The following lists events that happened during 1870 in New Zealand. Incumbents Regal and viceregal Head of State – Queen Victoria Governor – Sir George Ferguson Bowen Government and law The 4th New Zealand Parliament continues. Speaker of the House – Sir David Monro stands down at the end of the year. He will be replaced after the 1871 election by Sir Francis Dillon Bell Premier – William Fox Minister of Finance – Julius Vogel Chief Justice – Hon Sir George Arney Voting in New Zealand elections is changed to a secret ballot. Main centre leaders Mayor of Christchurch – John Anderson followed by Andrew Duncan Mayor of Dunedin – Thomas Birch followed by Henry Fish Mayor of Wellington – Joseph Dransfield Events 27 August – 3 September: Second visit by Prince Alfred, returning briefly to Wellington before departing for Sydney. Torrens system of registered land titles adopted. Sport Archery The first club meets at One Tree Hill, Auckland. Golf New Zealand's first golf course was opened in Dunedin. Horse racing There are 2 races for both the New Zealand Cup and New Zealand Derby (presumably at the beginning and end of the calendar year).(Confirmation required) Major race winners New Zealand Cup: Knottingley New Zealand Cup: Knottingley New Zealand Derby: Malabar New Zealand Derby: Envy Rugby union Charles Monro, son of the Speaker of the House, Sir David Monro, introduces rugby to the Nelson Football club. 14 May – First rugby club match, Nelson College versus Nelson Football Club "The Town" at the Botanical reserve. This was the first interclub game of rugby union played in New Zealand. 12 September – A Nelson team, the "Lunatics", defeats Wellington at Petone. – The first "international" between Wellington and a team from HMS Rosario. Shooting Ballinger Belt: Lieutenant Goldie (Otago) Births February (no date): Arthur Withy, journalist and politician. 14 April: James Cowan, writer. 20 October: C. F. Goldie, painter. Deaths 5 July: Henry Powning Stark, politician and sharebroker. 16 July: Elizabeth Guard, of pioneering whaling family. 27 November (in England): James Stuart-Wortley, politician 30 November: Francis Jollie, politician See also History of New Zealand List of years in New Zealand Military history of New Zealand Timeline of New Zealand history Timeline of New Zealand's links with Antarctica Timeline of the New Zealand environment References General Romanos, J. (2001) New Zealand Sporting Records and Lists. Auckland: Hodder Moa Beckett. Specific External links