This week in Christchurch history (7 – 13 October)

9 October 1962
Christchurch Town Hall site chosen in Kilmore Street. Assisted by advice from visiting Professor Gordon Stephenson, the unanimously accepted proposal ended years of dispute over this choice. Other sites considered were the old public library site in Hereford Street and an area near Latimer Square. Another often debated site was Victoria Square.

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.

A timeline of Christchurch events in
chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.

More October events in the Chronology.