THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 11

THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING HELD TRIBUTE TO FIRST “FATHERS.” When the Patea Borough Council met yesterday for the express purpose of marking the Jubilee of the town, the reading of the minutes of the first council meeting, held fifty years previously, to the day, rolled memories back and recalled names prominently associated with Patea’s progress. Initiating the Jubilee celebrations, the meeting was strikingly appropriate, x It paid tribute to the first il fathers’ 3 / of the town. As the town clerk (Mr. ' L. K. Austin) finished reading the record, couched in brief minute book language. the Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom) put the formal motion: “Those are the minutes. All those who believe them to be a true and correct record, please signify in the usual way.” And the council, with signs of perplexity, looked back at him. “I am sorry we can’t say,” Cr. A. T. Christensen replied. “There is only one of those councillors alive. Mr. A. Black, New Plymouth.” In the lyief hush which followed there was eloquent tribute to the hands of the past. The meeting was attended by the Hon. A. J. Young. Minister of Health, representing the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates and the Government, and Mr. H. G. Dickie. M.P. for Patea. Tn addition to the Mayor the following councillors were present: Messrs. C. R. Honevfield (deputy Mayor), G. Pettigrew. F. Naismith. C. H. Carey, T. J. Scott, A. T. Christensen. Welcoming the Minister, the Mayor stressed the purpose of the meeting and paid tribute to past councils. Telegrams of congratulation were read from the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) and from the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes). The Hon. A. J. Young apologised for the absence of the two leaders of the Coalition Cabinet. He said he could appreciate what Patea was experie/-ing as he was an cx-Mayor of Hamilton and that centre had celebrated its Eiamond Jubilee, of 60 vears.

“It is gratifying indeed, that at A- least one of the original councillors is * alive,” the Minister proceeded, commenting upon the responsibility of the present council to carry on the work so well begun. “It is a pity there are not more, but the world g<xs on and sooner or later, the hind of time will take us all. This is a day of rejoicing, a day of commemoration of the past. Every age and every period has its own experience, its ow u hardships.” Mr Young congratulated the borough on the wonderful progress it had made. r rtie town had a responsibility handed on to it by the men who had laid the borough’s foundations so solidly. He reiterated his congratulations on the achievements of half a century and expressed wishes for Patea’s continued progress and prosperity. Similar expressions were forthcoming from Mr. Dickie. He congratulated the Mayor on holding office when the town had reached its Jubilee. The speaker was one of the few people who could remember Patea before it was a borough. Hi.- first appearance in the town was in 1879, when he was brought to Dr. Croft to have a broken collar-bone attended to. Patea had had its ups and downs, and he was glad that the citizens saoald see fit to hold festivities to mark the Jubilee. It would be a mistake for any centre reaching its Jubilee to let the occasion pass unmarked. V Cr. Christensen said that Patea was ” a solid town and was of great service to the farming community as far north as Hawcra and south to Kai Iwi. So far as the Borough Council was con cerned, he said that it did not pretend to do anything rash. It was a solid place and had a happy community. Patea was quite content to see its neighbours grow up into big cities, and would not launch out in spending. It could pay 20s in the £ and would always strive to maintain that. On Cr. Christensen 's motion a vote of efcshs wns feecOrded the Minister and Mr. Dickie for their attendance. The council resolved to place on record in the minutes the congratulatory telegrams of the Governor-General and the Prime Minister, so that when the borough celebrated its century of progress not only the miuutcs of the original meeting of the council would be read, but that the record of the Jubilee gathering would play its part also, and would contain recognition from the representative of the British Crown and from the Parliament of New Zealand 1931. Among those present at this important council meeting were Mr. Geo. Williams. an cx-Mayor of Patea, and Mr. W. Adams, who, at one time was headmaster of the school