PROGRESSIVE MARTON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 33, 8 February 1941, Page 2

PROGRESSIVE MARTON

CENTRE OF A PROSPEROUS DISTRICT From a humble beginning Marton has kept pace with the march of progress, and to-day it is the centre of a thriving district. It is a town of flowers, graceful in form and colours, well kept parks and playing fields, and splendidly laid out. In September, 1879, the town of Marton, which had for some time existed as a town board district, having a population of more than 500 inhabitants, assumed the dignity of a borough. The town takes its name from the birthplace in Yorkshire, England, of Captain Cook. The first meeting of the council was held on September 1, 1879. There were present: Mayor Frederick Beaven, Crs. Joseph Harris, Samward Ingram, Samuel H. Russell, Charles John Harrison, William Henderson, Henry Humphry, John L. Kirkbride, David Mewett, and Reginald Edward Beckett. The town continued to grow and prosper. In the years 1906 to 1908 Marton took a definite step forward because of the prosecution and completion of the Main Trunk Railway. The Marton Junction area, then in the County of Rangitikei, became a distributing and residential centre and was nearly as populous as the borough itself. On April 1, 1921, the Junction are together with a small area on the north side of Marton, joined in full partnership with the borough and the combined area has worked harmoniously ever since. The Marton Borough Council at present is as follows: Mayor, Mr. F. Purnell; deputy-Mayor, Cr. G. B. Gregory; councillors, Messrs. T. E. Barton, A. A. Mclndoe, W. J. Mogridge, J. R. Howard, W. B. Winchcombe, K. A. Williams, and A. J. B. Sicely.