MANAWATU COUNTRY COUNCIL’S JUBILEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3579, 23 December 1926, Page 2

MANAWATU COUNTRY COUNCIL’S JUBILEE.

* INTERESTING RETROSPECT The retirement of Sir James Wilson as chairman of the Manawatu County Council coincided with that body’s jubilee. At yesterday’s presentation ceremony by the Council to Sir James, the clerk presented a very interesting record which was rend by the chairman, Mr \Y. E. Barber. “The Council’s record of the Proclamation of the Constitution of the County of Manawatu,” and the particulars of the date of the first election of Councillors were evidently burnt when the County offices were destroyed by fire some years ago, but, the first Minute hook is still intact. From that we find that the first meeting of the Council was held pursuant to a Proclamation issued under the hand of His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, Governor of New Zealand, hearing the date of 29th day of December, 187 C. This meeting was held at the Resident Magistrate’s Court House, Palmerston North, on Thursday 4th January, 1877, six days after the issue of the Proclamation. “The members of the Council present. were: —John Wright Gower, of Foxton, Arthur Follett Halcombe, of Feilding, John. Watson Liddell, of Foxton, Henry McNeil, of Palmerston North, Hector MacDonald, of Levin, Douglas Hastings Macartliur, of Feilding, George Matthew Suelson, of Palmerston North, Henry Sanson, of Sanson, and Ernest Stephen Thynne, of Foxton. Mr Liddell was voted to the chair pro tern. “The election for the first chairman then took place, and resulted in Mr Thynne beating Mi - Halcombe by five votes to four. At this meeting Foxton was fixed as the place for the future meetings of the Council. The first County treasurer was Mr Liddell. The Council’s first County solicitor was Mr Charles Mac Lean, of Bulls, and the first County Clerk appointed was Mr William Osborn. Mr Osborn’s salary was £l5O per annum. The chairman was also paid a salary of £l5O per annum. The first engineer was Mr. Barton. “The area of the Manawatu County in those days comprised the district contained in the present Counties of Manawatu, Horowhenua, Kairanga, Oroua, Pohangina and Kiwitea. The County was divided into ridings, and Highway and Road Boards dealt with different local matters.

“Mr Thynne held office as chairman until the annual meeting in Nevember 1878 when Mr McArthur was elected. Air McArthur continue was elected. Air McArthur continued until October 1882 when he resigned and the late Dr. John F. Rockstrow, at that time residing at Foxton, was appointed in his stead. Dr. Roekstrow resigned in August 1883 and Air Thynne was re-ap-pointed and held office until November 1887. “The next chairman was the lade Robert B. AlcKenzie of Carnarvon wlio resigned in July 1889. Mr V. C. Ransom of Campbell town was then appointed chairman and he held office from 1889 to 1897, when 'he resigned his position both as chairman and councillor for the then Campbell riding. “In November 1897 Civ W. Taylor was elected chairman and held office until lie resigned in September 1898. Our late chairman, Sri James G. Wilson who had been a councillor since 1892, was then elected and held office continuously until his retirement last May. In November 1898, Sir James was also appointed to represent the Alanawatu County on the Palmertson N. Hospital Board, and it is pleasing to record the fact that he is still our representative on that body and also its most esteemed chairman. “The first county rate was a general rate of (Id in the £ on the annual value for the year ended March 31, 1878. The Sanson-Carnarvon tramway, which ait. first was laid only as far as the Rongotea siding, was opened in 1884. The plans and specifications for the construction of the tramway were prepared by Mr J. L. Stewart, of the Public Works Department, at that time district engineer, residing at Foxton. “The County offices were situated at Foxton until 1887. Evidently by this time different portions of the county had broken away and had taken over the complete administration of their' own different areas. In 1887 the Sandon-Carnarvon Road Boaa-d, which had been functioning over the present Alanawatu County area, amalgamated with the county as one body. As a result, the County offices were moved from Foxton to Sandon. The first Council meeting at Sandon was,held in the old library room on September 28th, 1887.