A Familiar Name

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14041, 17 December 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

A Familiar Name

IN COUNTY AFFAIRE. MR. C. H. HODGINS. The records of the Pahiatua County Council hold many entries of the name borne by Charles Henry Hodgins, who comes of a family with a truly impressive record of publicservice. There has been a Hodgins ■representing the Mangaone Riding on the County Council from 1893 until the present day, with only a break of two years from 1894 to 1896, following on the death ol Mr Thus’. Hodgins, Senior. Mr C. H. Hodgins was born at Tane, his present home, 43 years ago, son of Thomas Hodgins, who was farming in that district. He attended the Tane public school, and completed bis education at St. Patrick's College, Wellington, after which he returned to his lather's farm /or some 12 months. Mr Hodgins served in the Great War from 1916* until the Armistice, passing the whole of his time in France', where he was wounded, and lie rose to tim rank of Sergeant-

Major in his regiment, the 12th Nelson Infantry. Oil his return to New Zealand he took up farming again, and following his father’s retirement, lie took over the estate, where lie has been ever since.

Although his main interests lie with the farm, he has been able to spare the time to act as steward for the Pahiatua Racing Club, and until increasing occupation with business matters claimed too much of his time, he was a keen footballer and golfer, having played the former game both before and after the war for many of the clubs ot the district.

But it is as the scion of a line of County Councillors that Mr Hodgins comes particularly into the limelight. His grandfather, Mr Thomas Hodgins Senr., was elected to the* Council in November, 1893. his term being cut short bv his death in December, 1894. In ‘1896, tlu' Hodgins family was again represented on the Council, Mr R. J. Hodgins, being elected to represent the Mangaone Riding. His term lasted until November,

1899, when he was replaced by his brother. Mr Thomas Hodgins, Mr Charles Hodgins’ lather, who remained on the Council for an exceptionally long term during which he was cliaiiman for some rears, until 1932. !ln the May elections of that year Mr C. H. Hodgins replaced fils father, and is now in his third term as a County Councillor.

With such a record of family service behind him, Mr Hodgins will no doubt feel that he has much to live up to. And in this respect he is not lacking, for besides taking a keen and energetic interest in all branches of County affairs, he has been a member of the Rabbit Board since its inception. In addition to a known and honoured name, liis personal qualities of character and integrity make Mr Charles Hodgins a man whose future career in County affairs will be watched with interest.