SIXTY YEARS AGO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19364, 30 June 1937, Page 4

SIXTY YEARS AGO

FIRST COUNCIL MEETING CELEBRATION PROPOSED MINISTERIAL VISITS The sixtieth anniversary of the first meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council falls on Friday, and the coun- , cil last night suggested that some suitable function should be held to celebrate the event. Visits from two Ministers of the Crown coincided with the anniversary, and it was suggested that they should participate, but after a brief discussion no decision was reached. Cr. P. W. Bushnell mentioned the matter, and suggested that something should be done to mark the occasion. Cr. N. H. Bull: I suggest we go into mourning. Cr. Bushnell: It is an occasion which merits some celebration. Cr. G. Bradley Smith. The Mayor should give a dinner. Reading of the Minutes Cr. Bushnell suggested that the council might have the minutes of the first meeting read while the Ministers were here. The town clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins, referring to the minutes, said that the first meeting was held in the Courthouse on Monday, July 2, 1877. Cr. H. H. De Costa suggested that a dinner should be held. The Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., said that there was a celebration 10 years ago for the fiftieth anniversary, and he asked if it was proposed to hold a celebration every 10 years. Cr. De Costa, smiling: I move now that we arrange for our centennial. There was no further discussion on the matter. The First Minutes A perusal of the minutes to-day showed that at the first council meeting the following were present: — The Mayor, Mr. William F. Crawford, and Crs. Samuel Stephenson, John Townley, William Teat, William Adair, James Rice Morgan, Thomas Adams, Henry Clayton, Carlow Smith, and Edward Knight Brown. The first business was making and signing the declaration prescribed by section 53 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876. The town clerk was instructed to advertise for applications for the office of town clerk and treasurer, and also engineer and valuator. It was decided to obtain a copy of the Napier (borough by-laws as a basis on which to form those of Gisborne, and to apply to the secretary of the Poverty Bay Highway Board for iriformation regarding rates payable by the board to the borough, what public works the board had in hand in the borough and contracts entered into, and whether' the board wished to dispose of the Road Board office. It was decided to hold the next meeting on the following Tuesday.