CAPÍTULO 4: MODELO GEOLÓGICO
4.4 EVOLUCIÓN DEL ARCO ALAO
Lincoln was born during momentous times. The American Civil War was raging, the North Island was fighting the Maori Wars, and thousands were flocking to the Otago and Westland gold fields. The closing years of the 19th century and the beginning of the next were just as exciting. In 1893 New Zealand women won the right to vote, in 1899 the Boer War broke out, Richard Seddon leader of the Liberal Party was Premier, in 1901 Queen Victoria died and was succeeded by her son, the Prince of Wales, who became Edward VII.
The franchise was a triumph for the women of New Zealand, and Lincoln women played their part. The names of local women who signed the petition seeking the franchise appear in the Lincoln Historical Society’s Newsletter No. 5 in July 1993, and include Jane Banks, M.A. Blythen, M. Doherty, S. and A. Haughton, Elizabeth and Annie Morrish and Jane Wolfe. Scrutiny of electoral rolls for the election following granting of the franchise shows that some were quick to take up that right. The event was so radical that the Bishops of Christchurch, Anglican and Roman Catholic, were constrained to make comment to their respective flocks.
Anglican Bishop Julius addressed a pastoral letter to the ladies of the diocese which was read in every parish. He outlined their responsibilities under the new act and urged all women to “exercise your right of voting, soberly, fearlessly, and as in the sight of God” in order to avoid the excesses of “a small and fanatical section of the community” (the suffragettes?) and to ensure that the true influence of women would not be lost to the country. On the same day Bishop Grimes addressed a meeting of Catholic women in much the same vein. He referred to the constitutional revolution which the country had gone through and although he knew that many had not wanted the franchise they now had a duty to register and to vote for the greater good. He fully supported the comments made by Bishop Julius and said that as the “eyes of the civilised world were upon them” they must exercise their vote.1 A hundred years later it is difficult to imagine the relief and concern with which this decision was received, but although the right to vote is firmly entrenched there are still issues which many women feel discriminate against them.
The Boer War of 1899–1902 saw a contingent of cavalry from Canterbury, including nine men from Lincoln district, fighting in the Transvaal. Their names are remembered on the Roll of Honour
in the Community Centre, and of these nine, three, J.H. Hurford, L. O’Callaghan and J. Thomas did not return. Patriotic Funds to support the boys overseas were set up and the Springs Road Board was asked to encourage subscriptions for this purpose. The slow response forced Board members to canvass their districts in order to solicit donations for the cause, and one hopes that they were successful. Shortly after the war began, several towns were laid under siege, the most famous being the siege of Mafeking. The British troops, under the command of Colonel Baden-Powell, later Lord Baden-Powell and founder of the Boy Scout movement, withstood the siege for 217 days and when relieved, celebrations were held throughout the empire. Lincoln was no exception and I quote in full The Star account of the celebrations here2.
The relief was celebrated in Lincoln in an enthusiastic manner. The church, school, fire and other bells were rung, the township meanwhile being decorated with bunting. In the evening the fun commenced properly. A couple of “Short Toms”, the very existence of which had been kept a close secret, were brought out. At seven o’clock they belched forth, and for two hours, under the supervision of Gunners Restall and Bartram, their roar was continuous. Volleys were fired by a squad of infantry [of the Defence Rifle Club, perhaps] under Corporal Doherty. Coloured fires, manipulated by Mr. Walton, and a display of fireworks, illuminated the scene. A huge bonfire was lighted, and as the spectators closed round, patriotic songs were sung with vigour. Mr. Cookson read the congratulatory telegram from the Acting-Premier and three hearty cheers having been given for Lord Roberts, Colonel Baden-Powell and Our Boys at the front, the assemblage dispersed, after spiritedly singing the National Anthem.
On January 22 1901 Queen Victoria died. The country was plunged into mourning, a sharp contrast to the jubilation of the previous year. Her death was the end of an era and marked the beginning of the twilight years of the British Empire which was to experience the trauma of two world wars in the first half of the 20th century.
At the turn of the century Lincoln was a small country village, and although its citizens played their part in national life, the village retained its rural character until the last three decades of the 20th century when sections east of the L1 began to fill up and development of surrounding farmland began to gain momentum. Lincoln in the 21st century is no longer a quiet rural village. Today it has a population of about 3000, an expanding commercial presence, and is a major centre for
agricultural and biological research. However, this account deals with the foundation years from 1862 to 1900, and it is left to others to take the story forward into the 20th and 21st centuries.
57. Aerial view of Lincoln in 1946. Courtesy of V. C. Browne.
Postscript
Since this account was written Canterbury, and Christchurch in particular, have been rocked by many devastating earthquakes. The first, of magnitude 7.1 magnitude, and centred on Darfield, struck at 4.35 am on Saturday 4 September, 2010, and the second on Tuesday 22 February 2011 at 12.51 pm. The first caused widespread damage, but took no lives, the second centred on Lyttelton wrecked that town, the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, the central business district of that city, and took nearly 200 lives. Lincoln was much more fortunate. The first shake damaged several buildings including the Famous Grouse Hotel and St. Stephen’s and St. Patrick’s churches, buildings at Lincoln University as well as some homes and many chimneys. The hotel was so badly damaged
that it was demolished. The second caused little damage, although parts of the surrounding countryside were badly affected by liquefaction, but in neither earthquake was there loss of life. Our town is built on deep clay loams which are much more stable than the sands and silts underlying some suburbs such as Halswell and Bexley and the town of Kaiapoi. In these and other suburbs liquefaction was widespread and terrifying.
The memory of these events, and the many aftershocks which followed, will remain with those who experienced it for the rest of their lives. Despite the trauma and grief for those who died and for our city, we are grateful for the help which poured in from around the world and know that the city in one form or another will rise from the ruins.
Sources and Notes
1. Star. 2 October 1893. See Papers Past
2. Ibid 21 May 1900. See Papers Past
58. The remains of the mill pond as seen from the Ryeland’s walkway. Courtesy of N. T. Moar.