Fire claims school, houses, businesses
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It was a busy year for Marlborough firefighters in 1888, Cherie Howie discovers.
FIRE, by foul means or fair, proved a major feature in the lives of Marlburians in 1888.
The year started quietly, with memorable events including the Church of the Nativity holding organ concerts by moonlight in a Grove Rd parishioner's garden, attracting 500 people, and the Hibernian athletic sports held in a Maxwell Rd paddock.
However, on April 10 three businesses burned down: Carr's Hardware Store, Scollard's Tailors and J.T. Mowat's wool store.
The fiery spell took an even darker turn three months later when arsonists set alight houses and a shop.
One poor resident was even bound and gagged in their own house by the arsonists.
Even spring didn't bring an end to the drama, with Blenheim Borough School burnt down on September 26 and a major fire in Earll and McKenzie's Grove Rd livery stables the following month.
Perhaps the town clerk should've extended his parade hours. As part of his duties, the clerk walked the streets between 8am and 9am each day with ''eye, ear and nose cocked for sights, sounds and smells that constitute a nuisance''.
It wasn't all bad.
A report of gold at Mahakipawa causes great excitement in Blenheim, while keen rollerskaters were catered for when a rink opened in Ewart's Hall on High St in April.
Maybe the highlight of the year was the opening of a new drill shed in Seymour St. That doesn't happen every day.
Working men also began the process of creating their own sanctuary with the Workingmen's Club formed on September 28. Mr J. Kirby was named the club's first president.
The country's national sport cemented its place in the province with the formation of the Marlborough Rugby Union on June 27. Former mayor H. Dodson was chosen as the union's first president.
Other progress included the council's inclusion in the Municipal Association of New Zealand and designs for the Alfred St bridge being the subject of a public competition.
A tender for 2450 was also accepted for the building of a new Criterion Hotel in wood and iron. The hotel had been destroyed by fire the previous year.
Source: The First Hundred 1869-1969 by A (Sandy) Beverley
Mayor: Mr GW Riley
Councillors: E Bythell, W Cooke, JB Green, H Jellyman, JJ Sinclair, R McArtney, G Houldsworth, W Ching, WB Parker
New Zealand
Rocked: North Canterbury, by a strong earthquake, which severely damaged farm buildings and knocked the top seven metres off Christchurch Cathedral's spire. The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated atbetween 7.0 and 7.3 on the richter scale.
Sighted: The friendly dolphin, Pelorus Jack, for the first time in Cook Strait.
Toured: New Zealand, for the first time, by the British Isles rugby team. The visitors won all but one of their games.
Departed: The first New Zealand Native rugby team to visit Britain at the end of the year.
The World
Born: T E Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia, British liaison officer during the Arab Revolt and later writer and academic.
Died: Former King of Prussia and the first German Emperor, Wilhelm I, at the age of 90.
Recorded: Handel's Israel in Egypt onto wax cylinder at The Crystal Palace, making it the earliest known recording of classical music.
Began: Jack the Ripper's killing spree in London's East End. He eventually murdered five women.
- The Marlborough Express
