HISTORY OF THE OFFICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20442, 12 June 1936, Page 7

HISTORY OF THE OFFICE

LONG LINE OF MAYORS Timaru was constituted a borough on July 13, 1868, and since then the town has had 25 Mayors. A complete record of the various chief citizens is available, but difficulty has been experienced in tracing the records of Mayoral contests beyond 1882. In the early days of the Borough, Mayors held office for a short time only, four years being the longest term until the late Mr James Craigle was elected in

1902, and he held office for 10 years, although on three occasions he was obliged to contest an election. Quite a number of Mayors have been returned unopposed, Mi- Craigie also holding the record in this respect, as he went back to office without opposition on six occasions. The borough rate in the very early days was a fairly substantial one, and at a meeting of the first Council held on August 24, 1868, it was decided: “That a rate of 1/- in the £ be levied on all rateable property within the Borough of Timaru, as specified on the rate roll of 1867, for the purpose of paying off the overdraft at the bank, and to meet the current expenses of the ensuing year.” The appointment of the first Town Clerk was carried out by tender, the Council deciding that this was the proper procedure to adopt. Nine tenders were received, the highest being £l5O and the lowest £5O. That of Mr E. H. Lough at £lOO was accepted but he was required to find a bond of £5OO, in two sureties of £250 each, so as to refrain him from absconding. The list of early Mayors, and their terms of office are as follow:—1868-70, 8. Hemlings; 1870-73, H. Cain; 1873-75, G. Cliff; 1875-76, J. Sutter; 1876-79, G. Cliff; 1879-82, J. Sutter; 1882-86, John Jackson. Early Election In 1886 Mr John Jackson was defeated by Mr Moss Jonas by 121 votes to 89, and Mr Jonas was re-elected unopposed in the following year. In 1888-1889 and 1890 Mr □. M. Ross was elected unopposed, and from 1891 to 1893 Mr A. Sheratt held office, he also being unopposed. In 1893, however, Mr J. Hill contested the election against Mi- Jackson, whom he defeated by 160 votes to 137. Mr Hill went back the next year unopposed. In 1895 he was opposed by Mr J. J. Grand!, whom he defeated by 148 votes to 106. MiHill did not stand in 1896, the candidates being J. J. Grand! and John Jackson. Mr Grand! was elected by 207 votes to 105. He was returned unopposed in 1897, but in the following year was defeated by Mr J. S. Keith by 292 votes to 231. Mr J. Hole, who is still living, was Mayor from 1899 to 1901, and he was succeeded by Mr J. Macintosh. In 1902 Mr Craigie went into office beating Mr T. Hawkey by 578 votes to 332, and remained there until he retired in 1912. In 1908 he beat Mr T. Hawkey by 775 votes to 295, and in 1910 he defeated Mr J. Sinclair by 1138 votes to 230. In 1911 Mr Craigie was opposed by Mr A. Leek, whom he defeated by 2659 votes to 675. There were two candidates for the position when Mr Craigie retired, MiHawkey beating Mr W. H. Hunt by 1590 votes to 863. In the following year tl ere were four candidates, the result being:—W. Angland 1121, T. H-wkey 1093, R. H. Bowie ’>49, and H. Green 248. In 1914, Mr E. R. Guinness beat Mr Angland by 2879 votes to 1559, and in the following year he beat two candidates, the polling being:—E. R. ■Guinness 2036, W. Angland 899, W. H. Hunt 469. At this period the election was held every second year, and in 1917 the result was:—J. Maling 2208, W. Angland 892, J. L. Hurdley 142. Mr Maling retired in 1919, Mr Wm. C. Raymond being elected unopposed. He did not contest the 1921 election, when Mr F. J. Rolleston beat Mr Angland by 2949 to 1067. In 1923 the contest was between Mr G. J. Wallace and the Rev. T. Wilson Potts, the former being elected by 2760 votes to 1730. Mr Wallace was returned unopposed in 1925, and in 1927 he defeated Mr Angland by 2389 votes to 2028. In 1729 the polling resulted in the return of Mr Angland, the voting being;—W. Angland 2140, P. C. Vinnell 1503, A. L. Gee 1084. In 1931 Mr T. W. Satterthwaite came into the field and was elected, the result being:—T. W. Satterthwaite 2244, W. Angland 1679, P. C. Vinnell 1026. Three years ago there was another three-cornered contest, Mr Satterthwaite beind re-elected. The polling was:—T. W. Satterthwaite 2935, W. Angland 2121, A. Kennedy 766. At the election last year, the result was:—• T. W. Satterthwaite 2962, G. Benstead 2089, A. M. Paterson 530, G. T. Koller 349.