1898 in New Zealand

Incumbents

Regal and viceregal

• Head of State – Queen Victoria
• Governor – The Earl of Ranfurly GCMG

Government and law

The 13th New Zealand Parliament continues with the Liberal Party in power.

• Speaker of the House – Sir Maurice O'Rorke
• Prime Minister – Richard Seddon
• Minister of Finance – Richard Seddon
• Chief Justice – Hon Sir James Prendergast

Parliamentary opposition

Leader of the Opposition – William Russell.

Main centre leaders

• Mayor of Auckland – Peter Dignan followed by David Goldie
• Mayor of Christchurch – Walter Cooper followed by Charles Louisson
• Mayor of Dunedin – Edward Bowes Cargill followed by William Swan
• Mayor of Wellington – John Rutherfurd Blair

Events

• 1 December: W H Bartlett films the opening of the Auckland Industrial and Mining Exhibition. The film is screened on Christmas Eve at Bartlett's studio – the first public screening of a New Zealand film.
• Bell Tea is founded.

Arts and literature

Music

Sport

Athletics

National Champions, Men:

• 100 yards – George Smith (Auckland)
• 250 yards – Alfred J. Patrick (Wellington)
• 440 yards – R. Oliphant (Auckland)
• 880 yards – H. C. Garsia (Canterbury)
• 1 mile – S. Pentecost (Canterbury)
• 3 miles – S. Pentecost (Canterbury)
• 120 yards hurdles – Arthur H. Holder (Wanganui)
• 440 yards hurdles – George Smith (Auckland)
• Long jump – Alan Good (Wanganui)
• High jump – Hugh Good (Wanganui)
• Pole vault – Hori Eruera (Auckland)
• Shot put – Hugh Good (Wanganui)
• Hammer throw – J. Skinner (Auckland)

Chess

National Champion:

1. R.J. Barnes of Wellington. (Played over new year 1897/98)
2. R.A. Cleland of Dunedin (played December 1898)

Cricket

Golf

The National Amateur Championships were held in Christchurch

• Men – W. Pryde (Hutt)
• Women – K. Rattray (Otago)

Horse racing

Harness racing

• Auckland Trotting Cup (over 2 miles) is won by Duke C.

Thoroughbred racing

• New Zealand Cup – Tirant D’eau
• New Zealand Derby – Altair
• Auckland Cup – Uhlan - the first horse-race to be filmed in New Zealand
• Wellington Cup – Uniform

Season leaders (1897/98)

• Top New Zealand stakes earner – Multiform
• Leading flat jockey – W. Brown

Lawn Bowls

National Champions

• Singles – W. McIlwrick (Dunedin)
• Pairs – C. Nicholson and W. McLaren (skip) (Kaitangata)
• Fours – W. Cowie, C. Fynmore, M. Sinclair and A. Gillies (skip) (Dunedin)

Polo

• Savile Cup winners – Oroua

Rowing

National Champions (Men)

• Single sculls – J. McGrath (Otago)
• Double sculls – Otago
• Coxless pairs – Wellington
• Coxed fours – Picton

Rugby union

Provincial club rugby champions include: :see also :Category:Rugby union in New Zealand

Shooting

Ballinger Belt – Private J. McGregor (Oamaru Rifles)

Soccer

Provincial league champions:

• Auckland: Auckland United
• Otago: Wakari Dunedin
• Wellington: Wellington Rovers

Swimming

National champions (Men)

• 100 yards freestyle – A. Truscott (Canterbury)
• 440 yards freestyle – C. Rich (Canterbury)

Tennis

National champions

• Men's singles – J. Hooper
• Women's singles – Kathleen Nunneley
• Men's doubles – H. Parker and C. Gore
• Women's doubles – Kathleen Nunneley and E. Kennedy

Births

• 8 October: George Davidson, Olympic sprinter.

Deaths

• 2 January: John Cargill, politician (born 1821).
• 3 May: John Kerr, politician (born 1830).
• 29 June: Charles Parker, politician (born 1809).
• 15 July: Francis Dillon Bell, politician (born 1822).
• 31 October: William Gilbert Rees, explorer and settler (born 1827).
• 25 November: William Downie Stewart, politician (born 1842).
• 29 November: Thomas Forsaith, politician (born 1814).

References

;General

• Romanos, J. (2001) New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. ;Specific

References

1. Statistics New Zealand: ''New Zealand Official Yearbook, 1990''. ISSN 0078-0170 page 52
2. "Elections NZ – Leaders of the Opposition".
3. (1 Dec 1898). "First movie shot in New Zealand". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
4. Wilcox, Sarah. (11 March 2010). "Tea and coffee".
5. "National Athletics champions, Men".
6. [http://www.poisonpawn.co.nz/nzcftitles.htm List of New Zealand Chess Champions] {{webarchive. link. (14 October 2008)
7. (1966). "Men's Golf – National Champions". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
8. [http://www.hrnz.co.nz/data/major_races/major_race2.htm Auckland Trotting cup at hrnz.co.nz] {{webarchive. link. (17 June 2009)
9. As the New Zealand Bowling Association at this time consists entirely of South Island clubs, the first truly "national" championships are not deemed to have begun until [[1914 in New Zealand#Lawn Bowls. 1914]].
10. (1999). "New Zealand: List of champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
11. Jay Venables. "GEORGE DAVIDSON – OLYMPIAN".
12. Wilson, Jim. (1985). "New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984". V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer.