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Kiwi of the Week

Duncan Cameron

The historian James Belich believed Cameron was not only the best European commander to serve in New Zealand but ‘among the best of Victorian generals’.

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Today in History

20 July

1892 Steam locomotive sets world speed record

The Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR) Company’s locomotive No. 10 established a world speed record for the narrow 3 foot 6 inch (1067 mm) gauge, averaging 68 km per hour on a two-hour run and hitting a peak speed of 103 kph. more...

External links

Big Bull Yank (NZ Folksong)
‘Forty Years Ago - The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company’ (NZ Railways Magazine)
History of the first W.M.R. Baldwin Prairies

1965 Riots rock Mt Eden prison

The disturbance followed a botched escape attempt by two prisoners and lasted into the next day. Several warders were taken hostage and part of the prison was gutted by fire. more...