TOWN CLERKS OF HASTINGS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 40 (Supplement)

TOWN CLERKS OF HASTINGS

Late Mr John Collinge's Long Term of Office ONLY A FEW CHANGES Througliout tlie fifty-one years of its history tlie Hastings Borougli Council lias been served by only three town 1 clerks — or four if one counts the- term of Mr "W. H. Cook, who combined the offices of engineer and town clerk. Mr John.Collinge was the first Town Clerk. He was associated' with Hastings from. its- incep tion as the Heretaunga riding, throngh its stage as a town board and' its birth as a borough in 18S6, He was clerk Of the Heretaunga riding 'and of the. Town Board, and V-as appointed" Town Clerk under Mr Robert "NVellwood, the iirst Mayor. He held that position until -his retirement in 1911 ' after ' 25 years ' f aithful Bervice. Born in Burma in 1810, he came to 3STew Zealand at the age of six and stayed at Auckland until he was about 20. years of age. He toolc parahi the Maori "Wars and later came to Hawke's Bay, where he undertook farm work with Mr John Heslop, of Puketapu. Still later he took up land from Mr Thomas-'Tanner in Hastings. " He died in 1925 at the age of 85 years. It is interesting to know that a grandson.of Mr Collinge, Mr Jones, -is the present assistant'Town Clc.lc of Hastings. Mr W. H. Cook ' The .late Mr W.H. Copk for two years held the ,dual position of Town Clerk and engineer. The com'bining of the two*o£S.ces was, lioweyer,- abandoned after Mr Cook's term.' Mr'Cookihad been engineer at Petone and ?a surveyor in priv.ate practice,*.and had also been engineer at Hew Plymouth and Mount Albert.; 4 ■ • Mr Percy R. Purser Mr. Percy. R..' v Purser. -beeame Town Clerk in Septemb.er 1913. Mr. Purser 'came tolSTetv- Zealand in 1884 and learned the drapery trade, but he.studied accountaney and was in 189*2' appointed Town Clerk at Lower Hutt, where he continued until he cam'o 'to Hastings. He retired in 1934. During his term as Town Clerk the town developed considerably; the . carrying ■ of -loan polls enabled the surfacing of streets, the inetallation of an , extended sewerage system, electric-light extension, ereetion of the Municipal Theatro and of the present Municipal Buildings. In .his retirement Mr Purser is- living in Preberick street. Mr Noel C. Harding The present Town Clerk, Mr Kocl C. Harding, was Town Clerk at Feilding before his appointment in succession to Mr Purser For some years he was a momber of the staff of thb Hew Plymouth Borough Council, and after teaching the position of accountant he resigned to take up an appointment as | Town Clerk and treasurer at Patea. Mr Harding served in that position from tho beginning of 1919 to 1924,, and was then appointed Town Clerk and treasurer at Feilding. He has had wide experience in the . fmancial : work* appertaining to municipal administration, and is a Fellow of1 the, New Zealand Institute of Certified Secretaries.