- Westland Province
The Westland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1873 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The capital was
Hokitika .Area
The province covered an area roughly the same as the present day
Westland District , on the West Coast of New Zealand. The area was part ofCanterbury Province when the provinces were created in 1853. In 1868 the West Coast was separated from Canterbury Province with the formation of the County of Westland, with the boundary line defined as the crest of theSouthern Alps . In 1873 the County formed its own Province, the short-lived Westland Province.Anniversary Day
When John Hall resigned as Westland county chairman the government appointed
James Alexander Bonar . Bonar was chairman during the period of theFenian riots and is credited with "great tact in handling that explosive situation". In March 1868 he swore in 640 special constables to suppress anIrish nationalist procession inHokitika . Bonar was replaced byConrad Hoos , but later - when onDecember 1 1873 Westland split fromCanterbury Province - Bonar resumed, but as the provincial superintendent.New Zealand law still provides for a provincial anniversary day.Provincial Anniversary Day Provincial District "includes" Actual Day Observance Day Westland Westport, Greymouth December 1 Monday nearest to the actual day (Greymouth) uperintendents
* 1874
James Alexander Bonar [cite web
last = Foster
first = Bernard John
authorlink = Bernard John Foster
coauthors =
title = BONAR, James Alexander (1840–1901). Superintendent of Westland
work = An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock.
publisher = Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.
year = 1966
url = http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/B/BonarJamesAlexander/BonarJamesAlexander/en
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-10-09 ] [cite web
last = Minehan
first = Francis
authorlink = Francis Minehan
coauthors =
title = Bonar, James Alexander 1840 - 1901 Merchant, shipping agent, company director, politician
work = Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
publisher = Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.
date = 7 April 2006
url = http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=2B32
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-10-09 ]Legislation
No surviving legislation.
ource
* A page containing a map of the old provincial boundaries is available [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/brit-nz/whereto.htm here] .
* [http://rulers.org/newzprov.htm List at Rulers site with provincial superintendents]References
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