Mayor of Timaru Passes Suddenly

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 46, 24 February 1938, Page 6

Mayor of Timaru Passes Suddenly

MAN OF WIDE POPULARITY Per Press Association. TIMARU, Feb. 23. The death of the Mayor (Mr. P. C. Vinnell) occurred with startling suddenness. He had been in good health and carried on his activities as mayor with great zeal. Yesterday afternoon he said he had not been feeling well, having slight pains in the chest and back, and spoke of consulting a doctor. However, he did not regard it as anything serious. Last night he attended a meeting in the council chambers. Mr. Vinnel was born at Oxford (England; in 1879, and was educated at St. P ul’s School in that town. Before coming to New Zealand in 1923, he served for a term on the Street District Council, Somerset. He spent two years in Wellington and then came to Timaru, where he set up in business as a boot manufacturer and carried this on till his derath, the establishment gaining considerable proportions. He was first elected to the Timaru Borough Council in 1919 and served under three mayors. He succeeded the late Mr. T. W. Satterthwaite as mayor in June, 1936.

It is a sad coincidence that his predecessor died under almost similar circumstances as Mr. Vinnell. Mr. Vinnell had twice contested the Timaru seat in the interests of Labour, but was unsuccessful, although on one occasion he came within measurable distane'e oi winning. He enjoyed wide popularity, and was universally trusted by all classes of the community.