Whangarei Celebrates Fiftieth Year

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 250, 12 January 1928, Page 1

Whangarei Celebrates Fiftieth Year

TRIBUTES TO PIONEERS YESTERDAY’S CELEBRATIONS (SUN’S Special Reporter.) WHANGAREI, To-day. The Whangarei County Council celebrated its Jubilee yesterday with due regard for its importance. A large assembly gathered in the Council Chamber, where the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, unveiled a brass tablet bearing the names of the members of the original council

Among the visitors were many old identities, including Mr. W. Lilley who has celebrated his 91st year. He came to New Zealand in the Queen of Beauty in 1863 and still lives on the farm he took up when he landed at Whangarei. Another pioneer was Mr. Alec McLeod who arrived in Whangarei in 1860 and went two years later to Hikurangi, where he still resides. Mr. James E. Holmes, an ex-Mayor of Whangarei, arrived here in 1876. There were many others, all hale and hearty old fellows who greatly enjoyed the proceedings. The toast list was a long one, and during its progress many tales were told by the pioneers, who all expressed their hope that the great future still before Whangarei would be realised. The following toasts were honoured: “Parliament of New Zealand,” proposed by Mr. L. J. Brake, Mayor of Whangarei, responded to by the Hon. A. D. McLeod; “Whangarei County Council— Past and Present,” proposed by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, responded to by Mr. G. H. Minchin, Mr. W. Jones, M.P., and Mr. L. Webb; “Our Pioneer Settlers,” proposed by Mr. W. Jones, M.P., responded to by the pioneers present; “Kindred Local Bodies,” proposed by Mr. L. Webb, chairman Whangarei County Council, responded to by Mayor of Whangarei, and the chairmen of Otamatea, Hobson, Bay of Islands and Hokianga County Councils and the chairmen of the Whangarei Harbour Board and Hospital Board; “Leading Local Industries,” proposed by Colonel Allen Bell, M.P., responded to by Mr. A. Marshall, president Whangarei Chamber of Commerce.