Part II.
Chapter XVIII.
After the abolition of provinces—Retrospect—The freezing process, and its effect on Canterbury—The West Coast Railway.
The Abolition of Provinces Act came into operation on November 1, 1876, and, with the disappearance of the Provincial Council of Canterbury, went the last definite link of the connection of the city of Christchurch with its founders, for the Provincial Council was itself the lineal successor of the Canterbury Association. Henceforward the control of all the provinces of New Zealand was to be vested in one General Government.
The occasion seems fitting for making a short retrospect of the progress already accomplished. The foundation of Canterbury is generally dated from December 16, 1850, and nearly twenty-six years had elapsed since the arrival on that day of the first of the pilgrims. In the interval, representative Government had been established; the city of Christchurch had been laid out and placed under its own municipal control. The settlement had its own Bishop, and had laid the foundations of its Cathedral Church. It had established Christ’s College, and had, in Canterbury College, the Public Library and Museum, made provision for the higher education.
Outside the boundaries of the city the settlement had made similar progress—rivers had been bridged, roads and railways constructed. Communication with the port had been established, first by the old Bridle Track,
