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A timeline of some Christchurch events in chronological order from 1700s to 1989.
Go to a year between 1700 & 1989
Begin at the beginning 
This week in history
- July 1, 1862
- New Zealand’s first telegraph in operation between Christchurch and Lyttelton.
- July 1, 1865
- Lyttelton Harbour breakwaters begun.
- July 1, 1865
- Severe thunderstorm. Man killed by lightning at Avonside.
- July 1, 1935
- Evening papers "Star" and "Sun" merge to become the "Star Sun", ending a 6 year newspaper war, the longest and most bitter in New Zealand’s history. The "peace" agreement between the 3 companies concerned also saw the demise of the "Christchurch Times" (once the "Lyttelton Times"), the oldest daily paper in the country.
- July 1, 1985
- Open road speed limit raised from 80 kph to 100 kph.
- July 4, 1902
- New Zealand Boxing Association formed in City.
- July 4, 1977
- Hundreds evacuated as serious flooding affects City.
- July 6, 1887
- Heavy floods. 3 young men drown in the Avon River as a result of a boating mishap.
- July 7, 1908
- Widespread flooding in city and province.
- July 7, 1986
- Heavy rain floods northern suburbs of city.
