THE VICE-REGAL TOUR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 176

THE VICE-REGAL TOUR.

ON pages 172 3 of the present issue will be found the account of the Governor’s tour upon the West Coast. Intimately connected with it are the views which we present m>on the present page of Mawhera Quay (Greymonth), and a view of path up the Denniston Hill ; also the portraits of the Mayor and Town Clerk of Westport, and the County Chairman of the Province of Westland, who are subjects of interest to those who are living upon the West Coast of the Southern Island. THE MAYOR OF WESTPORT. The portrait below represents the third son of the late Mr Charles E. Suisted, one of the earliest pioneers of New Zealand, whose arrival in Wellington dates back to the

year 1841. He was engaged in business in that city until the occurrence of the heavy earthquakes in 1848, when he left deciding to settle in Otago, and was amongst the first to engage extensively in pastoral pursuits in that province.

The subject of the present sketch was born in Wellington in the year 1844, and at an early age visited England and the Continent of Europe with his parents, remaining at Home for some years for educational purposes. Shortly after his return to this colony in the year 1861, the great rush to the Otago goldfields took place, and for several years he was engaged in mining pursuits both in Otago and at the Thames, in Auckland. Mr Suisted settled finally at Westport, on the West Coast of the South Island, in 1869, where he has ever since been engaged in business and mining enterprises. During his long residence in that part of New Zealand MrSuisted has always taken an active interest in local politics, the ratepayers

of the borough of Westport having just returned him to the honourable position of Mayor for the fourth time. On the initiation of the Westport Harbour Works, which are among the most successful in the colonies, he was one of the six gentlemen appointed by the Government to assist in carrying out the great Colonial enterprise, and he is still a member of that important Board. He has also filled many other public positions with credit to himself and advantage to his district. Daring always to do that which he considered right, he has naturally gained the true respect and esteem of all right-thinking men. Mr Suisted has always been ably assisted by his wife, the clever journalist and author, whose connection with the press of this and other colonies, the excellent work she has produced in all branches of literature, and especially her sessional contributions for eight or nine years, are too widely known to need further reference.

THE TOWN CLERK OF WESTPORT. Mr A. D. Gordon-Cumming, Town Clerk of Westport, as his name implies, is the descendant of an old Scottish family. He has filled his present position for a period of nine years, with satisfaction to the Council and benefit to the public. He is also clerk to the borough Licensing Committee, and Secretary to the Westport Jockey Club. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL. Mr John McWhirter, Chairman of the Westland County

Council, is one of the best known public men of Westland. Since the days of road boards he has been prominent in local politics, and has been continuously in the public service for a number of vears. Mr McWhirter began his public career as a member of the Arahura Road Board, subsequently becoming Chairman of the body. With the abolition of road boards in Westland and the creation of the Westland County Council, the subject of our sketch was elected as one of the three representatives for the Arahura Riding in the Council. Each successive election has seen the gentleman re-elected, and he is now enjoying the third period of his fellow-councillors’ confidence in occupying the responsible and arduous position of County Chairman. Mr McWhirter is likewise a member of the Westland Education and the Hokitika Harbour Boards, and until recently also sat on the Westland District Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board. He has likewise sat on minor committees and boards, and has borne a full share of the heat and burden of local government. Mr McWhirter is a keen and ready man, and at present, in presiding over the destinies of the County Council, has a very trying task to perform, owing to the lack of funds to enable the body to discharge its functions. Mr Me Whirter avers this disastrous position is brought about by the action of the Legislature in withdrawing and contractingformer lucrative sources of revenue. The present Ministry has, however, recognized the unfairness of the position, and an early re-

organisation of the system of local government is hoped for. Pending this relief Mr McWhirter has just propounded a very sensible scheme for the temporary relief of the financial troubles.

— SEE LETTERPRESS ‘VICE REGAL TOUR, PAGES 172-73.