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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
- June 9, 1851
- “Steadfast” arrives with settlers.
- June 9, 1862
- Municipal Council approves first street lighting (62 kerosene lamps).
- June 9, 1869
- Earthquake damages many buildings including the stone (second) Town Hall.
- June 9, 1917
- Sign of the Kiwi opens.
- June 9, 1937
- Citizens War Memorial unveiled in Cathedral Square.
- June 10, 1868
- William Wilson elected first Mayor of Christchurch.
- June 10, 1935
- John Drew and poet/typographer Dennis Glover founded Caxton Press to publish New Zealand literature. Most of the decade’s best writers were first published by the company.
- June 11, 1982
- Hamish Hay, Mayor of Christchurch since 1974, knighted in Queen’s Birthday honours.
- June 12, 1848
- “Kemp’s Deed” signed by Ngai Tahu giving the New Zealand Company control of land from Kaiapoi to Otago.
- June 13, 1909
- Cafe Continental Hotel at Sumner destroyed by fire.
- June 14, 1923
- New Zealand permanent Air Force established at Sockburn as the Government takes over the Canterbury Aviation Company. Included in the take-over was Sockburn Aerodrome, which was re-named Wigram a few days later.
- June 14, 1977
- Worst ever daytime smog levels - 750 micrograms per cubic metre. But this is only a quarter of the worst night levels. See 1975.
- June 15, 1842
- William Deans leaves Wellington to look for suitable farmland in the South Island.
- June 15, 1850
- Canterbury’s first European wedding - marriage of architect Samuel Farr.
- June 15, 1874
- Canterbury College (University) opens. A subsequent public protest prevented its proposed buildings from being sited in what are now the Botanic Gardens.
