This flag will again fly in Cathedral Square. Some of you will recognise it as the Somes House Flag. Adopted flag of the Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers’ it will fly proudly to commemorate the arrival of the first four Canterbury Association Ships into Canterbury in 1850.
Look out for the distinctive flag with red cross on white background , gold anchor on blue background in the upper left corner, flying from flagpoles in two separate locations, Cathedral Square, Christchurch and Albion Square, Lyttelton, between 11th and 18th December.
Joseph Somes was Deputy Governor of the New Zealand Company and owner of the sailing vessel, Charlotte Jane. As she sailed into Port Cooper (Lyttelton) on December 16th 1850 she carried aboard the Somes House Flag which has gained even more symbolic meaning over the years. For several days the residents of the area had been on the lookout for the first signs of four immigrant ships to arrive.When the Charlotte Jane with flag flying high was spotted entering the head of the harbour, locals and dignitaries scrambled to assemble a welcome for the new arrivals.
John Robert Godley met the passengers as they came ashore as depicted in the mural near Pilgrims Rock in Lyttelton..
Next week Saturday 16th December we celebrate 167 years since that day by gathering at 10 am around Pilgrims’ Rock for a short service and time of personal reflection.
About the flag
From a Canterbury Pilgrim and Early Settler Newsletter- the Somes House flag.
A white ensign with an anchor on the inner canton. It was awarded to Joseph Somes, a shipping owner, as a reward to him for services to the Government (UK) in time of need. Joseph Somes was chief promoter of the New Zealand Company and the Canterbury settlement. Later his wife ,then a widow, purchased in London from the Association before the settlement was formed, fifty acres for £150. When the ballot was drawn Mrs Somes name was the first one drawn and she stated that the land was to be used for religious and useful learning. It was the start of Christ’s College. We know the flag as the ‘Charlotte Jane’ flag.