Important Dates in the History of Patea Borough

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 27 (Supplement)

Important Dates in the History of Patea Borough

Patea was constituted a borough in 1881, and the election for the mayoralty was held on November 15 of that year, Mr. G. F. Sherwood being elected to the position. The first council was elected two days later when 15 nominations were received for nine positions, those elected being Messrs. Samuel Taplin, John Milroy, R. A. Adams, W. Aitchison, W. Dixon, P. Mahoney, J. Gibson, W. Howell and Alexander Black. At the first meeting, Mr. T. M. Harris acted as town clerk, Mr. Thomas Eyton being appointed in the following months. Mr. G. D. Hameryen was appointed borough solicitor, Mr. H. J. Davis pound-keeper, Mr Taylor engineer, Mr. D. M. Harris valuer, and Mr. R. Jacomb inspector of nuisances and dog tax collector. The first meeting of the Patea County Council was held in the Patea courthouse on January 4, 1877, when Messrs. T. Kells, J. Livingston, G. S. Bridge, G. F. Sherwood, W. P. Kenah, J. Winks, T, Middlemass, E. M. Honeyfield, and W. Dale were present. Mrt Kells was elected chairman, but at a meeting of the council on February 6, 1877 he resigned and Mr. Sherwood was elected. .Incidentally the council had seven chairmen in the first decade of its existence, Mr. R. Horner filling the position for half of that period. Closely identified with the progress of Patea is the Patea Harbour Board, which was formed on March 2, 1887, those present at the first meeting being Captain C. A. Wray. and Messrs. G. F. Sherwood, W. Williams, and J. Milroy. Messrs. W. Wilson and H. Williamson were subsequently appointed to the board, and Mr. Sherwood was elected the first chairman. Mr. F. Cowern was appointed the first secretary at a salary of £30 a year. Freezing Works Established. The establishment of the meat freezing works at Patea was first mooted at a meeting of the Patea Agricultural and Pastoral Association on July 19, 1883, when a committee was set up to investigate the possibilities of the project. The committee appointed Messrs. R. B. Hamilton and W. Gower to visit Wellington. Subsequently, the subcommittee submitted a report recommending the formation of a company at Patea with a nominal capital of £6000, and a public meeting was called for this purpose. Patea is proud of the fact that it has one of the most up-to-date hospitals in the small towns of the Dominion, the institution being complete with a nurses' home, children' ward, isolation ward, maternity block and an X-ray plant. When the Imperial troops were stationed at Patea, a military hospital was attached to the forces and this served as Patea's first hospital until 1877. when consideration of a public hospital came before the March meeting of the county council. At a special meeting on April 18, 1877. Dr. Warren was appointed surgeon, and the hospital by-laws were framed in January, 1878. In 1887 the control of the hospital was transferred from the county to the board. The call to arms of volunteers was first board at Patea in 1879 and within a fortnight two companies were enlisted— Patea Rifles No. 1 Company and No. 2 Company with a maximum strength of OG per company. The officors commanding were Captain Stuart Tregear and Captain Wray