Down the Avon to New Brighton, 1890 – Notes on a Christchurch Trip
The Avon is a lovely river. Of course I know that many people will say that it is no better... More »
In Defense of the Christchurch Girl
The Christchurch Girl According to the Press, feeble out of doors, useless in domestic duties, the Christchurch girl’s most deplorable... More »
September 1888 – the most destructive earthquake since the Canterbury Pilgrims landed
Shortly after 4 o’clock this morning the whole of the South and a portion of the North Island was shaken... More »
“Would to God I had never heard the name of New Zealand”
“To tell you is a great task, for I can assure you it is a most awful country,” wrote James Boot... More »
1901 Earthquake – a warning for Greengrocers & ‘Portly Ladies’
Earthquakes in Christchurch are not unusual events, we’ve been beset with them since European settlement began – and no doubt... More »
Julius von Haast and his milk can seismometer
German born colonist, Sir Julius von Haast, was an explorer, specialising in geology. Amongst his many achievements was the founding... More »
A Poor Joke! A Premonition of What Was Yet to Come.
This photographically produced postcard of Christchurch’s Provincial Government buildings, appearing twisted and warped, was a semi-humorous card sent out at Christmas after... More »
Christchurch – Dull and as Flat as a Kitchen Table 1880′s
In 1886, an English woman who called herself ‘Hopeful’, wrote of her experiences after emigrating to Christchurch, New Zealand. She... More »
Government Geologist reports on ‘extraordinary earthquake phenomena’
After the September, 1888 earthquake centred in Hanmer caused extensive damage to the Christchurch cathedral, the government geologist, Alexander McKay... More »
A Victorian ‘Gent’ of Christchurch
Mortimer Cashman Corliss was a true Victorian patriarch, gentleman and government servant who lived in Christchurch for most of his... More »