The following lists events that happened during 1874 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State — Queen Victoria Governor — The Rt. Hon Sir James Fergusson resigns and is replaced by The Marquess of Normanby Government and law The 5th New Zealand Parliament continues. Speaker of the House — Sir Francis Dillon Bell Premier — Julius Vogel. Minister of Finance — Julius Vogel Chief Justice — Hon Sir George Arney Main centre leaders Mayor of Auckland — Philip Philips followed by Henry Isaacs followed by Frederick Prime Mayor of Christchurch — Michael Brennan Hart followed by Fred Hobbs Mayor of Dunedin — Henry Fish followed by Andrew Mercer Mayor of Wellington — Charles Borlase Events 1 January: Wreck of the Surat, carrying 271 passengers and 37 crew, on the Catlins coast. All survived. 5 January: The Poverty Bay Herald begins publishing in Gisborne. It is initially bi-weekly. The paper changed its name to The Gisborne Herald in 1939, and continues to publish as a daily . 15 January: The Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, first published in 1842, produces its last issue. 30 June: The Wellington Independent publishes its final issue, and is replaced by The New Zealand Times. The newspaper started in 1845. 18 November: Fire and sinking of the Cospatrick carrying emigrants to New Zealand near the Cape of Good Hope; one of New Zealand's worst disasters as only three of the 472 on board survived. The Marlborough Times begins publication bi-weekly, and absorbs The Marlborough News. It became a daily in 1882. The Marlborough Express bought it in 1895 and closed it in 1905. The Marine Department employs Capt. B.A. Edwin to provide weather maps and forecasts to ships, establishing New Zealand's first weather service. Sport Horse racing 25 May — Recorded by some sources as the date of first race meeting at Ellerslie.(see also 1857) The Auckland Cup is established at Ellerslie Racecourse. The Wellington Cup becomes an annual race. The first winner of which evidence survives is recorded. Major race winners New Zealand Cup: Tambourini New Zealand Derby: Tadmor Auckland Cup: Templeton Wellington Cup: Castaway Rugby union Rugby union spreads quickly, with many new clubs being formed: Ngāruawāhia, Hamilton, Cambridge, New Plymouth (Taranaki club) Hawera (Egmont club), Parnell, Grafton, Ponsonby, and Mount Hobson. Rugby was also taken up at Auckland College and Auckland Grammar School. Shooting Ballinger Belt: Captain Skinner (Waiuku