NEW TOWN CLERK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 34, 10 February 1922, Page 5

NEW TOWN CLERK.

MB. J. S. BRIGHAM APPOINTED. A WELL-MERITED PROMOTION. RESIGNATION OF -MR. WALKLATE. Mr. J. S. Brigham, who for the past 21 years has filled the office of Treasurer to "the City of Auckland, with conspicuous abilty, has been appointed Town Clerk of Auckland, as successor to Mr. .T. J. Walklate. The resignation of Mr. Walklate, on account oi continued illness, was tendered to the City Council last night, and considered in committee, when the re-arranaement of the staff gpnera'l'.y was discussed. AitiT tlie committee meeting the Mayor announced that Mr. Walklate's ; resignation had been accepted with reI gret. to take effect forthwith, and that the "leave of absence granted him in December last a<3 Town Clerk should now apply to his position of General Manager of Tramway.*, and that the salary during such period of leave be paid from tramways account. Mr. Gunson further intimated that Mr. .f. S. Brigham had been appointed Town Clerk, at a salary of £1250 per annum, and that Mr. Andrew Messer. at present chief clerk in the treasui*y office, had been appointed City Treasurer and Collector at a salary of £SOO per annum, both appoinltuent-s to take effect on Monday next.

Th,-.' Town Oerk was instructed to make the necessary staff re-arrangement? in the treasury office and report to th? Finance Committee should any vacancies ho created therein. and the council agreed that the acting town clerk. Mr. .T. Y. Warren, resume his position of assistant town clerk on Jlondav next.

Mr. T. Bloodworth requested that hi? dissent against the method of appointment of Town Clerk be recorded, as he held that the vacancy should hav e be°n advertised. RECOGNITION OF ABILITY. The new Town Clerk (Mr. J. S. BriphairO is a native of Auckland, and has been just over 21 years in the Council's service as City Treasurer. In that time lie has established a more than local reputation for ability, and on the occasion when i>ir Robert Anderson, of Sydney, acted as commissioner to advise the. Auckland City Council upon its staff arrangements, he otated in his report that the Council had men in its employment who were capable of higher positions, and privately made epecitlu mention of Mr. Brj<lham"s ability. Mr. Uriptham, who is a son of the late Mr. J. M. Brijrham. for many years secretary of the Auckland Harb'oiir Rtmrd. was educated at tin- Auckland Grammar School, and joined the local *t;iff of the Rank of New South Wales. Six years later lie took up the secretaryship °f the Thames-Hauraki Ooldtieli. Ltd.. and af. the Austin I-'riars Finance Syndicate (London', which he oft'upied for four years, when lie obtained the appointment a« City Treasurer. His career in tbe Treasury Ofliee lias been consistently by outstanding efficiency, which has been the subjn-t of frequent mention by siuec=sivc> ocruI piers of tlie mayoralty chair.

Mr. Andrew Mp;6Pr\< promotion from the position "f chief clerk to that of head of the Treasury Department ionics after IT years of unexceptionable service, lie came from Newciistle-on-Tyno. England, eighteen years ago, and was employed as a.-.- iintant with •Messrs. Ton.--on Oarli.k for surue months ■before joining the City Treasury staff in lf>o.-.. 11,. huo impressed all "ho came in contact with him by his buiiicapacity ami efficiency, and possesses a thorough knowledge of the tinances of the city.