Christchurch – this week in history (8 – 14 October)

10 October 1885
Life insurance fraud (The Case of the Severed Hand) at Taylor’s Mistake. The perpetrator, Arthur Howard, was sentenced to 2 years prison on April 11 the following year.

11 October 1989

The Ngai Tahu land claims : a South Island hui : Maori gathering at Tuahiwi, North Canterbury. [1925]

Waitangi Tribunal Hearing of land claim by Ngai Tahu closes at Tuahiwi Marae.

12 October 1939
Battery point guns in Lyttelton Harbour accidentally sink fishing boat “Dolphin”. 1 man killed.

13 October 1986
Sir Hamish Hay begins his fifth and final term as Mayor of Christchurch.

14 October 1989
Vicki Buck, first woman and youngest to be elected, wins Christchurch Mayoralty.

More October events in our Christchurch chronology.