Christchurch's other mayor

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 18

Christchurch ' s other mayor

The Duke of Edin-| burgh may have been 1 wondering about confidence men since he arrived in Christchurch last week. Much to hisl surprise, he has met two people claiming to be the Mayor of Christchurch. He was quite sure about Mr Pickering’s credentials, but Mr Tom Staniforth. also 1

Mayor of Christchurch? Mi Staniforth is indeed the: Mayor of Christchurch—the

city in Hampshire with a lineage of first citizens dating back to John Leshelm in 1297. Mr Staniforth is among the distinguished visitors for the Commonwealth Games. He is I reciprocating a visit by Mr

I Pickering to Christchurch/; /England, last July. i The visiting mayor ad-/ mitted to being overwhelmed ( by the warmth of the hospi- ( itality he had encountered/ ((since his arrival on January i ,19. | , He said he would find it | (difficult to isolate any one i thing as a lasting impression of his visit. "Within a couple [ -l of hours of arriving at yourlf

airport I had three invitations to stay with people in their j own homes,” he said. He had been surprised by (the general informality of the 'people—from the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) down. “Our people are not approachable like yours. People in Britain are a little too shy.” Mr Staniforth said the people of his city liked to think this citv was named; after their own. which it wasj

not, and that the Avon River here was named after the; (river of the same name in! (England, which it was not. ( Nevertheless, he had found! the links between the two: cities very strong, largely by'

reason of the number of New Zealanders who visited Christchurch while in England. He said Mr Pickering had ;won the greatest respect of councillors at Christchurch I during his last visit, as had Mrs Pickering on a subsequent visit. “She completely I captivated us,” he said. Mr Staniforth has the distinction of being the last

Mayor of Christchurch. Next April, the city will be absorbed into a county district, and lose its identity as a distinct borough. Not that the people of Christchurch are taking this easily. They have applied to the Privy Council for a Royal Charter which will keep the mayoralty in existence.

Mr Staniforth is having a good look at the city and the Games during his stay. Before returning home he will attend the opening of Parliament, and visit other places in the North Island.