WEST COAST LOCAL BODIES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25346, 20 November 1947, Page 5

WEST COAST LOCAL BODIES

MR F. F. BOUSTRIDGE MAYOR OF GREYMOUTH From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, November 19. Voting was extremely slow at most polling booths on the West Coast today, but interest quickened in the late afternoon, and, generally, the voting was well up to former normal standard. , x A number of people made their way to the ruined town hall to record their votes, and many inquiries were made about the position of the main polling booths. Lack of interest was general in Greymouth, the main topic of conversation being Ballantyne’s fire. Residents sought eagerly any further information on the possible total loss of life. Progress results on the election were slow in coming to hand throughout Westland, though it was indicated early that Mr F. I Boustridge (Citizens’ candidate) would succeed Mr F. A. Kitchingham as Mayor of Greymouth, as his support was almost double that of the Independent candidate, Mr F. L. Turley Mr Kitchingham did not seek re-election. Mr Boustridge was formerly a member of the Brunner Borough Council for two years and later Mayor of Brunner. He served 14 years on the

Greymouth Borough Council and for nine years has been chairman of the works and town planning committee. For three years he was a member of the Grey Hospital Board. With the exception of the Kumar a Borough, there were no other contests for mayoralties. There the outgoing Mayor (Mr W. H. G. Stewart) was reelected. His opponent was Mr Angus S. M. McLean. Mr J. M. Robertson was re-elected Mayor of Westport, and Mr W. N. Gutberlet Mayor of Brunner. Mr G. E. English (unopposed) succeeds Mr E. W. Kennedy as Mayor of Runanga, and at Ross, Mr A. N. Gilmour (unopposed) will succeed the retiring Mayor (Mr K. O. May). At Hokitika, Mr Arnold E. Perry (unopposed) replaces the retiring Mayor (Mr A. R. Elcock). Only 53 per cent, of the 3200 electors on the Westport Borough roll exercised their vote for the municipal elections, and of the 4100 entitled to vote in the Buller County, only 60 per cent, did so. In the county election, the county chairman, Mr F. Connew, lost his seat in the Millerton riding to Mr W. H. Mclntyre, a former chairman. Other councillors who lost their seats were Messrs J. Ward (Waimangaroa riding) and J. Dowgray and Mrs O. Tyler, sitting members on the Buller Hospital Board. BRUNNER’S FIRST MAYOR 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ELECTION The sixtieth anniversary of the election of the first Mayor of Brunnerton. Mr Francis McParland, who was then conducting a bakery and grocery business in Brunner, will fall to-morrow. Mr McParland was elected by 108 votes to 87 at a poll on November 21, 1887, his opponent being Mr John Wetherill Parkinson. There was no election for the Brunner Mayoralty yesterday, the retiring Mayor (Mr W. N. Gutberlet) being returned unopposed.