FORMER MAYOR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 306, 25 November 1937, Page 2

FORMER MAYOR.

MR W. T. WOOD’S VISIT. Specially invited to attend Palmerston North’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, which are now in progress, Mr W. T. Wood, who was seven times Mayor of the city and represented it for six years in the House of Representatives, arrived at Wellington from Svdney yesterday morning accompanied by Airs Wood, and came on to Palmerston North to-day. Mr Wood, who left for Australia about ten years ago on his doctor’s advico to seek a warmer climate, now lives at Bondi, Sydney. He is looking forward to participating in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the town where he lived and enjoyed active participation in the life of the community for many years. Air Wood, who was born in Hobart, Tasmania, came to New Zealand in 1872, and worked with various firms in Dunedin. In 1875 he went to the West Coast, and established a business in Kumara. The search for gold began about this time, and Air AVood, in an interview aboard the AVanganella, let his mind stray back to the days of the gold-diggings on the AVest Coast. AYhen “the bottom fell out of Kumara,” as ho put it, he left for AVanganui. That was in 1879, and from AVanganui he went to Palmerston North. During his residence there he took an active part in municipal affairs. ',‘AVhen I first went to Palmerston North,” he said, “there were only about 800 people there.” AVhile in Palmerston North Air AA’ood was also actively identified with the Church of England, the Loyal Alanawatu Lodge, 1.0.0.F.,'M.U., the Fire Brigade, the Druids’ Lodge, the Alanawatu Agricultural and Pastoral, Association, the Alanawatu Racing Club, and the cricket and cash cycling clubs.