GOLD CHAIN OF OFFICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 33, 9 February 1928, Page 19

GOLD CHAIN OF OFFICE.

FOR HAMILTON'S MAYOR.

long period of service.

BOROUGH'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

(By Telegraph—Special to "Star. ) HAMILTON. Wednesday

To-night the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr. j R Fo%v, was presented with the *ld chain of office at a dinner which he ffave to past mayors and their ladies ? n celebration of the 50th anniversary of thc town's elevation to the status of . borough. The presentation was made bv Mr." Isaac Coatee, the only surging member of the first council. Ihe chain is of solid gold and ot beautiful design. Each link is m the form of a medallion shield and bears t»e name and term of office of the previous mayor. The pendant chain terminates in the form of a plaque, on which is engraved the crest of the borough. The mayors whose names appear on the chain are:— Mr. L. R. Vialou, 1878; Mr. J. B. Whyte, -igTg 1879; Mr. Thos. Dawson. 1879 — 1880- Mr. B. C Beal. 18S0; Mr John Knox 1880—1883; Mr. Robert Peat, ]gg3_llßß4; Mr. W. A. Graham, 1884 — 1887; Mr. G. J. W. Barton. 1887 —1888 and 1903; Mr. Isaac C'oates, 18SS —1889, and jgggl 1892; Mr. Wm. Jones, 18S9; Mr. John Parr, 1892—1893; Mr. Wm. Dey, 1893 —1899 and 1903—1905; Mr. Geo. Edeecumbe, 1899 —1901; Mr. R.W.Dver, 1901 —1903; Mr. J. S. Bond, 1905 —1909; Mr. J. A. Young, 1909 —1912; Mr. A. E. Manning, 1912—1915; Mr. J. E. Hammond, 1915—1916; Mr. J. R. Fow, 1916— 1917, 1918—1919, 1920; Mr. J. W. Ellis, 1917 —1918; Mr. P. H. Watts, 1919— 1920. The casket in which the chain will repose is made of mottled kauri and puriri from timbers of the Hamilton Bridge.

Since its formation into a borough in .878, Hamilton has had 22 mayors, of whom Mr. I. E. Vialou was first. Mr. Wm. Dey held the position for six successive years prior to 1900. The present Mayor, Mr. J. E. Fow, has the longest period of service, having been elected to office in 1916, and, with the exception of two periods, has held it ever since.

In expressing his thanks for the presentation, Mr. Fow said that 110 one, looking back on the past 50 years of Hamilton, could but admire the optimism and courage of the early pioneers in the municipal life of the town. It was impossible to set a limit to the possibilities of the town as an educational and commercial centre. The Borough Council had left a record of clean administration. No breath of scandal had ever sullied the name of any Hamilton Borough Council, and the reputation of the early pioneers was a source of inspiration and encouragement to their successors.

The Hon. J. A. Young and several former Mayors and their representatives also addressed the gathering.