Today in History

1859 NZ's first lighthouse, Pencarrow, lit for the first time

The lighthouse on Pencarrow Head, near Wellington, was lit for the first time amid great celebration. The New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian reported that its lighting on New Year's Day 1859 would ‘be a day not soon forgotten by the settlers of Wellington’. After years of inadequate solutions Wellington finally had a permanent lighthouse – a New Zealand first.

Throughout the day many settlers took the opportunity to take a trip out to their new lighthouse on board the SS Wonga Wonga. A morning excursion, which left just before 10 a.m., had about 65 people on board. An afternoon excursion, which left at 4 p.m., was a much more crowded affair. So many people arrived to board the vessel that some had to be turned away. But while those on the morning trip reportedly had more room to dance to the Hanoverian Band, those on the afternoon excursion undoubtedly had the more special trip.

At approximately 7 p.m. the ‘afternoon’ excursion of the SS Wonga Wonga anchored off Pencarrow. Up to 40 people, including officials, went ashore and made their way up to the lighthouse. Once there they were shown the workings of the light by Edward Wright, the engineer who supervised its construction. A few days later the Spectator reported that:

All those who have seen the [b]uilding speak of it in the highest terms as a most creditable piece of workmanship and reflecting great credit upon Mr Wright and others concerned in its construction.

As dusk drew near the light was lit for the first time by Wellington's provincial superintendent, Isaac Featherston. He was a fitting choice, having forged ahead with the construction of the lighthouse despite opposition from the general government. After it was lit, those remaining on board became concerned as to the ‘apparent inefficiency’ of the light. But this ‘disappointment soon gave way to feeling of pleasure’ on their return when they came into its focus and saw the light ‘in all its brilliancy’.

1951 Legislative Council abolished

Today there are two parts to Parliament – the House of Representatives (or the Lower House) and the Governor-General, but between 1854 and 1951 there was a third part, the Legislative Council (or the Upper House).

The Legislative Council was made up of members who were appointed rather than elected. Its major role was to amend or revise the legislation passed in the House of Representatives.

The council was meant to be New Zealand's equivalent of the British House of Lords and play an independent and influential role. This did not happen, and the council never had too much to do. Once governments could appoint its members – a role they soon took from the governor, although he still approved the nominees – the council's independence weakened, especially when governments stacked it to suit their own purposes.

Every now and again council members bucked against the government. The big showdown came in 1891 when the council obstructed the policies of the Liberal government. Trying to stack the council backfired when the governor refused to approve the nominees; Britain finally ordered him to co-operate. From then on, there would be no chance of an independent council, but it gave governments an attractive way of rewarding loyal Members of Parliament.

The last Legislative Council, appointed in 1950, was known as the 'suicide squad'. Its 25 new members were appointed by the National government to make sure that the Legislative Council Abolition Bill was passed. It did, and the Council sat for the final time on 1 December 1950 (the Act came into effect on 1 January 1951). No one was too upset at its demise and few people turned up to watch its last moments. At the very end, the Council members linked arms in the centre of the chamber, sang 'Auld Lang Syne', followed by the National Anthem, and filed out of the place.