TE KUITI'S FIRST MAYOR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 257, 7 May 1910, Page 5

TE KUITI'S FIRST MAYOR.

Sketch of His Career. j Mr James Boddie, who was elected] as Chief Magistrate for the of Te Kuiti on Wednesday last, came, t®Te Kuiti over two years ago, having a*uired extensive properties here, anci-vgince that time has shown himself 16" el* one of our most active and' capawlp-leaders in matters of public opinion. He i 3 58 years of age and prior to taking up residence here was for over 20 years practically connected with the Eltham district of Taranaki. He took an active part in the formation of the Eltham-Te Kuiti Railway League, of which he was chairman. He was a' member of the Eltham Chamber of Commerce and of the Elt ham Borough Council, the formation of the Eltham County being largely due to his efforts. One 'speaker at a very representative banquet tendered to Mr Boddie when leaving for Te Kuiti, spoke -of him as the "ablest councillor he had ever heard of, and one with an unrivalled knowledge of local government." Mr Boddie was a director of the Normanby Dairy Factory Co., and the Eltham Bacon Co. and a member of the Eltham Domain Board, the Hawera County Council, the Eltham County Council, and the Hawera Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He was captain of the Rifle Volunteers there, and Provincial President of the Farmers' Union. He was also one of the most active advocates of the Taranaki Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association. Since coming to Te Kuiti Mr Boddie has been a prominent member of the Waitomo County Council and has taken a prominent jpart in the agitation for the rating of native lands. His election as first Mayor of Te Kuiti is a tribute to his abilities and his many friends will watch with interest the work done in .connection with our newly-formed borough. Mr Boddie was one of the five members of the borough committee and helped largely by his untiring efforts, the incorporation of the borough.