PIONEER REVISITS TOWN.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16117, 15 October 1924, Page 8

PIONEER REVISITS TOWN.

MAYOR OF FORMER YEARS. ONLY SURVIVING FIRST COUNCILLOR. An interesting visitor to Hamilton just now is Mr Isaac Coates, one of the earliest pioneers, a member of the old Hamilton East Town Board and of the Kirikiriroa Road Board. He is the only member of the first Hamilton Borough Council still alive, and was Mayor of Hamilton from 1888 till 1892, and claims to be the only Mayor who relinquished office without an overdraft. For several years Mr Coates has been residing in Melbourne. Australia, and he contrasts modern Hamilton with what it was as lie first remembers it. He always had great faith in the place, even when Victoria Street was a rough, mud bullock track, and a few wooden shacks. He saw that its geographical position must stand it in good stead, and always considered that if the vast areas of swamp land around the town could be brought into profitable use nothing could stop the town from progressing. His faitli in it has now been justified, and he marvels at the progress of the past ten years. The modern new buildings which he sees everywhere going up would, lie considers, do justice to many a erty. He remembers Hie lime when the community had a hard struggle to live, as there was no work, and nobody to employ them. Many of the residents were driven away by sheer necessity, and the few’ who remained began to see a brighter day when Captain Steele formed thc-Piako Swamp Company, and a start was made at draining certain of the wet areas. Mr Coates is glad to see the town and the people looking so prosperous, and he is proud to know that some of the schemes which he helped to pioneer have fruited so bountifully. He always declared that he would live to see Hamilton a city, and he still considers that his dream wall be realised. Mr Coates is located at the Royal Hotel.