Westland Province

Westland
Provinces of New Zealand
Westland Province within New Zealand post 1873
Country	New Zealand
Island	South Island
Established	1873
Abolished	1876
Seat	Hokitika

The Westland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1873 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The capital was Hokitika.

The area was part of Canterbury 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, and this was primarily triggered by the West Coast Gold Rush. The boundary to Canterbury was defined as the crest of the Southern Alps. In 1873 the County formed its own Province, the short-lived Westland Province; it was the last of the 10 New Zealand provinces to be established.

The province covered an area roughly the same as the present day Westland District, on the West Coast of New Zealand. The boundary with the Nelson Province was, as per George Grey's proclamation from February 1853, the Grey and Arnold Rivers, Lake Brunner, and from there to the headwaters of the Hurunui River through then virtually unknown territory.

When John Hall resigned as Westland county chairman the government appointed James Bonar. Bonar was chairman during the period of the Fenian riots and is credited with "great tact in handling that explosive situation". In March 1868 he swore in 640 special constables to suppress an Irish nationalist procession in Hokitika. Bonar was replaced by Conrad Hoos, but later—when on 1 December 1873 Westland split from Canterbury Province—Bonar resumed, but as the provincial superintendent.

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