MAYORAL CHAIN

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1932, Page 6

MAYORAL CHAIN

PRESENT TO GREYMOUTH By Master Bakers' Association Last evening, at the Grey mouth Borough Council Chambers, the Mayoral Chain, subscribed by members of the New Zealand Master Bakers’ and Pastrycooks’ Association on the occasion of their Convention held in Greymouth last year, was pre seated to the Mayor, Mr J. W. Greensla.de, at a public reception. when there was a good number present, including members of the Borough Council, Mesdames G. IL Harker, F. A Kitchingham and W. Robertson; Messrs J. D. Lynch and W. H. Parfitt (ex-Mayors of Grey mouth), J. Sniea ton (Mayor of Brunnerton), J. Walkci (ex-Chairman of the Cobden Town Board), and Messrs G. R. Harker (President), W. Robertson (Secretary), A. Shannon and H. Moore, represent ing the West Coast Master Bakers’ Association; Mr P. J. McLean (chairman of the Harbour Board and Chamber of Commerce), and a number of other citizens. Apologies for absence were received from Mr J. Ryall (chairman of the Grey County Council), Borough Councillors C. Neville and J. S. Robertson, and Mr Jas. Kenned}' (manager of the Municipal Gasworks).

Mr Harker said that when the N.Z. Master Bakers’ Association held their annual conference here last year the members had gone away considering themselves as having been very hospitably treated; and, having thoroughly enjoyed the West Coast hospitality, they thought they should leave some fitting memento. It had been the most successful conference, not only as far as business was concerned, but otherwise, in the annals of the Associa tion. They had noticed that the Mayor was not decorated at the welcome, and had thought they could not do better than present the Council with a Mayoral Chain. The Chain was not paid for out of the funds of the Association —they all knew how easy it was to vote away other people’s money —but it was subscribed for individually by the members present at the conference. (Applause.) He hoped that the present receipient would continue to wear the Chain for many years. The names of the Greymouth Mayors, from the first to the present one, were all inscribed on the chain. He would like to eulogise the good work the present Mayor was doing for the town. In these times of stress there was a lot of work on the Mayoral shoulders in relieving distress, and he was sure Mr Greenslade was doing his very best to that end. Before calling on Mrs Harker to place the chain on the Mayor, he would ask their secretary, Mr Robertson, to read letters from the present President of the N.Z. Master Bakers, Mr G. A. Laurenson, and the Past-President, Mr H. P. Burton, which were as follows:—

“Dunedin, 9th May, 1932.—Mr W. Robertson, Secretary, West Coast Mas ter Bakers’ Association, Greymouth: Dear Mr Robertson, —I am pleased to know that the Mayoral Chain is to be presented on Thursday next. I regret very much that it will not be possible for myself, or any of the Executive, to be present, but feel sure that Mr Harker and yourself will do full justice to the occasion. I trust that this token of esteem will do much to further cement the good feeling which already exists between the Borough Council and the- members of the Baking Industry in their midst. With my best wishes for the success of the occasion and continued prosperity to the Borough of Greymouth.—Yours sincerely (Signed) G. A. Laurenson, President N.Z.M.B. Assn.”

“•147, Grafton Road, Auckland. —Mr W. Robertson, Greymouth: Dear Sir, — I am glad to hear that, though very much delayed by circumstances over which we have had no control, the Chain subscribed for by members of the N.Z. Master Bakers’ Association, who visited Greymouth in February, 1931, will be formally presented on Thursday. The spirit which prompted the presentation of this symbol of office arose through a general desire on the part of the visiting delegates to mark their appreciation of the magnificent welcome extended at that time. The Chain is presented as a small token of that welcome, and a memento of a very enjoyable and profitable week in Greymouth. The Chain will be the official symbol to be worn by the Mayor as chief citizen of Greymouth. It is symbolic of all that stands for the highest and best things that go to make up the public life and civic outlook of Greymouth. As the emblem of the Mayor’s high office it stands for purity and high motive, both of which attributes are a feature of the public life of this Dominion. The Mayors of Greymouth, both at present and in the future, find their real reward in the substantial public service they give to the community. Public recognition of that work is often disregarded, but the work is to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number. As the first citizen of Greymouth the Mayor seeks no personal advantage, ho has only on© idea, and that, the idea of the public good, and in spite of all else strives only for that. I feel sure that the wearing of the chain by the present and subsequent Mayors of Greymouth will exemplify the high motives outlined, and if it be so the givers of the gift will be well repair. Finally, I wish to say that the Chain has a distinct West Coast flavour, as 4ozs of the gold in its making was won from the West Coast itself, and was the personal gift of Mr Fisher, of Blenheim. I would again express the hope on behalf of the donors for the best wishes for Greymouth, and trust that its aspira tions and hopes may be fulfilled in their entirety.—Yours faithfully (Signed) IT. P. Burton, Ex-President N.Z.M.B. Assn.” Amidst applause, Mrs Harkei then

placed the Chain upon the shoulders of the Mayor. The Mayor, addressing the assemblage, said that the gracious message of the donors was much appreciated, as also was their handsome gift to the municipality. As citizens they had been out to see tho visiting Master BakeYs have a good time, and he could say that it had been a pleasure to entertain them, as they were of a fine type. They had not recognised the beauties of the countryside until they came here. On behalf of the citizens he must say that the underlying spirit that inspired such a valuable gift was a very fine one indeed. It would long be treasured as a memento of the visit, and he hoped it would be the forerunner of many more of their conferences here in the future. He asked Mr Harker to convey to Mr Burton and Air Laurenson, their appreciation of this splendid gift to himself, th? Councillors and citizens of Greymoutb

Cr. F. A. Kitchingham said he would like to associate himself with the r«» marks of the Mayor. He recalled the history of the Mayoral office, wh’c‘was an ancient one, that took its r;«u during the reign of King Richard I. in 1189. It was six hundred and fifty years after that time when the first. Mayor was elected in London, that they had their first Mayor in Greymouth. The town had made great strides since then. There was no ques tion but that our local government system would be going into the melting pot, and that before many years were gone the town planning and regional planning schemes would be carried into effect, when there would be a merger of local bodies such as in the days of the Provincial Councils. Ho felt that, then, somebody would be able to wear the Mayoral Chain as Mayor of the district. Gifts to the town were only too rare. He thought the Chain could not have been given during a better period than in the term of the present Mayor, who w deserving of it, and had not spared himself, for the speaker knew hi® health and business had suffered.

The Deputy-Mayor, Cr. J. B. Kent., added an expression of his appreeia tion of the thoughtfulness of the Master Bakers’ Association members in making so handsome a present to the town. No Mayor had gone through more arduous times than their present one, who had fulfilled his duties well, and was an appropriate recipient. The gift was the finest specimen of the goldsmith’s art he had seen. Air J. D. Lynch, ex-Mayor of Greymouth, holding the position from 1917 to 1922, said this gift showed a fine spirit on the part of the donors, and, to his mind, showed also the good work of the Mayor and Borough Councillors. He had been Mayor for sev era! years, and considered it was a very proud position to hold. The West Coast spirit had kept them going even in the worst of times. The same spirit remained to-day, and h e e knew that with it they would surpass the present difficult times. The chain was an emblem of goodwill. He hoped the spirit of the West Coast would prevail as it had done in the past.

Mr W. H. Parfitt, another ex-Mayor of Greymouth, having held the position from 1923 to 1926, endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers Greymouth had been a borough for 64 years, having been proclaimed such on July 17, 1868, when Mr Edward Masters was appointed first Mayor. Mr Arthur John Whall was the first Town Clerk; Mr R. J. Johnstone the first engineer, and Messrs Edwin Ashton, James Coates, Joseph Kilgour, David Magoffin, Joseph Charles Moore, William Rae, Edmund Wickes, William F. Strike and John Weatherill Parkinson its first Borough Councillors. Since that time there had been twenty-six Mayors. Of the ex-Mayors, six were still living, four in Greymonth, namely, Messrs T. E. Coates (1908-9), G. E Perkins (1912-16), J. D. Lynch (191722), and the speaker (1923-26), the others being Air A. C. Russell, of Waipukurau (1910-11), and Mr J. Steer, of Christchurch (1903). He hoped that the people of to-day would do as the pioneers had done and assist the younger people in the search for gold which would be the means of again paving the way to prosperity. He congratulated the present Mayor on his good work, he having passed through an extremely difficult time.

Air J. Smeaton, Mayor of Brunnerton, said the gift was indeed a fine one. He had had the pleasure of working with the present Mayor, and whilst they differed in politics, they had always had a very strong friend ship. He had worked with Mr Greenslade during the Alurchison earthquake and later in connection with the Napier earthquake. Mr Greenslade had a sterling honesty and an intention to do good. The Master Bakers, in presenting the chain, had done so for it to be placed round the neck of a very worthy Mayor. Greymouth had been very fortunate in its Mayors. Joseph Petrie, Mayor in 1907, was one of the finest citizens who devoted his life to the town of Greymouth. With Mr Kitchingham, he believed there would be a Provincial Council on the West Coast, as there were too many local bodies and he hoped the centre would be in the town of Greymouth. When that took place, he hoped the advancement of the West Coast, and not Greymouth alone, would be the aim of the Afayor and Councillors.

Mr P. J. McLean said that the gift, which was a most gracious one, Would give tho .present Mayor afid ftittaro Mayors a let to look up to. The ptesent Mayor had done his best, the only thing wrong being that he had attempted to do too much. He was veiy pleased to see Greymouth, at last, hate a Mayoral Chain. As an old Bofough Councillor, he was pleased to see dignity added to the position.

The Mayor said he hoped that all would work together in the interests of the district, and, although these were troublesome times, they were going to overcome them. It lay with the citizens what they made of the difficulties that were sent to try them. They should help the other fellow over the stile and once again they would be on the high road to prosperity. Three hearty cheers were given for the Master Bakers’ Association, fol-

lowed by the singing of “ For They Are Jolly Good Fellows” and “God Save the King.” The Mayoral Chain, which is backed by a blue riband, is a beautiful specimen of the goldsmith’s art, small shields, as links of time, bearing the names of the past Mayors and present Mayor, while the inscription on a large pendant is as follows: “Borough of Greymouth. 1868. Lahore Et Honore. ” The names of the Mayors inscribed on the Chain are as follows:— 1868-69, Edward Masters; 1870, Joseph Kilgour; 1871-72, Edmund Wickes; 1873, Edward Masters and George Glenn; 1874, W. S. Smith; 1875-76, G. W. Moss; 1877, P. Hamilton; 1878-81, R. C. Nancarrow; 1882-83, James Barkley; 1884, F. C. Dupre; 1885, J. G. Thomas; 1886, R. C. Nancarrow; 188788, Joseph Petrie; 1889-90, John Mitchell; 1891-92, Andrew Matheson; 1893, W. R. Kettle; 1894, F. B. Waters and F. Campbell; 1895, F. Campbell; 1896-98, J. T. Skoglund; 1899-02, Andrew Matheson; 1903, Jesse Steer; 1904-06, James A. Petrie; 1907, Joseph Petrie; 1908-09, T. E. Coates; 1910-11. A. C. Russell; 1912-16, G. E. Perkins; 1917-22, J. D. Lynch; 1923-26, W. H. Parfitt: 1927, J. W. Greenslade.