Jump to content

51

Canterbury Provincial Government Archives 1853-1877

2023

Arguably the most extensive extant example of our provincial government archives

These records were created within a classic mid-nineteenth century, registry-based recordkeeping system, typical of British colonial administration in Australasia.

The Canterbury Provincial Government had control of the following functions: land, immigration, public works (including railways), goldfields administration, education, public health and social welfare, police and justice. The archives consist of some 470 boxes of papers, 240 volumes and 20 map folders, roughly 35,000 discrete, listed items.

Although containing over 150 documents relating to Ngāi Tahu, the archives have to be recognised as the colonisers’ recordkeeping system, and their content reflects this. These archives also provide a significant record of the West Coast goldrush and its attendant communities, an area which was part of Canterbury until 1867, and for which there is a notable lack of archives.

The collection is held in the Christchurch repository of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga.

Archive Location

‘Sketch for Laying Out of Town Belt’. [Part of] R26299938 – CH287 – CP594/d22 – PPC – Session 9 – Report on the State of Public Works – Edward Dobson, Provincial Engineer, 1858.

Master of the Lyttelton Orphanage requests permission to refuse entry to alleged prostitutes wishing to visit their children/siblings. Image shows first page of letter from Jane (Jinnie) Crawford to her five siblings in the Orphanage.[Part of] R22679759 – CH287 – ICPS 1666/1872 – Giraud, Lyttelton Orphanage to Provincial Secretary – objectionable visitors to Orphanage – 1872.

Master of the Lyttelton Orphanage requests permission to refuse entry to alleged prostitutes wishing to visit their children/siblings. Image shows second page of letter from Jane (Jinnie) Crawford to her five siblings in the Orphanage. [Part of] R22679759 – CH287 – ICPS 1666/1872 – Giraud, Lyttelton Orphanage to Provincial Secretary – objectionable visitors to Orphanage – 1872.

Letter from Ihaia Tainui in te reo Māori. Part of R22192744 – CH287 – ICPS 570A-1863 – James Stack – Translations of Māori letters, 1863.

James Stack – Translations of Māori letters, 1863. Translation of Ihaia Tainui letter. Part of R22192744 – CH287 – ICPS 570A-1863.

Image shows Provincial Council Chamber seating plan by Provincial Architects Bury & Mountfort – 1866. [Part of] R8417789 – CH287 – ICPW 1903/1867 – Large file on Provincial Council Chamber and Government Buildings.

R22678550 – CH287 – ICPS 1167/1867 – Doyle and Co. to Provincial Secretary – Estimate for printing stationery, 1866.

Image shows plan of riverside grounds of Government Buildings – 1866[Part of] R8417789 – CH287 – ICPW 1903/1867 – Large file on Provincial Council Chamber and Government Buildings.

Discover
more

Nomination submission

Related
Inscriptions