# 1894 in New Zealand

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The following lists events that happened during 1894 in New Zealand.

## Incumbents
### Regal and viceregal

* Head of State – Queen Victoria
* Governor – David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow

### Government and law

The 12th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Liberal Party in power.
* Speaker of the House – Sir Maurice O'Rorke becomes Speaker for the second time, replacing William Steward
* Prime Minister – Richard Seddon
* Minister of Finance – Joseph Ward
* Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

### Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – William Russell.

### Main centre leaders

* Mayor of Auckland – James Holland
* Mayor of Christchurch – Eden George followed by Thomas Gapes
* Mayor of Dunedin – Henry Fish
* Mayor of Wellington – Alfred Brandon

## Events

* 30 October: Luxury steamer SS Wairarapa, carrying 230 passengers from Sydney bound for Auckland, is wrecked on Great Barrier Island with the loss of 135 lives.

### Undated

* American balloonist Leila Adair tours New Zealand. She is possibly the first woman to fly in New Zealand.
* New Zealand enacts the world's first national minimum wage law, by the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

## Sport

Leonard Cuff is appointed a Founding Member of the International Olympic Committee. He remains the member for both New Zealand and Australia until 1905.

### Athletics

National Champions, Men
* 100 yards – Jack Hempton (Wellington)
* 250 yards – H. Reeves (Canterbury)
* 440 yards – W. Low (Otago)
* 880 yards – W. Low (Otago)
* 1 mile – C. Morpeth (Otago)
* 3 miles – C. Morpeth (Otago)
* 120 yards hurdles – Harold Batger (Wellington)
* 440 yards hurdles – Harold Batger (Wellington)
* Long jump – Wallingford Mendelson (South Canterbury)
* High jump – H. Bailey (Wellington)
* Pole vault –H. Kingsley (Wanganui)
* Shot put – O. McCormack (Wellington)
* Hammer throw – O. McCormack (Wellington)

### Chess

National Champion: J. Edwards, of Wellington.

### Golf

* The 2nd National Amateur Championships were held in Christchurch
** Men: H. Macneil (Otago)
** Women : Mrs C. Wilder

### Horse racing
#### Harness racing

* Auckland Trotting Cup (over 3 miles) is won by Tom Hicks

#### Thoroughbred racing

* New Zealand Cup – Impulse
* New Zealand Derby – Blue Fire
* Auckland Cup – Lottie
* Wellington Cup – Vogengang

#### Season leaders (1893/94)

* Top New Zealand stakes earner – Blue Fire
* Leading flat jockey – J. Connop

### Lawn Bowls

The pairs championship is held for the first time. National Champions
* Singles – T. Sneddon (Kaituna)
* Pairs – T. Sneddon and H. Reid (skip) (Kaituna)
* Fours – J. Davidson, A. Owen, J. Wedderspoon and J. Evans (skip) (Caledonian)

### Polo

* Savile Cup winners – Rangitikei

### Rowing

National Champions (Men)
* Single sculls – M. Keefe (Auckland)
* Double sculls – Union, Christchurch
* Coxless pairs – Union, Christchurch
* Coxed fours – Lyttelton

### Rugby union

Provincial club rugby champions include:

### Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Captain E. Smith (Dunedin City Guards)

### Soccer

Provincial Champions:
* Auckland: Alliance United
* Wellington: Wellington Rovers
* Otago: Roslyn Dunedin

### Swimming

National Champions (Men)
* 100 yards freestyle – T. Needham (New South Wales, Australia)
* 220 yards freestyle – W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)
* 440 yards freestyle – W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)
* 880 yards freestyle – W. Gormley (New South Wales, Australia)

### Tennis

National championships
* Men's singles – M. Fenwicke
* Women's singles – M. Spiers
* Men's doubles – J. Marshall and P. Marshall
* Women's doubles – P. Chapman and M. Nicholson

## Births

* 2 February – Rongowhakaata Pere Halbert, Māori leader, historian, interpreter, genealogist
* 24 February – Victor Spencer, soldier executed in World War I, pardoned in 2000
* 1 June – Paraire Karaka Paikea, politician
* 14 July: – Paddy Kearins, politician.
* 21 July – Toko Rātana, Rātana church leader and politician
* 13 August: – Fintan Patrick Walsh, trade unionist.
* 10 November: – Andrew Davidson, educationalist

## Deaths

* 5 June: Vincent Pyke, politician
* 16 September: Robert Hart, politician.