SOME EARLY COUNTY HISTORY.

Northland Age, Volume 23, Issue 47, 17 March 1924, Page 6

SOME EARLY COUNTY HISTORY.

INTERESTING REMINISCENCES. At the opening of the Council Chambers on Monday the interest of the proceedings was added to by some interesting details of early County history given by Mr George Wilkinson and Mr R. T. Wrathall, two ex Chairmen of the County. We cannot give the whole of these details, but would be sorry to miss giving a few extracts, Mr George Wilkinson, who had been a Councillor for about 25 years, and Chairman for seven or eight years, was in genial mood, and gave away some of the old time history ot the Council. " During my first term,” said Mr Wilk nson, " our first Engineer was appointed. The salary for his first year was £30.” (Laughter). “That man was the late \A illiam Thompson, and some of the finest wotk in the County was done by him.”

” Our next Engineer was Mr T. Watts, at a salary of £SO or £IOO, and there were many applications for the position. The County Clerk for many years received the sum of £so per year, and there was a let rible howl from the ratepayers when ne increased his salary to £IOO. I would like to see a photograph of this man, the late Mr Harris, hung in the Council Chamber. It would be a most fitting thing.” It was during his term also, said Mr Wilkinson, that the suspension of bullock team traffic during the winter months was brought in. This caused so much commotion as to jeopardise the seats of several members. These teams used to knock the roads to pieces in the winter months, Messrs Houston and Berghan, of Ahipara, were two of the deputation which waited on the Council to plead the cause of the bullock teams.

Unimproved rating also came in during his term—he looked on it as the fairest

system. Also, in his time, came the Hospital, which at that time was undoubtedly in the right place, seeing that this County was combined with Whangaroa. Mr Wilkinson spoke next on the Riding system question. He told why tht Riding system was brought in here. And thereby hung a tale of an election of County Chairman, surrounded by amusing circumstances. He joked Mr Pearson as to his stand in connection with the introduction of the Riding system. Mr (then Cr) Pearson was agreeable to it, so long as he was practically allowed to do the cutting up for his own riding. After a lew more reminescences Mr Mr Wilkinson wound up: “I can tell you we did more work and less talk than the present Council.” (Laughter). Cr Wrathall said that Mangonui County had quite a history. It was gazetted in 1878, and Mr William Ball was the first Chairman, being appointed by the Governor. Mr Grover was the first Clerk. The first rate was one penny per acre, there being an exemption after £5. For the first year the rates amounted to £7l, and the Cleik got £5 out ot it. Mr Harris had a very long service,and Cr Wrathall's first experience as a member was wilh him. The following is the list of elected Chairmen of the Mangonui County Council Houston, Robt M ... 1878-81 Lane, Thomas Major ... 1881-83 Houston, Robt M ... 1883-88 Reid, J W 1888-89 Houston, Robt M ... 1889-04 Wilkinson, Geo ... 1904.11 Wiathall.R. T. ... 1911-13 Powell, Hemy C. ... 1913-14 Pearson, John 1914-16 Houston, Thos S ... 1916-20 Long. Allred H ... 1920-