1878

November: 13th general election. William V. Whiteway is elected prime minister.

1879

March: Robert Holloway, a science teacher and photographer in St. John’s, shows some experiments with electricity to about 900 people and talks about how electricity might be used to provide light.

1881

Railway construction begins in Newfoundland.

1881

The hospital on Forest Road becomes the General Hospital on the present-day site of the Miller Centre.

1882

A cordage and netting factory opens in St. John's on Ropewalk Lane.

November: 14th general election. William V. Whiteway is reelected prime minister.

December: Newfoundland is swept by a hurricane, 22 ships are wrecked in Notre Dame Bay.

1883

October: The first electric lights in Newfoundland are used at the Ropewalk in St. John’s

1884

Floating drydock for the repair of steamships completed in St. John's.

1885

A generating station opens in St. John's. Electricity is available to the public for the first time. At first, it is only used for lights.

October: 15th general election. Robert Thorburn becomes prime minister.

November: A tidal wave and hurricane hit coastal Labrador.

1887

Electric lights are used in the House of Assembly for the first time.

1888

The city of St. John's is incorporated

1889

November: 16th general election. William V. Whiteway becomes prime minister.