OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIV, 5 October 1901, Page 639

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

ASHBURTON—A CITY OF THE CANTERBURY PLAINS.

Many old residents of the county remember the time when the site of Ashburton was completely covered with the waving tussock. As the place grew East-street became the chief business centre of the town, with its long line of good business houses on one side, and the green shady plantation stretching along the opposite side. A commencement has now been made to replace the early public buildings with more pretentious structures. The old post and teleg'raph office, situated in Eaststreet, has. now been replaced by a fine new building. Probably no other institution can show so strikingly the progress of a district as its post office. In August, 1868, the first post office at Ashburton was established, and the postmaster received £2O a year. In 1871 a telegraph office was added, and in 1873 a money order office followed. The staff of the post and telegraph office has grown from the solitary' postmaster of the original post office to the staff of seventeen as shown in our illustration. Mr Renner joined the department in 1870, and rising through various grades was placed in charge as assistant officer in charge of the telegraph office, Wellington. He has also served in Blenheim, and was the officer in charge of the telegraph office, Wakapuaka (Cable Bay), from which station he was promoted to the charge of the Ashburton post and telegraph office. Previous to the incorporation of the borough a domain had been set aside for the use of the town; and as this reserve is within the boundaries of the borough, the Council took over the charge of the domain from the former Domain Board. An old winding gully ran through the reserve, and along the course of this old water course beautiful lakes have been formed. In the centre of one of these an island of some size exists. Trees of various kinds have been planted in the domain, especially around the various sheets of water, into all of which the weeping willow dips. A very fine swimming pond surrounded by a belt of trees has been formed. From lake to lake the water flows along water races, and is finally conducted through concrete side channels along the various streets for flushing and for fire prevention purposes. The domain has a very good racing track.

Mr Bullock presided at the first meeting of the burgesses, and was chosen the first Mayor. Both in the County Council, of which he was an active member, and as Mayor of the new borough, Mr Bullock was active in every movement likely to be of advantage to the place. One of the earliest settlers, he has seen the county grow from its original sea of tuasock to the present very important position it holds as n leading con-

tributor to the wealth of the colony. Mr Wm. Henry Collins, the Mayor of Ashburton, was born in Cornwall, England, where he spent his early youth in farming pursuits. Over thirty years ago he left for New Zealand, and landed at Lyttelton. He then went to the West Coast gold diggings, where he remained for four years. During that time he helped to build the first water wheel at Donohue’s, near Rosstown. He also helped to lay the first flat rods from one gold mine to another for pumping purposes. lie afterwards settled at Thnaru, and was engaged in the sawmilling and timber trade. Later he came to Ashburton, where he has been engaged in an extensive business for over twenty years. Two years ago he paid a joint business and pleasure visit to England, America, and South Africa. He was in America during the time of the American war with Spain. lie was in South Africa when the ultimatum was sent by late Transvaal , and Orange Free State to Britain. He arrived in South Africa in the same steamer with General Sir George White ami his staff. On his arrival at Capetown everything was in the excited condition common to the breaking out of war. During his stay there the first shot of the war was fired on the 11th October, 1899. Mr Collins has been in the Council for six years, in addition to the time he has now served as Mayor. As Mayor he has received vasious returning contingents of soldiers, entertaining them in Baring Square. When he entertained the returning Fourth Contingent in the Domain, 7000 people were present. He had the honour to welcome their Royal Highnesses the Duke and the Duchess of Cornwall and York. Twentyfive jyears ago Mr Collins married Miss Rowbotham, of Nottingham, England. As mayor and mayoress Air and Mrs Collins have been very hospitable and very successful. Mr Alcorn was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. He first emigrated to Victoria, and then came to New Zealand in the first steamer after gold had been discovered at Gabriels’ Gully in 1861. He opened the first store on the famous Blue Spur; and when the West Coast rush set in he chartered a vessel and nearly arrived at his destination, had the misfortune to he the first wreck on the Hokitika bar. At low water packers were able to reach the stranded vessel, and Mr Alcorn sold the oats in the cargo at £4 a bag. Mr Alcorn afterwards erected stores at Hokitika and Greymouth. Two of his vessels were lost while trading on the West Coast. In 1876 Mr Alcorn went Home through America, and was present at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. He came to Ashburton in 1881, was appointed a J.P. in 1887, and has also served in the Borough Council. Councillor H. M. Jones came to the colony in 1858, and to Ashburton in 1877. During his residence he has taken an active interest in municipal, educational, and school matters. He was elected a councillor in 1891, and is now the senior councillor. He is also a Freemason. Councillor Davison came to New Zealand in 1876 and settled in Ashburton. He has been clerk of the Ashburton Road Board for thirteen years, and official assignee at Ashburton for over seven years. He was elected a member of the Council about four years ago, and in every public position he holds has shown himself to be capable and obliging, earning thereby the usual public favour and goodwill. Councillor Willis has been a journalist for nearly twenty years, lie was formerly editor of the Christchurch “Telegraph,” and is now editor of the Ashburton “Guardian” and of the Ashburton “Mail.” He was elected to the Borough Council about eighteen months ngo.

Councillor Timmins caine to New Zealand in 1885, and to Ashburton in 1890. At a bye-election for the last Council he wns selected for the vacant seat from among six candidates. He is chairman of the Sanitary and Library Committees of the Council, and has lieen very attentive to his municipal duties.