95th Birthday!
What a wonderful day we had on the 21st October to celebrate 95 years of the formation of our association. Our patrons Arthur and Julia Northcote now living in Nelson, joined us. The sun…
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Latest Posts
Pilgrims Outing to Stoddarts Cottage in Diamond Harbour
On 15 April 2018, a hardy group of 14 enjoyed a great outing to Stoddarts Cottage in Diamond Harbour. After an exhilarating and adventurous crossing on the Ferry, (the wind picked up a bit making us mindful of the journeys…
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Annual General Meeting
Join us for our AGM and see Wedding items from the past or just come along to hear what we are about and our plan for the year. Wonderful speakers and outings planned. 2PM 18th March 2018 – Hao Room…
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Cracroft House Visit
Wonderful outing today. Members were lucky to have an insightful tour and talk at the Old Stone House in Shalimar Drive Cashmere. Hearing the history of John Cracroft Wilson’s historic servants’ quarters and the tenacity of locals to ensure this…
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The ‘Cressy’
For the Canterbury Centenary in 1950, the New Zealand Post Office issued a set of stamps. The 3d stamp depicts John Robert Godley, leader of the Canterbury Association’s venture and the Founder of the Province. And behind the statue of…
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The ‘Cressy’ arrives in Lyttelton 27 December 1850
Today I stood on the exact spot where, on this day 167 years ago, my great-great-great-grandmother Mrs Martha King and her four children, Hannah, Jane, Sarah and Charles, came ashore after disembarking from the barque ‘Cressy’ which arrived in…
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Canterbury Founder Farewelled 1852
“For the last five years, ever since the plan of founding a settlement of Church People in New Zealand was first suggested to me…the thought of it has hardly been for a moment out of my mind; I have become,…
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Christchurch’s First Christmas 1848
On the 27th March 1848, the day the Canterbury Association was founded, the dream that was to become Christchurch was born. Although at the time, the Port Cooper (Canterbury) Plains was just one of the options, by the month of…
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Anniversary Day Celebrations 1923
Anniversary Day Celebrations: Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17947, 15 December 1923 BOTANIC GARDENS TO-DAY. To-day the residents of Christchurch will honour the pioneers, and entertain the few remaining passengers by the first four ships und members of the Canterbury Pilgrims’…
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Anniversary Day 1940
Unveiling of Bollard 16 December 1940 The social gathering of the Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association, annually held on or near Anniversary Day, December 16, took an unusual form this year. It was held on Saturday morning on the…
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