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1840 in New Zealand

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1840
in
New Zealand

Decades:
See also:

1840 is considered a watershed year in the history of New Zealand: The Treaty of Waitangi is signed, British sovereignty over New Zealand is proclaimed, organised European settlement begins, and Auckland and Wellington are both founded.

Population

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The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1840 is 80,000 Māori and 2,050 non-Māori.[1]

Incumbents

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Regal and viceregal

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Government and law

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Hobson appointed the following officers to form the first New Zealand Government;[2]

  • Major Thomas Bunbury, 80th Regiment, commanding her Majesty's Troops in New Zealand, appointed us Magistrate of the Territory – 30 March 1840.
  • Willoughby Shortland, Esq, J.P... Acting Colonial Secretary and registrar of records — 7 March 1840.
  • Felton Mathews, Esq, J.P., Surveyor General — 1 January 1840.
  • John Johnson, Esq, M.D, J.P, Colonial Surgeon— 6 February 1840.[3]
  • William Davies, Esq, M.D., Surgeon, Health Officer— 1 June 1840.
  • William Cornwallis Symonds, Esq, Police Magistrate— 17 March 1840.
  • Charles Barrington Robinson, Esq, Police Magistrate— 28 March 1840.[4]
  • Michael Murphy Esq, Police Magistrate— 30 March. 1810.
  • H.D. Smart, Lieutenant 28th Regiment, Magistrate of the Territory — 1 January 1840.[5]
  • James Heady Clendon Esq, Magistrate of the Territory — 21 February 1840.
  • Thomas Beckham Esq, Magistrate of the Territory— 17 March 1810.[6]
  • Mr William Mason, Superintendent of Public Works— 1 March 1840.[7]
  • Mr Charles Logie, Colonial Storekeeper — 15 January 1840.[8]

Events

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January — June

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  • 3 January — The Cuba arrives in Port Nicholson with a survey party to prepare for the New Zealand Company settlement.[9]
  • 22 January — The first shipload of New Zealand Company immigrants arrives in Wellington on the Aurora and lands at Petone, which they name Britannia.[10]
  • 29 January — Lieutenant-Governor Captain William Hobson arrives in the Bay of Islands.[11] With Hobson are the members of the Executive Council, Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland, Colonial Treasurer George Cooper and Attorney-General Francis Fisher and the Legislative Council comprising the Executive Council and three Justices of the Peace.
  • 5 February — Māori chiefs assemble at Waitangi to discuss the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi.[11]
  • 6 February — Hōne Heke is the first to sign the Treaty of Waitangi at the Bay of Islands.[11]
  • 19 February — French settlers under the command of Captain C. Lavaud, unaware of the Treaty of Waitangi, depart France in the L’Aube on their way to Akaroa.[12] (see 1838)
  • 1 March — Governor Hobson suffers a stroke.
  • 24 March — The first bank in New Zealand, the Union Bank, is opened in Britannia.
  • March
  • 6 April — George Clarke is appointed Protector of Aborigines by Governor Hobson.[14]
  • 18 April — The New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator prints its second issue in Britannia, becoming the first newspaper published in New Zealand. The first issue was printed in England the previous year. The paper publishes weekly, changing its name to The New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator a few months later.[15]
  • 21 May — Governor Hobson proclaims British sovereignty over New Zealand.
  • May
    • — First capital established at Okiato, which was at the time named Russell.
    • — Reverend James Watkin, sent by Johnny Jones, arrives at Waikouaiti and starts the first mission in the South Island.[13]
  • 15 June — The New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette begins publishing in Kororāreka. The newspaper publishes its last issue on 10 December 1840.[16] It was suppressed because of anti-government tendencies.[17]
  • 16 June — HMS Herald, Captain Joseph Nias, arrives at Port Underwood with Major Thomas Banbury to obtain signatures from southern chiefs to the Treaty of Waitangi. The final signatures are added the next day.[18][19] Later in the month the Herald arrives in Stewart Island where Banbury formally takes possession of the island in the name of Queen Victoria.[20]

July — December

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Undated

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Births

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Statistics New Zealand has collated estimates from a number of sources (extrapolating where necessary) at "Long-term data series". Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008., in particular "A1.1 Total population.xls". Archived from the original (Excel) on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  2. ^ "Only a few left". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. ^ "ENZB – 1959 – Taylor, N. (ed.) Early Travellers in New Zealand [Selected Accounts — Some Augmented with Missing Sections] – JOHN JOHNSON. Notes from a Journal [including omitted sections], p 113-185". www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Mr. C. B Robinson". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  5. ^ The New Zealand Journal, Volume 1. London: H. H. Chambers. 1840. p. 141.
  6. ^ "Mr. Thomas Beckham | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Mr. William Mason | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Colonial Storekeeper". To the Warrior his Arms. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. ^ Today in History | NZHistory
  10. ^ a b Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 499.
  11. ^ a b c Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 486.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 4.
  13. ^ a b Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 472.
  14. ^ New Zealand Encyclopaedia 1966: George Clarke Biography
  15. ^ "New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  16. ^ "Chapter 2: Early Statistical Sources — 19th Century" (PDF). Statistical Publications 1840–2000. Statistics New Zealand. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2007.
  17. ^ a b c Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 388.
  18. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 457.
  19. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 149.
  20. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p.405.
  21. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 45.
  22. ^ "History — Auckland City". The Viaduct. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  23. ^ a b Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 18.
  24. ^ Dinah Holman, Newmarket Lost and Found, 2nd edition, The Bush Press of New Zealand, Auckland, 2010, p. 247.
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Media related to 1840 in New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons