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Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1928, Page 2

Some appreciative comment was passed in tins column a week ago on the citizen spirit .so often displayed l).v local residents. To-night the burgesses are called together to tribute the Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) and the Mayoress. Tho occasion is an interesting domestic event, but it serves to. recall the municipal services of Mr Perry who lias been associated! with the Hokitika Borough Council for so many years. He was a councillor for some time, and has occupied tho mayoral seat now for upwards of twenty years. It is something more than a tribute to his personality that it lias been possible for him to hold office so long. It is well-known that his ability and training have been at the service of the town, and as its chief officer he has been able to render a very important civic service from his high position. It is a compliment to Mr Perry that lie lias never breen opposed for the mayoral chair, and it would appear tho Council and the townspeople generally arc content for him to go oil serving tho public. It is duo to Mr Perry to say that his services in that onerous position are given gratuitously, which means that the saving, in salary over a couple of decades has been a very largo sum. At tho modest allowance of £3O per annum, it means a saving of £I,OOO, so that from the financial point of view the ratepayers have reason to l>e grateful to Mr Perry for the generous and disinterested' way in which he has filled the office lie holds. Tho occasion for to-night’s presentation is a very happy one, and Mr and Mrs Perry both have the good wishes of tho community in the fortune and blessing liestowcd upon them. Mrs Perry has always been ready to share licr husband's duties and has been a pleasant and happy social worker in different worthy causes. The town has boon doubly fortunate, a fact making this evening’s function tho more deserved and noteworthy. Tho history of the Borough of Hokitika goes back to the very earliest times for the town was created a borough under a special ordinance in 1866. In the long span of years since then there have been many interesting events in the records of the municipality, and although tonight’s event lias not liecn the first of its kind, it is none the less a very interesting one, and in view of ilio special services of tho Mayor over his lengthy term of office, well earned and certainly well merited recognition of civic services unselfishly rendered in the public interests.