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1883
- January 3
- Graving dock in Lyttelton Harbour officially opens.
- January 26
- New Zealand Shipping Company begins direct steam service to the United Kingdom.
- February 16
- Belfast Freezing Works (the first in the Christchurch area) begin operation.
- March 20
- Sumner Town Board’s first meeting.
- March 30
- Two young boys die of exposure on the Port Hills. Monuments can still be seen near the Rapaki Track.
- April 8
- First shipment of frozen "Canterbury lamb" leaves Lyttelton for the United Kingdom on the "British King".
- May
- Woolston (now Skellerup Woolston) Brass Band formed.
- December 7
- Second Industrial Exhibition opens.
