeavour Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820)  cemetery cemetery 1856

Taranaki Herald, 11 June 1859, Page 3
We have Canterbury papers to the Ist instant, from which we extract the following : -
The Victory, one of Willis's line of ships under charter to convey immigrants to this province, arrived on Saturday night, with so little fuss of preparation or announcement, that not all the town knew of the arrival till the next morning. She brings an addition of just 200 souls to the population of the province, and has landed them in good health and condition. The voyage of the Victory extended over 104 days from anchorage to anchorage. - Lyttelton Times, May 18.
    The William Watson, a smart barque of 500 tons and one specially a favorite in Auckland, where she has frequently traded, arrived on Sunday morning last. The account of her voyage is rather lamentable. She left Newcastle on the 27th ultimo, with a cargo of live stock, consisting of 150 heifers, 40 mares, and 800 sheep. Moderate breezes and cloudy weather were experienced till the 2nd inst., during which time 3 heifers, 5 sheep, and 2 horses died. On the 2nd, fell in with strong breezes from the south-south-west, which freshened with squalls and a heavy sea, shipping water over all. On the 5th and 6th the weather grew worse, with a tremendous sea getting up, the vessel labouring heavily, and shipping a great quantity of water, requiring continued pumping. A number of the sheep were drowned, and others died from being trampled on ; several horses also perished. On the 7th the wind shifted to the westward, and the gale continued to rise ; the sheep on deck were washing about, those below were drowning, and most of the horses and cattle were down. The decks were then cleared of the sheep and fittings. The same day a heavy sea broke on board and did considerable damage. On the 8th, the gale began to moderate, when the opportunity was taken to clear out the dead animals from below. That day, land (Cape Farewell) was sighted ; and for the rest of the passage, moderate breezes and occasional squalls were experienced, the cattle and horses continuing to die by twos and threes. When Lyttelton was reached on the 15th 50 heifers, 28 mares, and all the sheep but six were lost! All who know Captain Macfarlane and his ship will agree that it was through no fault of either that the unfortunate result was occasioned. - Ibid.

Otago Witness May 9 1863
The first locomotive engine for New Zealand intended for the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, arrived at Lyttelton on the 27th ultomo from Melbourne.

The Star Tuesday 11th December 1894 page 2
Lyttelton is situated in lat. 43.37 south, long. 172.44 east, and the difference of time between Lyttelton and Christchurch is 20 sec. 
    The time-ball is dropped every week day at 1 p.m., New Zealand mean time, which is equivalent to 18.30 Greenwich mean time of the previous day, being calculated for 172 deg. 30 min. east long., and 11 hours 30 min fast of Greenwich mean time.

The Land of the Golden Fleece and Jam-pot by George Augustus Sala - 
Otago Witness Saturday January 2 1886 page 14.
Port Lyttelton, formerly called Port Cooper and occasionally spoken of as Port Victoria. The town has a magnificent harbour, walled in by precipitous hills. In 1848, Captain Thomas, chief surveyor, with his two assistants, sailed for New Zealand with instructions to survey the Canterbury land, and set things in order for the arrival of the colonist and in September 1849 he wrote Home to Lyttelton:_ "We have now over 110 men at work on surveys, roads, and buildings. Lyttelton resembles a country village in England, such is its decency, its order, its regularity, and sobriety. By Christmas we hope to complete the trigonometrically survey of half a million acres, and surveys and maps of Christchurch and the town at the mouth of the Avon." 

Lyttelton very quickly grew into a thriving little town; a rough-and -ready shanty public-house was superseded by an hotel, to be afterwards known as the Mitre; and a weekly newspaper, called the Lyttelton Times - was started by Mr Shrimpton, and edited by Mr J.E. Fitzgerald. The Union Bank of Australia and the London and Liverpool Insurance Company opened branches at the Port; auctioneers, lawyers, storekeepers, and commission merchants appeared on the scene; and by New Year's Day, 1852, 19 vessels had arrived out from England, bringing 3000 souls, besides a multitude of other craft from other parts of New Zealand and Australia. Two thousand five hundred acres of freehold land had been purchased and fenced, and pasturage runs to the extent of 400,000 acres had been taken up for stock.  The quantity of jam consumed by persons of all ages is simply astounding. At every meal a cut-glass saucer full of jam may be confidently reckoned upon to make its appearance; 

The "pilgrims" were the original settlers sent out under the auspices of the Canterbury Association. The "prophets" were the sheep farmers from Port Phillip, or Victoria who otherwise rejoiced in, or had conferred on them— at this present writing "starring" in Canterbury — the presumably disparaging epithet of " Phagroons." These pastoral people invaded the peaceful Canterbury settlement, and were regarded by the decorous Anglican colonists partly with admiration as Shepherd Kings who had already worked wonders at Port Phillip, and partly with a kind of pious horror as disbelievers of the "Canterbury system," But happily, as it turned out, the Canterbury pasturage system was quickly adapted to the requirements of sheep-farming on a large scale, and the "pilgrims" and the "prophets" were soon merged into one class as Canterbury runholders. The ballad  below goes on to tell how the prophet bred up his flock, defying ravenous dogs and sheep-worry parrots, scab and catarrh, till he found himself in a position to sing.

"Pilgrims and Prophets"
 published August 1851 in the Lyttelton Times
written by Crosbie Ward

Gaily the pilgrim harnessed his plough,
When he had built a roof o'er his head,
Singing, "From Albion hither I come,
Land of mine, land of mine, grow me some bread."

Proudly the prophet flourished his crook
When he had landed his sheep from the west,
Singing, 'From Phillipland hither I come,
Silly man! silly man! wool pays the best,'

Quickly the prophet bred up his flock
As he defied dogs, scab, and catarrah:
Singing,  "To Phillipland back shall I go,hither I come,
When they no longer need 'baccy and tar."

Slowly the pilgrim had been toiling his crop
And soon he was sending his golden wheat to the mill
Singing "For ever shall this be my shop,
Shepherd man! Shepherd man! go if you will!"

Shortly the pilgrim agreed that
 "The plough and the crook couldn't far live apart," 
so they sang de capo, 
Singing "Together we'll tend and we'll till,;
"Shepherd man!, Farmer man! keep a good heart!"

Lastly, the good men avoided a "smash,"
Whether to shear or to reap was their aim;
Singing, with cheers from the plains to the hills,
"Pilgrim! and prophets! be one and the same!"

Evening Post, 4 August 1896, Page 2
The large attendance of the public at the funeral of the late Mr. J. E. FitzGerald yesterday amply testified to the widespread respect in which he was held as a statesman, a citizen, and a public servant. As the procession walked towards St. Mark's Church from the deceased's late residence the bell was tolled solemnly. The body, which was enclosed in a beautiful mottled kauri casket covered with wreaths, was carried into the church. The body was buried alongside that of Mr. FitzGerald's late son-in-law, Mr. W. H. Levin, Archdeacon Fancourt and the Rev. R. Coffey officiating at the grave. The chief mourners were Messrs. G. FitzGerald, of Timaru (brother of the deceased), Rev. L. FitzGerald, of Auckland, and Messrs. G. FitzGerald and E. FitzGerald (sons), and C. J. Cooper (nephew). Messrs. J. C. Gavin (Assistant Controller- General), P. P. Webb, L. C. Roskruge, W. Dodd, and E. J. A. Stevenson acted as pall-bearers. Through an unfortunate miscarriage in the Telegraph Department, Mr. J. P. Brandon, Manager of the Masterton Branch of the Bank of New Zealand, who was a son-in-law of the deceased, did not receive the intimation of his death until 9.30 yesterday, hence his inability to reach Wellington in time for the funeral. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. G. Tiller.

Otago Witness 19 December 1895, Page 12 J. E. FITZGERALD.
JAMES EDWARD FITZGERALD was born at Bath in 1818. He took his degree at Cambridge in 1842, and afterwards entered the British Museum as an assistant in the department of antiquities. He took an active interest in the scheme for founding the Canterbury Settlement, writing and lecturing on its behalf. He left England in one of the " first four ships," arriving at Lyttelton in December, 1850. Under his editorship the Lyttelton Times made its first appearance on January 1 1 following, and he continued to edit it for two years. In 1853 he was elected under the newly granted constitution to be the first superintendent of the province of Canterbury, a position which he held for four years. He also represented Lyttelton in the first Parliament of New Zealand, taking office as Premier. In 1857 he returned to the Home Country, and acted for three years as agent for the Province. On his return lie re-entered Parliament, representing Akaroa, and in 1565 he succeeded Mr. Mantell as Native Minister. Soon afterwards he retired from active public life, and then received the post of Comptroller-General and Auditor-General, which he has held since to the great advantage of the country. In 1870 he was created a C.M.G. Mr. FitzGerald is of varied and extensive acquirements, an eloquent speaker, and a man of high honour — one of the fast disappearing race of old colonists, of whom New Zealand may well be proud.

Ashburton history
Methven history wayback

SAILING FOR LONDON

From the "Lyttelton Times"  January 21, 1863

Cleared - January 15, Queen of the Mersey, ship, 1227 tons, Aitken, for London. Passengers- Rev. Mr and Mrs Mackay, Mrs Harston, Miss Davis, Mrs Turner, Mrs Reeves, two children and servant, Master and Miss Croft, Miss and Mrs Allen, Mrs Hodgson and child, Mrs Barnard, Major Reader, Messrs Elphinstone, Lee, W. and H. Kennaway, Levy. 
    The Queen of the Mersey has been ready for sea since Thursday, and only waits for a fair wind to be off. She carries cargo to the value of about £72,000, and a good number of saloon passengers. She starts in excellent sailing trim, and being one of the finest vessels that ever left this port, may be expected to make a rapid passage to London.

Lookups

• Patsy McMilian's NZ research help page Early shipping arrivals to Canterbury 1840 1875
  R.M.S. "Remuera" departed Plymouth, England 29 Mar 1916 for Lyttelton

• Lorraine has a zip file which contains assisted immigrant passengers to Lyttelton from 1855 - 1875.  A search for surname and a number and up comes all the passenger details plus reference LDS film number.

Bibliography

Imprints - Fragments of Canterbury history - photographic collection
Canterbury Sources
Christchurch streets named after
Christ's College was established in 1850. By doing a search under number 1 brings up the entire school list.

The newspaper The Canterbury Times of January 10th 1895 was the 'Anniversary Number' 1851 -1895. Contained a specially written account, fully illustrated, of the Settlement and progress of Canterbury, compiled from the narratives of prominent Pioneers. Includes:
Arrival in Lyttelton
First Sight of the Plains
Famous Pioneers
Old Identities
Early Struggles
Success and Repose

Amodeo, Colin Forgotten Forty-Niners/ Colin Amodeo with research colleague Ron Chapman. Caxton Press. 2003.  236 pg.,  with over 100 illustrations, sketches and maps plus 34 full-colour plates. Covers the years 1849-1850 in Canterbury and the difficulties as well as the triumphs of the men and women who were the true founders of the new colony, Christchurch.  ISBN: 0908563957  The book  is about the people who were in Lyttelton in 1848-49, building barracks, beginning roads and jetties etc. for the new arrivals,  who then went on to live in tents etc. as they built their  homes. Many of the 49ers were brought over from Hobart Town, Australia, and Amodeo includes short bios of each: some ex convicts, ex India Army, Irish, names of accompanying spouses, etc. locations of gravestones, footnotes, sources. Gives an excellent insight into the hardships and the time frame these went on for before anything like comfort was accomplished. e.g.

Devonshire born Cornish miner - Robert Rogers Nankivell landed Wellington 1840 from the Bolton with wife Elizabeth and five children . Surveyor , builder, repairer; later purchased a theodolite and became a contract surveyor . . .

Former London drapery apprentice -William Pratt for six years had submitted to the prison-like conditions then prevailing, working 7am to 10pm 5 days a week and one hour less, Saturdays . . . his Christchurch staff went home at 6pm. Other drapers followed his example, ironmongers copied them.

Bohan, Edmund, Blest Madman 369 pp, illustrated;  April 1998. A biography of one a large and handsome Irish aristocrat, James Edward FitzGerald. He was an essayist, poet, artist, journalist, civil servant, politician, orator, singer and inspirational lecturer. First editor of the Lyttelton Times, Canterbury's first Superintendent, founder of The Press,  His great speeches on Maori political rights rank among the greatest parliamentary orations of our history. He was one of Canterbury's most illustrious and energetic colonists.

British Empire Gazette. Christchurch, NZ : Nash and Speechly, 1864 9 v. ; 33 cm.  A series of nine issues concerning the voyage of "The British Empire." Motto: "Veritas vincit omnia" printed under title. Apparently printed from a MSS copy which was circulated on board. Original in the Rex Nan Kivell Collection, National Library of Australia  Ship newspaper. Volumes:  No. 1 (July 2, 1864)-no. 9 (Saturday Aug. 27, 1864)  printed with supplement. NZ Research Room, Christchurch City Libraries has a photocopy.

Canterbury Museum Shipping lists to places out side Canterbury 1872 1878 Assisted passengers only NZ Collection, Canterbury Public Library

Christchurch City Libraries, Christchurch, NZ 1967. Immigrant ships to Canterbury, 1853 1885. 17 pp Passenger Lists

Canterbury passenger lists, 1850 1875 are indexed at the Canterbury Museum.  Newspaper lists, 1850 1880, are in the Alexander Turnbull Library's Early Shipping Days.

Fraser, Lyndon, A.  To Tara via Holyhead : Irish Catholic immigrants in nineteenth century Christchurch /  Auckland University Press, 1997 208p.

Genealogical Society. "Mary Shepherd" List of assisted immigrants to Canterbury on the "Mary Shepherd." 1953. Book. The Mary Shepherd, 920 tons, sailed from London 12 May, 1873 and arrived Lyttelton 20 August. She  made four voyages to Auckland and one voyage to Lyttelton. Christchurch City Libraries
NZ Collection Article   Bookmark Aug. 1998 wayback
List of assisted immigrants to Canterbury per the "Mary Shepherd", 12 May 1873 FHL catalog
sketch White Wings

Kennaway, Laurence James, 1834 1904. 1874 Biscuit and butter : a colonist's shipboard fare ; the journal / kept by William & Laurence Kennaway on the emigrant ship Canterbury, London to Lyttelton, 1851 edited by R.C. Lamb and R.S. Gormack. Kennaway, William, b.1833. Christchurch : Nag's Head Press, 1973. 110 pp

Kennaway, L. J. Crusts : a settler's fare due south /  Facsimile reprint of the edition: London : Sampson Low, Marston, Low, & Searle, 1874 Christchurch : Capper Press, 1984.  Describes taking up of their runs, but he disguised names and places. 'Bracken Hills' is Clayton Station, South Canterbury.   Bookfinder

Morris, Heather & Hafslund, Barbara.  New Zealand assisted passenger list 1855 1871 [4 microfiches ] : from here to there/  [Burpengary, Qld. : H. Morris & B. Hafslund, 1994] Ships into Lyttelton sometimes Timaru"   Frame 3. Available from H. Morris & B. Hafslund, PO.Box 257, Burpengary, Queensland, Australia. ISBN:   0646195220

Ogilvie, Gordon. Pioneers of the Plains. About the Deans brothers.

Passages to Canterbury In the New Zealand Collection, Christchurch City Libraries

Pearce, Mary Penrose & Walker, Elder David. Early settlers of Canterbury, South Island, N.Z. who arrived in the first four ships 1937. Contains lists of pioneers aboard the Charlotte Jane, Randolph, Sir George Seymour and the Cressy, copied from Canterbury Jubilee Celebrations. 30 leaves.

Passenger lists from foreign ports to Canterbury 1855 - 1871.  Microfilm (5 reels) of manuscripts (handwritten) at the ArchivesNZ  in Wellington, NZ.  Includes index. LDS film # 0287464 Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1961. Includes the "Isabella Hercus" list.

Hillary, J. H. (John H.) Westland : journal of John Hillary, emigrant to New Zealand, 1879 Sculthorpe, Norfolk : Acorn Editions, c1979 111pp Plymouth to Lyttelton with quarantine. At National Library of NZ.

Westland: Journal of John Hillary, Emigrant to New Zealand, 1879; Hillary, J. H. UK: Acorn Editions, Norfolk, 1979 First Edition hard cover in dust wrapper. John H. Hillary introduces his grandfather's journal of the Hillary family's exciting voyage in the clipper ship Westland to a new life in New Zealand in 1879. An interesting account of the enticement of the Hilary family from a small northern English town, Tow Law, in Durham to the promised opportunities of New Zealand and of their return in disillusionment several months later having failed to find work or any of the promised riches aboard the John Elder. 111pps with illustrations. maps. passenger list

"The diary of John Hillary written on the occasion of his journey with his family under sail to New Zealand, their stay in NZ, and their return by steamer." Hillary came out to NZ on the 'Westland', landed and stayed for a couple of months in Lyttelton area but returned to England as their was no work to be had in the depressed economic climate of the time.

Thought some of you might like to see these passages from a book based on an emigrants experiences on the outward voyage to NZ in 1879. They describe five days that were spent at the emigration depot in Plymouth, Devon whilst awaiting embarkation orders and give a good insight into the conditions at such places leading, at times, to the reasons why so many travellers succumbed to disease and death on the voyages. extract

Saturday, 22 November 1879
Were met at the station by an agent and conducted to the depot where at first sight our hearts almost failed us. Imagine about 300, chiefly Irish
and Scotch, many of them of the lowest type, all messing in one room, ten at each table. When Mess tickets were given out we ran to the
kitchen below for 1½ loaves of bread with a piece of butter on a plate and a can of tea, or if at dinner time a flat brown dish with a partition, having meat on one side and unpeeled potatoes on the other. After mess we had to wash up, wash tables down, sweep up crumbs and put forms upon tables and walk out into the enclosed yard, or sit in this one room amidst concertina playing, singing, shouting, whistling, stamping, screaming babies and all the hideous noises by which people could disturb each other, and make the place more like hell. The food was good and plentiful all things considered and the rooms and beds clean, but so narrow were the stalls, the married peoples' being only 3ft. wide, that it was exceedingly difficult to alter your position during the night or turn over, and for couples of larger proportions I should say impossible. We had to back out feet foremost.

Sunday, 23 November 1879
After breakfast a few others went with me to a splendid new Wesleyan chapel and heard the Rev Mr. Banham from Bristol, who was preaching mission sermons. Afternoon we had a walk through the streets of the town and along the quay the weather being beautifully fine. Returning before 5 o'clock we were made prisoners and allowed no more outside the depot walls until we take s government of England strictly enforces sanitary measures upon its towns and villages, why then is this place not inspected ? Four hundred breathing the vitiated air of one room, 100 sleeping in one bedroom, only one stove to which poor starving people can go, and that covered by babies linen, which mothers are trying in vain to dry, WC is filthy, no comfort. If you go near the stove the arbitrary officials drive you away, indeed the treatment is that of warders to prisoners, civilities are out of the question. The majority of emigrants are of low class and need strict discipline, but there are a number of respectable people who turn from such treatment with tears in their eyes, or looks which say "is Thy servant a dog?" If this place has not sown the seed of disease among these two ships passengers it will be well.

Monday, 24 November 1879
This day was employed in examining boxes and was one of confusion. Many having brought feather beds in their luggage had to sell them for a small advanced upon nothing.

Tuesday, 25 November 1879
All passed an examination before the doctor in the depot surgery. In the evening the Rev Mr Barnes, Chaplain of Plymouth, came and conducted a service and with his Lady?s assistance supplied us poor dark emigrants with some tracts. He also considerably diluted his address that it might be adapted to our weak capacities. The Irish made a lot of derisive noises outside. Had a busy afternoon lading all the luggage upon a barge to send down to the ship which is waiting in Plymouth Sound.

Wednesday, 26 November 1879
All were ordered to pack up immediately after dinner, and passing in families before the doctor again and receiving contract tickets we walked
through the gate to the steamer lying beside the depot wall, and in a short time were put on board the ?Westland? in Plymouth Sound.

The Lyttelton Times: Volume1, No. 1 was published Saturday, January 11, 1851 and contains  "Voyages of the first four ships.  Accounts of passages by passengers".  Eight pages. Page 1 Advertisements Editorial: Part One   Part Two. (images 43 & 135K)  The shipping news section of "The Lyttelton Times" carried passengers names until about 1888.  For holdings, check the Union Catalogue of NZ Periodicals (available at main libraries).  12 years later. The Lyttelton Times is on microfilm at the Central Library, Christchurch  Public Library. National Library of Australia catalogue
Marriage Notices Lyttelton Times 1851 1880 NZSG 3 fiche
Lyttelton Times 1851 1865: Extracts of Births & Deaths NZSG 2 fiche

Rathgen, David, Lyttelton shipping list : 1890 1891 / Camberwell, Vic.: 1998. As reported in the Press.

Reed, A. H. The Story of Canterbury : Last Wakefield Settlement. Wellington, 1949, AH & AW Reed. 326pp

Scotter, W. H., A History of Port Lyttelton, Christchurch: Whitcome & Toombs Ltd. 1968

Wilkinson  M.B.  South Canterbury's Early Settlers and Immigrants,   1990. 58 pages.  List of early settlers and immigrants 1850s and 1860s.   Appendix immigrant and passenger vessels up to 1884.  A South Canterbury Historical Publication 1990.  Includes photographs of early Timaru and these vessels: S.S. Maori, S.S. Beautiful, S.S. Bruce, Opawa, Soukar, Merope and the Strathallan.

Acland Family Mt Peel Station

Theses at the New Zealand Collection, Central Library, Christchurch dealing with immigration.

MacDonald, Charlotte. Single women as immigrant settlers in New Zealand, 1853 1871 / 1986 University of Auckland.
O'Regan, Pauline, The control of immigration into Canterbury during the period 1853 1870. 1953
Schwarz, Carolyn J. The female emigrants of the Canterbury Association and their role in Wakefield's theory of systematic colonization / 1993
Silcock, Robin Henry Immigration into Canterbury under the Provincial government.  1963.

Libraries & Museums 

New Zealand National Register of Archives includes Canterbury Museum holdings. Christchurch is worth a visit! map

Christchurch City Libraries website
Address: (corner of Gloucester St and Cambridge Terrace
PO Box 1466, Christchurch
Hours: Mon Fri 10am 9pm, Sat 10am 4pm
General inquiries to library@ccc.govt.nz
Local History Fact Files
Catalogue searchable
The Christchurch Library has an excellent genealogical section up in its Aotearoa New Zealand Centre -the New Zealand Collection in the Central City Library within the Christchurch Cities Libraries. Genealogical research service Christchurch City Libraries will undertake genealogical research for a fee. $NZ20 / ½ hour.

Loads of indexes of  local church records. Great for finding extras like witnesses at wedding and christenings.
Holdings: Church Register Index, cemetery inscriptions, obituaries index, electoral rolls & directories, passenger lists (card index), newspapers (Lyttelton Times c.1851 and Press on microfilm) and are indexed, NZ book reference collection, NZ microfiche collections. Registrar General's Index to births, deaths and marriages. It is brilliant.. a card file of early Christchurch families taken from Church registers etc. There is also a large collection of microfiche. 

A Guide to Passenger Lists held in the NZ Collection of Canterbury Public Library ($5NZ). Forty pages in length and tells which 19th century passenger lists for voyages from Europe to this country are held in the New Zealand Collection. It should be noted that none of the material is original, that some lists are incomplete and that, where newspapers are the source, information may appear up to a fortnight after the arrival of the vessel.

Local histories Resources pdf

If your man came from Ireland and born before 1922 he would have been a British citizen and would not need to be naturalized.

The Star Wednesday 17 May 1882
Letters of Naturalisation were issued under date May 8, to the following persons -
Henry Frederick Wendelborn, shipwright, Lyttelton
Richard Schmidt, draughtsman, Christchurch
Leopold Loibl, draughtsman, Christchurch
Gustav Valk, cabinet maker, Ashburton.

The Star Monday 28 May 1883
Naturalisation - DITTMOR - A letter of Naturalisation has been granted to August Frederick Ferdinand Dittmor. Labourer of Lyttelton.

The Star Tuesday 12 August 1884 Letters of Naturalisation -
CORDELIN - August, mariner of Lyttelton
ESSELBORN - Valentine, tailor of Christchurch

The Star Tuesday 22 June 1886 page 3 Letters of naturalisation -
Henry FEUTZ, farmer, Irwell, Canterbury b. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Olof Albert BENBERG, bushman, Alford Forest.
Andrew GUNDERSON, bushman, Alford Forest

The Star Tuesday 5 July 1887 Letters of Naturalisation - page 2
Karl ZANDER - clerk, Ashburton.
Pietro OLSEN - labourer, Lyttelton.

The Star Monday 27 April 1891 Page 3
Letters of Naturalisation - Peter TOFANARI, labourer, Christchurch, Martin JENSEN, mariner, Lyttelton.

The Star Monday 10 July 1893
Letters of naturalization have been issued in favour of Teodor GUNDERSEN, shoemaker, Linwood.

Tuesday 18 July 1899 page 3 Naturalisation - GARRICK & PETTERSEN
Letters of naturalisation have been issued to John Garrick, bricklayer, Oxford, North Canterbury & to Mangus Petersen , shipwright, Christchurch.

Canterbury, a colony established as painlessly as colony ever was; an accommodation between man and nature over wide areas of plain and downland; Christchurch, English with neo-Gothic stone, green parks, and always lovely in the spring. The Canterbury Museum and the Botanical Gardens are a must see when you go to Christchurch.

Canterbury Museum,
Documentary Research Centre
Rolleston Avenue
Christchurch 8001
Hours: 1pm-4.30pm Monday to Friday. Note not the same hours the museum is open.
ph (03) 366-5000
fax (03) 366-5622
email: library@cantmus.govt.nz
Incorporates the collections of The Library, Manuscripts Department, Pictorial Department. If you are unable to do your own family history research at the Museum, a special family history researcher is available.  Cost: $NZ20 per family name, plus photocopying.
For any family history research enquires contact the Research Centre Reference Desk  staff
Queries about items in the Manuscripts and Archives Collection can be sent to the Curator of Manuscripts
Pictorial (artworks and photographs) enquires - Curator of Pictorial Collections, Kerry McCarthy
Essential Sources

Researchers who know a Canterbury passenger's name but not their ship should make first enquiry at the Canterbury Museum (index), the actual newspapers are held on microfilm in the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre's of the Christchurch City Libraries Central library.

Location in Canterbury Museum 
Second floor, if you enter the museum, you go in towards the right, through the early Maori exhibit, the transport hall, up the stairs (or lift) and its on the left at the top of the stairs. Or you could ask at the entrance. The majority of genealogical books are on the first bookshelf and the staff are very helpful.  There is a requested donation for entry to the museum, and no addition fee for the library. Some exhibitions in the museum have a fee. For manuscripts, diaries etc. you make your request, and items are fetched for you (depends how busy they are, about a 10 min wait). You are required to sign in each day, and accept the conditions of use. There are lockers for bags etc. Only pencils may be used (and are provided). They have good resources many of which you can consult yourself - indexes, such as the Macdonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies, lots of photos you can sift through of areas, streets, buildings, people; an index of negatives of lots of family portraits taken by an early Canterbury photographer. There was probably more. In 2005, Jo-Anne Smith, Curator of Manuscripts, is responsible for the collection.

When I was there in August 1999 they were remodelling the department. Documentary Research Centre now incorporates the collections of The Library, Manuscripts Department, Pictorial Department. They have over 2 million items in the museum.

Manuscripts:  Nearly 200 shipboard diaries; farm and station diaries with subject index; Canterbury Association passenger index of arrivals to Lyttelton 1850-88; shipping documents subject index (does not include passenger lists); military related records, press cuttings, educational records, oral history recordings. Lyttelton Shipping Registry
The Library: New Zealand reference book collection, biographical index, G.R. MacDonald Dictionary of Canterbury Biographies; family histories, Genealogy of the Maori, Ngai Tahu Research Index, Passenger Index of arrivals to Lyttelton 1850-88; W.H.R. Dale Album of Lyttelton Times passenger lists 1850-1888; early electoral rolls and directories, maps collection. J.E. Horrell Land Records (North Canterbury settlers) 1850-1868; Pre-Adamite Index of pre-1850 Settlers;  Canterbury Volunteer Forces Index 1860-1920;  Death index 1867-1915, Ratepayers indexes of pre-1850 settlers. Lyttelton Railroad Tunnel Workers 1861-1867.  "Log Of Logs" 
Pictorial:  portraits with index, photograph collection, architectural drawing collection.
Stamp Collecting
NZ National Register of Archives and Manuscripts
Alpine Collection

Shipping Index
Sample of a page of the shipping index held by the Canterbury Museum:

QUAID 		Alice 		14 Gen.Serv. 	Limerick	Ellen 16 Gen.Serv. Limerick, 'WAIPA' s 4.1.83 a 16.5.83
QUAID 		David 		11 [See O'BRIEN Patrick] 			'WAIPA' s 4.1.83 a 16.5.83
QUAID 		Mary 		27 Gen. Serv. 	Limerick 	Charles 20 Farm Lab., 'HYDASPES' s 10.8.78 a 9.11.78
QUAID 		Mary 		24 farm Serv. 	Kilkenny 	Kyran 15 Lab. Kilkenny	'AMOOR' s 5.4.64 a 1.7.64
QUAID 		Michael 	22 Farm lab.			Mary 30 Serv. Kilkenny, 		'LADY JOCELYN' s 3.11.74 a 21.1.75
QUAIFE 		John Price 	38 Lab.				Mrs Mary A 33, 1 child (Mary A )	'CRESSY' s 7.9.50 a 27.12.50
QUAIL 		John 		21 Ploughman 	Antrim 				'DUNEDIN' s 6.4.74 a 3.7.74
QUAILE 		Mr. 								'CASHMERE' s 10.6.59 a 11.10.59 Ch. Cab. p.p.
QUALMER 	Henry, wife & son, 						'WAIMATE' s 6.6.77 a.3.9.77
QUALTROUGH 	Margaret 	29 Matron 	Middlesex 			'ROMAN EMPEROR' s 28.9.59 a 27.1.60
QUANE 		Bridget 	40 Dairymaid 	Limerick 	Michael 12, 	'DUKE OF EDINBURGH' s 17.7.74 a 1.11.74
QUARTERMAIN 	Edward 		35 Lab. 	Oxford 		Sarah 41, George 20 Lab. Oxford, Jane 16, Serv. Oxford, Henry 8, Ellen 7, Martha 5, 'CRUSADER' s 25.9.74 a31.12.74
QUARTERMAN 	Henry 		40 Lab. 	Oxford 				'LADY JOCELYN' s 3.11.74 a 21.1.75
QUAYLE 		William 	21 Farm Lab. 	Isle of man [See Misc. File], 	'CAIT LOCK' s 4.2.76 a   9.4.76
QUELEY 		William 	20 lab. 	Waterford 			'TARANAKI' s 4.8.83 a 21.10.83
QUELEY 		Edward 		28 farm Lab. 	Clare 				'RAKAIA' s 7.9.77 a 10.12.77
QUEENAN 	Anne 		23 Gen.Serv. 	Sligo 				'RAKAIA' s 28.5.82 a 3.9.82
QUEENSLEY 	Emily 		20 Housemaid 	Canada 				'TRIUMPH' s 26.9.83 a 26.11.83
QUELCH 		Sarah 		20 Housemaid 	Berminghamshire, 		'STAR OF INDIA' s.26.9.73 a31.12.73
QUICK 		Christopher 	23 Farm Lab. 	Cornwall 			'HEREFORD' s 31.10.77 a 9.1.78
QUICK 		Leonard 	19 Farm Lab. 	Cornwall 	Mary H. 18, 	'WAIKATO' s 1.11.78 a 18.1.79    Lyttelton [Poss. Timaru]
QUICK 		Paul 		39 Farm lab. 	Cornwall 			'RANGITIKI' s.19.7.79 a 24.10.79
QUICK 		Paul 		48 Carpenter 	Cornwall 	[See DALLEY William Henry] 'MERMAID' s 29.9.62 a 26.12.62
QUICK 		Thomas 		38 Farm lab. 	Cornwall 	Elizabeth 38, Maria 19, Elizabeth 19, Annie 17, Mary 15, Sarah 7, Ruth 5, Wilmot 1, 'STADT HAARLIM' s 15.2.79 a 16.4.79
QUICK 		Thomas 		23 Lab. 	Cornwall 	Martha 22, 	'CATHCART' s 10.6.74 a 29.8.74
QUICKFALL 	John 		21 		Lincolnshire, 			'LADY JOCELYN' s.3.11.74 a 21.1.75
QUIGLEY 	Andrew 		43 farm Lab. 	Derry 		Mary 38, Mary E. 19, John 17, Andrew 15, Sarah A. 13, Hugh 10, James 7, William 4, Francis 1mth., 'HEREFORD' s. 6.10.79 a 30.12.79
QUIGLEY 	George 		13 						'CARDIGAN CASTLE' s 30.9.76 a 6.1.77
QUIGLEY 	George 		27 		Waterford 	Ellen 30, Francis 6 mths., 'MEROPE' s 10.5.72 a 3.8.72
QUIGLEY 	Mary A. 	18 Serv. 	Tipperary			'CARDIGAN CASTLE' s 30.9.76 a 6.1.77
QUILL 		Maurice 	20 lab. 	Kerry 				'WAIKATO' s 27.6.75 a 30.10.75.

W.H.R. Dale Album of Lyttelton Times passenger lists 1850-1888

The Dale album refers to vessels arriving between 1850 and 1877 or thereabouts, although there are many omissions plus some extra post-1877 vessels included. The Lyttelton Times ran each article as and when a ship arrived; these were reprinted as a series by The Star between March 1923 and February 1924. In theory it is indexed (poorly), so the Canterbury Museum staff generally advise people to look for the ship they want by the date of its arrival. It runs to almost 200 photocopied pages. The original scrapbook is available to be examined if necessary, although generally people are directed  to the photocopy. The Museum holds other items relating to Dale too. 

William Henry Reynolds Dale (1854-1944)
W.R. Dale was born in London in 1854 and emigrated to NZ with his father on board Egmont in 1856. Although he was never a full-time journalist, he wrote many articles for newspapers, and was particularly interested in shipping.  His father became well-known ferrying immigrants across the Heathcote River. William Dale went to Merton School and a high school on Lincoln Road. Dale worked on the Lyttelton Harbour works, and for five years was a coal, timber and firewood merchant.  He also worked for the Lyttelton Wool Store and for the New Zealand Shipping Company for 18 years from 1890. He wrote many newspaper articles, and was a member of several boards and committees. He was also a member of the Pilgrims Association and a Mason. These papers include newspaper cuttings, manuscripts and reminiscences relating to early Christchurch, Heathcote, Ferrymead and shipping.

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Lyttelton Times
1862 On 30th June the "Mary Ann" sailed from Gravesend, England. The "Mary Ann", 723 tons under Captain Mitchell, had on board 2 saloon passengers and 25 second cabin and steerage passengers mostly farmers and farm labourers.

Timaru Herald, 22 June 1870, Page 2

The ship Ramsay, with immigrants, from London, arrived at Lyttelton on Friday last. The passage from England was, on the whole, favourable, with the exception of from May 29 to June 3, when very heavy weather was experienced, and which did considerable damage. During the voyage An accident occurred on board, reuniting m the drowning of one of the male immigrants. It appears he was on the lee side of the vessel, and during one of the heavy lurches he was caught by the maintopmast-staysail sheet and tripped overboard. The vessel was brought-to as quickly as possible, and the lifeboat lowered; search was made for an hour, but without success. The following is a summary of the immigrants, brought by the Ramsay : — Males— Farm labourers, 26 ; ploughmen, 8 ; labourers, 6 ; dairymen, 2 ; shepherds, 2 ; blacksmith, 1 ,- coachsmith, 1 ; millwrights, 3 ; moulders, 2 ; stone mason, 1 ; pattern makers, 3 ; wheelwrights, 2; shoemaker, 1 ; coach painter, 1 ; schoolmaster, 1. Females— Cooks, 5; dairywomen, 4 ; general servants, 28 ; housemaids, 4 ; milliner, 1 ; needlewoman, 1. Male adults, 62, female do, 69 ; male children, 16 ; female do, 13 ; infants, 4 Souls, 164. equal to 145fc statute adults.
    The ship Ceres arrived m Lyttelton on Sunday. She brings a number of passengers, but no immigrants, and a large cargo consigned to Messrs Dalgetty and Co. of Christchurch.

The Star, Friday, December 13 1878

Trail Trip of the Lyttelton Harbour Board's Steam Tug Lyttelton.
Before she left the wharf a trail was made of her steam fire engine on board. Two lengths of hose with inch nozzles were attached, and a stream of water from each was thrown to a very great distance. She travelled down the harbour, one mile in 5 minutes and 39 seconds against the north-east wind and a strong flood tide. The engines making 23 revolutions per minute with a steam pressure of 60 lbs. on the inch. A speed of 11¼ miles. Hon. E. Richardson, Chairman of the Board, proposed the health of Captain Fox, the master who brought the tug out, and of Mr Wood, the engineer. Capt. J.W. Clark, at present master of the s.s. Ringarooma, has been appointed to take charge of the tug, while Capt. Brownell has been appointed mate, and Mr Miller, late of the Hopper barge, engineer.

The Star Tuesday 29 1908

The Tainui, which arrived at Lyttelton today from London, brought out the following assisted immigrants for Canterbury:-
Twelve farm labourers, 12 domestic helps, 3 labourers, 2 gardeners, 1 cook and 1 carpenter.  A number of immigrants who arrived from England by the Tainui came down by the Maori this morning, and were afterwards conveyed to town and distributed themselves variously. The "batch", as groups of these imported workers have come to be almost regularly called, comprises men and women of varying ages, one or two well up in the middle years, some children, and a goodly proportion of young men and women.

Lyttelton: Arrived
Dec. 29, 6.30 a.m. Maori, s.s., 3309 tons, Hunter, from Wellington. Union Steam Ship Company. Passengers - Sir Joseph Ward and 500 - 300 saloon and steerage.

Expected Arrivals:
From London
Rangatira, s.s., left Nov. 5, at Port Chalmers, due January 4, Greenstreet, from Port Chalmers.
Tainui, s.s., at Wellington, due January 3
Whakatane, s.s., sailed Dec. 5, due Feb. 8
Ionic, s.s., sailed Dec. 10.

From Liverpool
Morayshire, s.s., left Oct 17, at Wellington, due next month
Pakeha, s.s., left Oct. 31 due Jan. 10
Cornwall, s.s., left Nov. 14, due early Jan.
Otaki, s.s., sailed Nov. 23, due Jan. 19
Fifeshire, s.s. sailed Dec. 12, due Feb. 5.

From Marseilles - Hermes, barque, sailed Sept. 30.

From Glasgow - Mawhera, dredge, left Renfrew Oct 23. Just after leaving Renfew ran aground in thick fog. Towed off. Average speed 7 knots. Arrived at Port Said. Her itinerary after Port Said is Aden, Colombo and Fremantle. May stop in South Australia.

From New York -
Daldorch, s.s., left Sep. 26, at Auckland,  due Jan. 5
Star of Australia s.s., left Nov. 7, due end of January
Aberlour, s.s., sailed Nov. 11, due end of Jan.
Cape Breton, s.s., sailed Dec. 3, due middle of Feb.

Otago Witness May 6 1908 pg58

Christchurch, April 29
Mr G.G. Steed died shortly after 4 o'clock this afternoon. He had sustained a sudden seizures a few days ago. He was born in London in 1804. His father was from an old Yorkshire family. His mother a Fraser, of Lovat, a direct descendant of the famous Simoon Fraser, Lord Lovat who was the last man to fell by the headman's axe in the tower of London, in 1747. Mr Stead came out to Canterbury on the Talbot Fox in 1866....

Evening Post, 27 July 1908, Page 8
DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM PERCIVAL. AUCKLAND, This Day.

Mr. William Percival, formerly secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, died yesterday ; aged 66. The late Mr. Percival was born at Wansford, England, and educated at Fotheringay and at Oundle (Northamptonshire). He was engaged in commercial pursuits in London for about five years, and in 1863 arrived in Christchurch by the ship Essex. He settled in Canterbury until 1868, and then removed to the Thames goldfield, where he was engaged in clerical work, and acted as secretary of the racing carnival promoted in honour of the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh. When the Auckland Racing Club was formed Mr. Percival was appointed permanent secretary, a position he held for several years. He acted as handicapper to the metropolitan club and country clubs for some time.

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ArchivesNZ Christchurch Office
Address: 90 Peterborough Street, Christchurch (P.O. Box 642) ph (03) 377-0760
Hours: 10am-5pm Monday to Friday
Email: mailto:christchurch@archives.govt.nz
Unfortunately, their photocopying states "that we do not photocopy archives from the nineteenth century." "You may visit the Office to take a photograph, or you may wish to contact a professional photographer who has often worked at the archives." Reference: Regional Archivist. The Archives can supply photographer contact info. The Archives have photocopied the passenger lists and surgeons journals and bound them into book form and it is from these that photocopies are made for the public.  We don't look at the originals.
 
Holdings:

• Canterbury Association papers (passenger lists, surgeon's reports, stores etc covering 22 voyages to Lyttelton between 1850-52, including papers for nine of the first ships.) (1848-53)
• Reports relating to immigration can be found in the Canterbury Provincial Government papers (1853-77)
• Photocopies of Assisted Passenger Lists to the Canterbury Province covering approximately 180 voyages from 1856-1884 (note the index is at the Canterbury Museum)
• Subject files related to immigration. Search on computer.
• Shipping papers related to 13 provincial immigration scheme voyages 1860-1874
• List of Cornish Immigrants extracted from passenger lists by the Immigration Office - Christchurch.
• Read: "A Brief Guide to Family History Sources at National Archives Christchurch Office".
• An enormous amount of information e.g. probates, but there also other interesting files. 

NZSG Canterbury Branch Library
Address: Shirley Community Centre, Shirley Road Christchurch 8001 
Hours: Thursdays 10am-3pm, Sat 2-4pm
Holdings: Canterbury School Indexes; Canterbury Registers in bound volumes; Cemetery Inscriptions; Over 3000 books and microfiche covering genealogical material for New Zealand and overseas; Parish registers, electoral rolls, etc. Good place to track down school records. 

Lyttelton Historical Museum
Gladstone Quay, Lyttelton
P.O. Box 91, Lyttelton 8033
Ph (03) 328-8972. Hours: 2pm-4pm Tues., Thurs., Sat., & Sun.
                                           2pm-4pm   Sat., & Sun. in winter
Holdings: Relates to Lyttelton area.  Includes ship logs, shipping records, shipping newspaper cuttings, photographs, maps.

Family History Centre
Address: 25 Fendalton Road, Christchurch 8001
Phone: (03) 355 6874
Hours: Tues., Wed., Thurs. 9.30am-3.30pm  Tues., Thurs. & Fri 7-9pm, Sat 9.30am-1pm
Holdings: IGI and Ancestral File; NZ BDM Indexes to 1990; Australian BDM Indexes including Pioneer Indexes; English Civil Registration Indexes 1837-1960 on microfiche; Scottish and Irish BDM Indexes; English Probate Indexes on film and microfiche; Apprentice Records; Boyd's Marriage Index; 1881 Census Index for Great Britain; National Archives Biographical Indexes; miscellaneous Australian material including Convict records; NZ Passenger lists; many small collections on microfiche for New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland and Ireland. Reference Book Section.

The NZ Family History Society
NZ  microfiche and IGI, BDM's for NZL, NSW, VIC, 1881 English census, etc.
399 Papanui Road Christchurch 8005
PO Box 13301, Armagh, Christchurch

The Macmillan Brown Library
University Of Canterbury Libraries are open to the general public although only members of the university, and graduates may get a borrowing card. 

LINZ
Land Information New Zealand (formerly Survey and Land Information)
Land and Title Services (formerly Lands and Deeds)
Level 3, Torrens House, 195 Hereford Street, Private Bag, Christchurch
Phone: (03) 379 9793

Christ's College Archives
Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch
Hours: Thursday 8.30am – 3.00pm

Links

• St Michael and All Angels Church is located to the south of the Bridge of Remembrance and it is a short walk along the Avon River from the Cathedral Square. The belfry was erected in 1861. The roof of this church is exceptionally fine, and the harmonious colouring of the woodwork, a rich brown, adds not a little to its effect. In 1890 this church was considered the most fashionable church in Christchurch, and boasted a large and wealthy congregation. The music here is very good, not quite so high class as that of the cathedral, but more congregational. The exterior of the church is very pretty, and it boasts of a quaint belfry detached from the main building which is, the relic of an older church which formerly occupied the site and was burnt down. Otago Witness May 8th 1890 pg 38.
   History. Jubilee souvenir, 1872-1922.16 p. found in the New Zealand Room, Christchurch Cities Libraries under New Zealand pamphlets. Opened on 20th July 1851 and on Sunday 24th July, a small organ which had been sent out from the old country, was played for the first time. The new church had caused considerable interest among the New Zealand natives and on the following Sunday, the congregation was greatly increased with the arrival of large numbers of Maoris. A flag was flown when ever a service was to be held in those days. By 1852 the school, Christ's College Grammar School, at the Lyttelton Immigration Barracks had moved to the vicarage at St Michael's on the corner of Oxford Terrace and Lichfield Street. Open: Daily noon-2. The white-timbered church was built in 1872.
  
  Brass bells on ships were rung by the lookout to announce the time, warn of fog, tell when the crew was weighing anchor and to alert all of fire.  There is a bell in the bell tower at St Michael's that came from England on one of the first ships. It and was rung every hour of daylight to indicate time to the early settlers. 
   

• Timeball Station image Outside viewing at all times, open 10am-5pm 7 days Nov.-Apr., and Sunday-Thursday May through October. Ph. (03) 328-7311 Info The ball drops at 1300 hours. (1 pm) The ball is 1.5 m diameter and takes 8 seconds to descend the 3 m. The ball is original, hollow, weighs 50 kgs. Built by prisoners from the former Lyttelton goal of Oamaru limestone and local scoria (volcanic stone).  From 1876 to 1934 a ball dropped from its mast signalling the time to ships in Lyttelton Harbour. The ball apparatus came from the German firm Siemens Bros., and the astronomical clock from Edward Dent & Co. of London, makers of the Big Ben clock. Use of the timeball was discontinued in 1934 when it was replaced by radio signals, though flag signals continued until 1941. The Siemens & Co. timeball has been completely restored to working order.
   

• Partial excerpts of Baptisms St Luke's Evangelist Church, Christchurch, NZ from 7 June 1874 - 29 July 1874 and 3 Oct. 1886 - 14 Nov. 1886  wayback
• Lyttelton has a couple of cemeteries where sailors from many countries are buried.
• Maritime History CHCH