Wigram, Henry F.

From CollabLandWiki

Wigram, H. 1916. The Story of Christchurch. Christchurch: Capper Press Ltd.

An insight to the arrival and settlement of the colonials in Christchurch. I only read the two first chapters. The reading was done with interest in whether Christchurch and/or Cathedral Square could ever be considered a democratic city or space.

Explains breifly how Christchurch was to be developed as one of two southern colonial settlements (the other being Dunedin), but (Christchurch) was to have a strong religious and education endowment in connection with the church of England. It mentions the money to be invested into the settlement from the sales of land which includes the funding of churches and education facilities. Outlined is the person outside of the company whom will help with this but this is a particular person consisting of "bishops and clergymen, peers, members of parliament and intending colonists of the higher class.”

The person who the land is to be sold to is also outlined as "selected emigrants, members of the Church of England, and of good character.”

Points

• It is hard to accept the settlement, especially the society intended for the settlement to be democratic. It is an seems to be an idealist settlement of in the perception of a higher class English person. This does not make the settlement negative but more establishing that this influence has been key in the development of Christchurch.