History of the Borough

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1934, Page 18

History of the Borough

Mayors and Councillors

A N interesting stage in the history of earliest Hokitika was reached in 1866 —the' birth of the Borough of Hokitika. With the large population attracted suddenly to the town, the need for roomy expansion and civic amenities’ for the residents called for pressing attention. The wheels of government driven from power located in Christchurch turned slowly, and not fa,st enough for urgent healthy requirements. Yet, strange to say, many remarkable things were brought to pass with special celerity. Reference might be made to the construction of the road from Christchurch to Hokitika, which was made in a remarkably brief span of time, and well made at that. The cost must have been great for a public work in those early days—it has been given at £150,000. But the town required roading and draining, and authority was slow in moving, too slow for the suffering citizens, who started an agitation for home rule, in other words, the formation of. a Municipal Council to conduct the affairs of the town. A beginning was the preparation of a monster petition to the Superintendent of the province of Canterbury, His Honor Samuel Bealey. The petition set out that there was a population of at least householders, and that a favourable answer to the prayer of the petitioners would conduce to the welfare and advantage of the town. Some 157 signatures were appended to the petition, all of whom have now passed away.

Matters developed from the time the petition was presented on April 22, 1866. On June 5, in the same year, Hokitika was proclaimed a municipal district under the Hokitika Municipal Corporation' Ordinance, 1866, Session XIV, No. 2. ‘ On June 27, in the same year, a public meeting was held in the afternoon in a local theatre to elect two persons to act as assessors at the election of the first Municipal Council, and for the purpose of nominating candidates for the election. Mr. G. S. Sale was appointed* chairman, and authorised to preside at any necessary election. The poll on November 6, 1866, resulted in the following being elected: John Russell Anderson, merchant; James Alexander Bonar, merchant; Francis Leake Clarke, merchant; Andrew Cumming, storekeeper; Robert Ecclesfield, merchant, James Fitzsimmons, publican; Alexander George Hungerford, timber merchant; William Shaw, printer and editor; Charles Williams, publican. The voting was not large, Mr Hungerford leading the po.ll with 68 votes, Mr. Bonar 64. Mr. Clarke tied with D. Lynch (publican) 47, and in another election which was held, Clarke won with four votes only to spare. And so the Borough of Hokitika came into being.

The first Mayor was Hon. James A. Bonar, who occupied the post for two years. Mr. Bonar was a prominent citizen over many years, of the town.

He rose to the position of Superintendent of the Province during that regime. The Superintendent resided in Government House, the early-day building still standing intact in Sewell Street. Mr. Bonar was married in 1875 to Miss Bell of Melbourne, and the bride and bridegroom returned by direct steamer to Hokitika roadstead; also, incidentally bringing the news of Woolomai s victory in the Melbourne Cup of that year. The TJpyal Mail s.s. Albion was tendered by the s.s. Waipara, then owned by Mr. Bonar, which sailed out gaily decked in bunting and greenery. The steamer returned on the evening’s tide, and Mr. and Mrs. Bonar had a right royal reception. There was a parade of the Volunteers, of which Mr. Bonar was captain, and headed by the band, a torchlight procession escorted the bridal party to Government House. Fireworks and other outward signs of jubilation followed, a memorable night for Hokitika, and a wonderful homecoming for Mrs. Bonar. Mr. Bonar rose to the rank of Colonel in the Volunteer service, and was an outstanding officer in physique, voice and ability. He became a life member of the Legislative Council following the wiping out of the Provincial District. As a citizen he was enterprising in .shipping and mining circles, and was a lavish host, his hospitality being well known. He died leaving fragrant memories of his good citizenship. Evan Prosser was the second Mayor of Hokitika, leaving the .district shortly after. He became one of the founders of the well-known firm of Kempthorne, Prosser, and Coy., general chemists. The third Mayor was Charles E. Button, a barrister, who after leaving Hokitika, where he resided at “Garston,” a roomy residence facing Stafford Street, went to Auckland, and for a period was acting-judge of the Supreme Court. Mr. Button was an ardent churchman of the Presbyterian faith, and often took the pulpit. He had one arm from birth. There is a long line of successive Mayors of the town, in the early days the civic honour for first citizen being contested keenly.

Some of the latter day Mayors, notably Joseph Mandi and Henry Michel, had lengthy terms of office, but the present Mayor, George A. Perry, a native of the town, has established a record for occupancy, having been in office since 1911. By May, 1936, Mr. Perry will have occupied the post for a quarter of a century without a break, probably a record for the Dominion.

The first Town Clerk was John Lazar who came from Australia. He was a distinctive citizen, well-known for his jovial manner. A prominent Freemason, he was the life and soul of all the convivial gatherings. He won the endearing term of “Pop,” and died in Hokitika. .The brethren of the Masonic order reared a special monument to his memory at the local cemetery. William Dunbar Banks was the second Town Clerk. He relinquished office in 1887. G. W. Harvey was the first Borough solicitor, afterwards becoming a District Court Judge. The town had also a Borough Surveyor, W. B. Armson, holding the position. A. Tanner was the first rate collector and inspector.