WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1926, Page 1

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26th

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

The annual meeting of the Council was field at noon to elect a Chairman for the ensuing year. There were piesent : —Messrs B. Ward, and J. A. Murdoch (Northern Hiding), E. A. Wells. T. R. Chesterman, and L. IT. Morel (Central Riding), W. Jeffries, W. Searle, J. Donovan and W. H. Chinn (Southern Riding). The Chairman (Mr T. R. Cl>estorman) presided. Notification of the election of members was supplied by the Returning Officer.

The Chairman referred to the services of Mr M. Keenan during the past three years, lie moved that ihe Council place on record its appreciation of past services. Seconded by Mr Wells, who expressed his regret at the termination of his services. Supported by Messrs Ward and Murdoch and

carried. The Chairman conveyed a welcome to the now members Messrs Morel and Chinn, who however, bad both lieen members on a. former occasion. Mr .Wells endorsed the remarks of the Chairman supported bv Messrs Ward. Searle, Murdoch and Jeffries. Mr Chinn thanked members for their kindly welcome back to the Council table and trusted they would all work in harmony. Mr Morel also thanked members for his welcome. Ho trusted to be able to work on the same lines as be had when lie previously sat at the table. Mr Chesterman said his term of office was now up. He had done his best during bis term of office. Tic believed to-day in spile of the bad weather tlio roads were belter than they had been. There was ct. heavy cost of upkeep involved owing to the heavy traffic. Ho had to thank tDo .staff, Mr Evans especially, for the assistance that had been given. He thanked members for the support they had ac- I corded him. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN.

Tlio Clerk (Mr Evans) then took thf chair and invited nominations for the

position of Chairman for the ensuing, year.

Mr Searle nominated Mr Jeffries. Mr Murdoch nominated Mr Searle, who declined.' -s Mr W. Jeffries was then declared duly elected. Mr Jeffries took the chair and thanked members for his election unopposed. He had occupied the chair some years earlier and he had gained experience. Tlio Council as constituted to-day fairly well represented the ratepayers as a whole. The coming ten'll promised to ho a busy one. He thought they .should get a good deal more done to - the roads with the machinery at their disposal. They would have to cut their cloth with regard to the finance at their disposal. He thought an endeavour should also he made to reduce the burden of the rates on the ratepayers. He was pleased to see Messrs Chinn and Morel back at the. Council table. He thought

they would again prove valuable meml hers. During Mr Chestorinan’s term of office he was closely associated with him and recognised his splendid services. He thanked members and trusted at tbe end of tbc year they would have found the team had all worked well together. Mr Ward congratulated Mr Jeffries on his election. The new chairman had a wide knowledge of the whole county, and he was satisfied that he would do his utmost to conserve tlio best interests of the district. He hoped be would have a very pleasant term of office. VOTES OF THANKS.

The Chairman moved a cordial vote of appreciation of the services of the retiring Chairman (Hr Ciiestcrman) during his term of office and he would couple this with a voto of thanks to the staff also. The motion was carried by acclamation. VISIT OF MINISTER. OF MINKS. A letter was read from Air T. F. Y. Seddon. Af.P. in connection with the visit- of the Hon Minister of Minos, stating it was proposed to hold the Conference with the Minister at TCuinara on Saturday at 7.30 p.m.—Received. The Chairman, Messrs Murdoch. Ward and Treasurer were deputed to represent the Council. GENERAL. It was resolved to invite applications for the position of lorry driver in place of Mr Green, resigned. On the motion of Iffy Murdoch it was resolved to have repairs to Duffers’ track (£5) and to the approach to the Goldsborough Church (£2). The Chairman and Mr Senile were authorised to attend to some repairs at Ilnrihari. MINISTERIAL. Mr Murdoch moved that the Council convey its hearty congratulations to Hon R. A- Wright on his inclusion in the Cabinet, as Minister of Education. -Mr Wright was a former resident of Hokitika in the early days, and lhad lieen Mayor of Wellington and mem-' her for Wellington Suburbs for many years. Mr Ward seconded tbe motion. He bad very vivid recollections of. Mr Wright’s father when in this district. It was a decided reflection’ that a former resident of the district should now ho a Cabinet Minister. Supported by Mr Jeffries and carried. The Council then adjourned. ROLL OF COUNTY CHAIRMEN. 1876 John McWhirtei • 1877 H. L. Robinson 1878 J. Grimmond 1879 John Lang 1330 R. J. Seddon 1881 P. Dungan ISB2 John MeWhirter 1883 P. Dungan 1884 J. Grimmond 1885 James Clarke 1886 ,T. M. McGoldrick ISB7 McL. W. Jack 1888 J. M. McGoldrick 1889 A. Camming 1890 John MeWhirter 1891 John MeWhirter 1892 Thos Daly . 1893 John Staines 1594 J. Grimmond 1895 Jas F. Byrno 1896 John Staines 1897 A. Cumming 1898 P. Dungan 1899 Jas. F. Byrno 1800 .....r... L. Northcroft 1901 ......... T. V. Byrne . 1902 A. Clifton ' 1903 J. Grimmond 1904 T. W. Duff 1905 T. J. McGuigan 1906 T. V. Byrne 1907 T. W. Brueo 1908 ......... S. G. Ferguson 1909 J. A. Murdoch 1910 T. W. Duff 1911 ......... T. W. Bruce

1912 J. Grimmond 1913 ......... S. G. Ferguson 1914 A. Clifton 1915 J. A. Murdoch 1916 H. Fforman 1917 B. Ward . 1918 T. W-. Duff 1919 T. W. Bruce. 1920 J. A. Murdoch t 1921 B. Ward 1922 W. Jeffries 1923 T. W. Duff 1924 E. A. Wells 1925 T. R. Chesterman. 1926 W. Jeffries.