THE NEW TOWN CLERK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1100, 22 May 1913, Page 2

THE NEW TOWN CLERK.

MR J. H. N. PEDDER, OF TEMUKA.. The committee of the Council set up to go through the applications for the position of Town Clerk and select three for the Council to make a final selection met on Monday evening and at the special meeting of the Council held on Tuesday night submitted their report, the three applicants from which the Council were to make a final choice being:—■ Messrs Kent-Johnston (Parnell), J. H. N. Pedder (Temuka), and H. T. W. McLennan (New Brighton), The Council appointed Mr Pedder to the position, and he will take up his duties on the qth proximo. The new Town Clerk has had considerable experience in local body routine work, having for nine years been on the staff of the Wellington City Council as minute and committee clerk. He resigned from the Wellington City Council to take up a position with the Christchurch City Council under the City Treasurer, and was shortly afterwards, transferred to the charge of the water supply department. He left the employ of the Christchurch City Council to take up a position as accountant and manager of the firm of Evans and Co., accountants and auctioneers, of Temuka, where he remained until he resigned to commence business on his own account in Temuka as an account? ant and agent. Since residing in Temuka, he was twice engaged as acting Town Clerk, on one occasion recently acting in this position for four months owing to the absence through illness of the Town Clerk, and for his work received a special vote of thanks from the Council. He is at present secretary ,of a dairy company, the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and the District High School, and is one of the representatives of the Technical School. Mr Pedder is a married man, 36 years of age.

Mr Pedder forwarded testimonials from Messrs J. G. W. Aitken (ex-Mayor of Wellington), J. J. Devine, W. M. Muir, John Smith, and M. Murdoch (Wellington City Councillors during the time he was connected with that body), J. E. Page (formerly Town Clerk, and now City Treasurer), T. F. Martin (solicitor to the Municipal Association), J. Ames (City Valuer), Geo. Wiltshire (formerly City Surveyor), G. D. Balsillie (Assistant Water Works Engineer, Christchurch), Jas. Andrew (City Accountant, Christchurch), and A. D. Dobson (Christchurch City Surveyor).