FORMER MAYOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27283, 9 January 1950, Page 4

FORMER MAYOR

DEATH OF MR W, BEGG LONG SERVICE TO CITY The death occurred on Saturday of Mr William Begg, a former Mayor of the city and a prominent figure in local body affairs since 1909, when he was elected a member of the NorthEast Valley Borough Council. Mr Begg gave long service to the province on the Otago Harbour Board, of which he was chairman for some years. Bom in Edinburgh 79 years ago, Mr Begg came out to New Zealand in 1879, and, after receiving his primary education, studied at the Technical School ‘and later at the University of Otago. Mr Begg was engaged in the fellmorigery business at North-East Valley for a long period and was widely known in the trade.

. Mr Begg early showed an'interest in local body affairs. Shortly after his election to the North-East Valley Borough Council that body was amal-

igamated with the City Council. From -.1910 to 1919 he was a member of the City Council and was then elected Mayor of Dunedin. It was during his term, 1919-1921, that the peace celebrations took place and the then Prince >of Wales visited the city. While a ■; member of the council after his term ' as Mayor, Mr Begg was particularly ! interested in the city’s water supply. He was chairman of the Water Comv mittee for many years, and while in that office presented to the ratepayers the Deep Creek water supply scheme. Mr Begg did not, however, confine his interests to the City Council. For approximately 18 years he was a prominent member of the Otago Harbour Board and for two terms was its chairman. He was at first the Government representative on the board, but later was an elected member. He also served on the Otago Hospital Board, the Dunedin Fire Board, and the Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board. In his youth Mr Begg was keenly interested in sport. He played Rugby football for the North-East Valley and Union Clubs, was captain and president of the Dunedin Cycling Club, and was prominent in yachting and boating. Later he took -up bowling and was founder and president of the North-East Valley Club. Mr Begg was also interested in the volunteer movement and was a lieutenant in the North Dunedin Rifles. •.. Mr Begg 26 years ago married Miss Jessie Given, by whom he is survived.