1999 Victoria University Centenary

        In 1999, Victoria University proudly celebrated 100 years of scholarship and success. New Zealand Post issued a special stamp to commemorate the centennial celebrations. The 100th birthday celebrations were a year-long affair, bound together by the theme of ‘Changing Lives’, and culminating in the official centennial week. 
        The entire occasion was a unique opportunity to showcase the University’s academic achievements, past and present, and to publicise the many successes of graduates, scholars and staff. Activities included garden parties, conferences and reunions as well as major musical, sporting and artistic events.

40c - Hunter Building, Victoria University.

This 40c stamp depicted the Hunter building, a neo-gothic building officially opened in 1906 and situated on the main campus.

1973 Anniversaries

The second time NZ Post issued a set of anniversary stamps they chose a landscape design of six values. The subjects ranged from two towns, a university, an environmental society, a sport and an international development commission. With such different subjects it is hard to achieve a standard design but these six stamps do fit together as a set. 

The 3c design was completed by Vivian Jepsen, with the remaining five

designs completed by B Langford.

1969 Anniversaries.

         This post looks at four anniversary issues from 1969 which we have placed together on one page. Anniversary stamp issues are some times overlooked by collectors, even though they are often colourful, well designed stamps. They usually have an interesting story behind them as well. Included in this group is an historical event, a university, a New Zealand aid organisation and an international labour organisation.   

                                            

                                              

       There were actually two other issues, 1969 Captain Cook Bicentenary and the 1969 New Zealand Law Society Centenary which have been featured in other posts.

1950 Canterbury Centennial

        On 17 August 1840 French settlers landed at Akaroa and founded the first town.  A few years later farms at Purau, Riccarton, and Pigeon Bay were established and it was from here the establishment and extension of the province grew. The first settlers chosen by the Canterbury Association (formed in England) disembarked from the first four immigrant ships - 'Charlotte Jane', 'Sir John Seymour', 'Cressy' and 'Randolph', at Lyttelton in December 1850 and this date is recognised as that of the official founding of Canterbury.  John Robert Godley had been placed in charge of the first colonists.  These pioneers who chose to settle at Christchurch had to make a laborious trek over the hills separating Lyttelton and Christchurch by way of a rough track, which became known as the Bridle Path.
         This five value stamp issue by three well-known stamp designers sets out to remember those early times and the people who made Canterbury and Christchurch what they are today. 

Christchurch Cathedral - 1d.

1948 Otago Centennial

          In 1948, the settlement of the Otago Province and the founding of the city of Dunedin on 23 March 1848 were commemorated by four stamps depicting the arrival of the immigrant ships, the town of Cromwell, the First Dunedin Church and the University of Otago. The stamps are classic James Berry designs, being full of fine detail. The 1d is famous for its colour shifts of the blue centre, examples of which can been seen below.

1978 Agriculture - Lincoln College Centenary

         I hesitated on doing this set because of the style of the stamps but then decided that the themes behind the designs are important to Agriculture and New Zealand's primary export industries.

         In 1978 Lincoln College celebrated its centenary. NZ Post marked the event by issuing this six value set. They also wrote on their web site:-
       "The College was founded in 1878 on 100,000 acres of pastoral land that had been set aside for the purpose by the Provincial Council of Canterbury. Mr W E Ivey was appointed the first director of the College.  Grassland farming is New Zealand's most important industry and the source of over 80 percent of the country's exports.  The College continues to develop its resources to meet the challenges of modern agricultural needs - through the application of the findings of research, use of machinery, topdressing of pasture and efficient agricultural management."

         Technology and knowledge are the keys to modern faming in New Zealand. New ways, new systems, new technology is being developed all the time. The problem for the New Zealand farmer is keeping up with it all. Some, like some of the smaller farmers around here, avoid everything new and stick to the ways they have always done it. Others like us, with the support and backing of a corporate investment company, take on and use new technology, new ideas. The result is the small farmer gets the same results he has always got, then can't understand how our average production per head has increased by nearly 20% compared to his.
         This knowledge can be gained from a variety of sources such as Magazines and Books, TV Shows, Field Days and Open Days. It can also be gained through education at farming schools, colleges and universities. Two of the staff who work for me currently attend a school one day a week, plus have assignments to do. As they progress through the various subjects I can see the changes in the way they view farming and go about their daily tasks.