MAYORS OF DUNEDIN

Otago Witness, Issue 2298, 17 March 1898, Page 62

MAYORS OF DUNEDIN

F. McGxiire, John GrifFen, John Grey, James Turner, Geo. Smith and John Lovell. The last meeting was held on the 19th April, 1865. Pending the coming into operation of the Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance, 1865, the affairs of the Town Board were administered by three commissioners appointed by the Superintendent on April 17th, 1865, and comprising Messrs John Bathgate (chief), R. B. Martin and J. M. Balfour, who held office for eight days. Their successors were Messrs R. H. Forinan (chief), John Grey and Horace Bastings, who were appointed on 4th May, 1865. Mr Bastings resigned shortly after appointment and Mr. E. Chalmer took his place. The final meeting of the commissioners was held on the 31st July, 1865, and next day the City Council came into office. The members of the first City Council were: — Wm. Mason (Mayor), Edward Chalmer, John Griffen (South Ward), John H. Barr, Alex. Carrick (High Ward), David Ross, Thomas Birch (Bell Ward), Henry Driver and James Turner (LeJth Ward). William Mason, the first Mayor of Dunedin was an architect, and landed at Sydney in 1838. He came over to New Zealand with Governor Hobson, and in 1862 removed to Dunedin from

MN 1855 the Town Board of Dunedin was set up, and the first election took place on Monday, the 20th of August in that year, the first meeting being held in the Mechanics' Institute on the 27th. The members of the first board were :— Messrs. John Jones, James Kilgoiir, Alexander Rennic, James Macandrcw, John Hyde Harris, William Henry Cutten, John McGla^han, Charles Robertson and Robert Williams. The last Town Board was composed of the following nicmbeis: — Thos. Redmayne, John Barnes, Horace Bastings, Jabez J. Ham, >, David Miller, jun., Robert Murray, Jas. |

Auckland. He had a considerable majority over his next opponent. The second occupant of the mayoral chair was Mr. John Hyde Harris, a man who was identified with nearly every step taken to promote the welfare of the province. Thomas Birch was the next mayor. It was during his term that the Duke of Edinburgh visited the city. Mr. Birch was a member of the Provincial Council and a member of the House of Representative'!. He was elected three times to the office of mayor. Henry Smith Fish was elected first in 1870, and again in 1872 and 1873. He was returned in 1879, but on this occasion was ousted on a petition. After a spell of some thirteen years he was again elected twice in succession. Andrew Mercer was the next mayor. Mi. Mercer came out in the Philip Laing, and was a member of the City Council for a number of years. Keith Ramsay was mayor in 1874-5, and was in the City Council from 1871 to 1874. Henry John Walter was mayor for three terms — in 1875, 1878, and 1879— and was in the City Council for ten years and five months. Charles Steven Reeves was mp.yor for the year 1876-7. He had during his year to discharge many duties which had hitherto devolved upon the Superintendent of the province. Richard Henry Leary was first elected in 1877-8 and again in 1886-7. During Mr. Leary's first term the Town Hall foundation stone was laid, and on his vote the Silverstream Water Scheme was commenced. Archibald Hilson Ross was elected for 1880-81. Mr. Ross was for many years chairman of the Harbour Board, and was elected a member of the House of Representatives for Roslyn. James Gore occupied the chair during 1881-2, and besides being a councillor for several years has also represented the city in Parliament. John Bryco Thomson, who was mayor in 1882-3, was a city councillor for a number of years. Win. Parker Street was mayor in 1883-1, and Arthur Scoullar in 1884-5. John Barnes was mayor for 1885-6. Mr. Barnes was a city councillor for very many years, during which he watched the works of Lh cecity with great care, so much so, in fact, that . he

earned the sobriqtiet of the "city watchdog." William Dawson occupied the chair in 1887-8, and has been a city councillor for a number of years. Hugh Gourlcy was mayor during 1889 when the Exhibition foundation stone was laid and when the Exhibition was opened. He was again elected mayor in 1896, and has been a member of the Council for twelve years and of the Harbour Board for ten years. John Roberts, was mayor during Exhibition year, being elected unopposed to that position. Mr. Roberts represented Kaikorai in the Provincial Council, and was for many years chairman of the Taieri County Council. John Carroll who' was mayor in 1890-91, was first returned to the Council in 1869, and with the exception of two short breaks has been a member ever since. He has taken an active part in other public bodies. Charles R. Chapman was mayor in 1891-2, and Charles Haynes was returned for 1892-3. Mr. Haynes has been an active member of various local bodies, both in the city and country for many years. Nathaniel Young Armstrong Wales occupied the chair during 1895-6. Mr. Wales has been a member of the House of Representatives and an active volunteer. Edward Bowes Cargill, the present mayor, is the

another conflagration occurred in the vicinity of their premises, from which they escaped with a comparatively light loss. While in partnership with Mr. Jones, Mr. Cargill purchased the p.s. Geelong, the first vessel to run on the coast between Dunedin and Lyttelton and the Bluff. She reached Dunedin in 1859. The ill-fated p.s. City of Dunedin was built for the firm on the Clyde, and arrived towards the end of 1863, after Mr. Cargill had left the partnership, though he still retained an interest in her. Messrs. Cargill and Company were the first to import a full cargo of sugar direct from the Mauritius, by the barque Genevieve, which ran ashore on Jan. 17, 1862, at the heads, and became a wreck. Most of the sugar was saved, but still the loss was considerable. They also imported the first direct shipment of tea from China. The firm were agents for the Glasgow fleet of Messrs. Patrick Henderson and Co. Messrs. Cargill also projected a scheme for building steamers on the Clyde and running them in the intercolonial trade by a Company called the Otago Steam Navigation Co. Two ships were built, the Albion and Scotia. The Scotia, however, was xinfortunate enough to go on the rocks at the Bluff on her first return trip from Melbourne. The firm underwent several changes in personnel, and its early misfor-

seventh son of Captain Cargill, the leader of the settlement of Otago. Mr. Cargill's early years were spent at sea, where he gained a practical knowledge of navigation. When he left the sea he settled at Ceylon, and resided there eleven years, being employed part of the time in the Oriental Bank, and afterwards as a merchant. In 1855 he went to Melbourne and engaged in business, and in 1857 came to Otago and joined Mr. John J nes in the firm of Jones, Cargill and Co. In 1861 this partnership was dissolved, and he joined his brothers as Cargill and Co. , in premises in Princes Street South. The diggings broke out in 1861, and Messrs. Cargill did a large business, but unfortunately in December of that year they were burned out. The premises were rebuilt, but « two years later

It was solidly built of concrete, and was supposed to be fireproof. This proved, however, to be anything but the case, as it was completely gutted a few years ago by a fire starting in an outhouse and extending to the house by means of a connecting beam. It has since been rebuilt. Mr. Cargill was elected on the 24th November to be mayor of Dunedin during Jubilee year, though he was not then in the City Council. This compliment was paid him as it was thought a graceful thing to place Captain Cargill's bon in the chair diiring Jubilee year. That the ratepayers were not mistaken in their choice ample proof is being given by Mr. Cargill.

Mrs. Cargill, who was noted for her charity, and benevolence, died some years ago, leaving a family of daughters.

tunes in shipping induced it to confine its attention more closely to shore business. Mr. Cargill promoted several businesses which benefited the province while they lasted, and has maintained, throughout a forty years' career, a high integrity. He was returned at a by-election for the Western District to the Provincial Council in 1862, and in 1863 he was elected a member for Dunedin at the provincial general elections. He was defeated in 1867, but in 1871 he was successful, though he was not in the last Provincial Council. He was on two occasions Provincial Secretary. While Provincial Secretary, he introduced a series of resolutions providing for free selection of land throughout the interior districts, but these were thrown out in favour of counter resolutions introduced by Mr. Donald Reid. He represented Bruce in the General Assembly in 1862-63. Mr. Cargill has served on the old Town Board, City Council, School Board, Harbour Board, and is now vice-chancellor of Otago University. He has been one of the instigators of many profitable companies in the city and is now a director of a number of them. He has always taken a keen interest in Knox Church affairs, and is the only member living of the first Kirk Session. Cargill's Castle, at the cliffs above St. Clair, is a landmark in the surrounding scenery.