INSIGNIA OF OFFICE

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 152, 24 December 1954, Page 1

INSIGNIA OF OFFICE

MAYORAL CHAIN PRESENTED BY MR AND MRS J. E. STORY At the recent meeting of the Taupo Borough Council, the Mayor, Mr J. E. Story, on behalf of Mrs Story and himself, presented to the Council a mayoral chain and medallion, to be worn by the Mayor as the insignia of office. Designed in traditional form, the chain consists of a series of small connected gilded silver plates, from which two circular medallions are hung. Round the top of the larger are the words "Borough of, Taupo/' and below the words "Kia U," with the English rendering "Stand Fast," and an ornamentation of 'fern fronds. The centre of the medallion has a view of the Lake and volcanic mountains Ruapehu, - Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, framed in a Maori carved gate. The drawing from which the medallion was made was the work of Mrs Avis Acres, of Taupo, and the Maori gateway shown is the one which was formerly the entrance to the Sports Ground, and which is shortly to be re-erected at the present main entrance to the Sports Ground, opposite Tamamutu Street. The gates were presented to the town by Mr and Mrs G. W. P. Reid about 25 years ago. The smaller medallion, hung above the main one, is surmounted by a crown, and bears the words "Constituted a Borough 1st October 1953, Coronation year." Permission has been sought to have a reprbduction of the Queen's head engraved on this medallion. The Deputy-Mayor, Cr J. D. Swan, receiving the insignia of the Mayoral office on behalf of the Council, thanked the Mayor and Mayoress for their gift to the Council and people of Taupo. It was indeed a handsome one. The Maori motto, "Kia U!" ("Stand fast!"), was the motto of Her Majestv's New Zealand ship Taupo, : and the Borough had adopted it as its motto with the approval of the Naval authorities. In due i ;ourse His Wcr:!./^ as c

Taupo 's first Mayor, would be the first to be engraved on the chain. Cr Swan then called on Cr K. O. Lewis, as the only lady member of the Council, to invest the Mayor with the new insignia of office. Miss Lewis did so, amidst applause, congratulating Mr Story on behalf of the Council on being the first to wear the Mayoral insignia of Taupo. The chain and medallions were made by Messrs. Walker and Hall, )f Auckland.