MASTERTON'S TOWN CLERK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10190, 16 March 1911, Page 5

MASTERTON'S TOWN CLERK.

AND BOROUGH ENGINEER

MR JAMES ARCHER APPOINTED.

• The Masterton Borougn Council met again yesterday afternoon to consider the applications for the position of Town Clerk and Borough Engineer. An additional ten applications were received, making seven-ty-four in all. The Council went through -the applications in detail,' and thinned them down to a comparatively, small li/unuber. The Council met again in the evening, when 1 there were- present his Worship the, Mayor and Crs Elliott, 1 Temple, Hoary Pragnev,Etvington, Prentice and Moms. The Mayor moved that the Council appoint an officer to fill the dual positions of Town Clerk-and Engineer.

;Cr Ewington opposed the, resolution, stating that he was of opinion that they should have two officers. Cr Pragnell said he would prefer to see a Town Clerk appointed with a general knowledge of outside work.

Cr Hoar favoured the appointment of a competent Town Clerk. The Mayor said he was imore than pleased with the applications received, four at least being qualified' to occupy the dual positions. He urged the importance of secm-in" l ' a competent engineer, and said he saw no reason why a man could not be found to fill the two positions. Cr Temple said that Masterton was to be congratulated upon the splendid applications that had been received. , , . .■ !

The motion of the Mayor having been carried, a ballot was taken, from four names submitted, and the appointment fell to Mr James Archer, of Napier. - ..,- , ,'...

Mr James Archer, the newly-ap-pointed Town Clerk and Engineer of Masterton, is. thirty-nine years of age. He is- 'married, and has two children. He is at present assistant ] •engineer to the Napier Borough Council, and has been in the employ of that body for a period of about five years, firstly as. overseer ; and sanitary surveyor. Before goftig; to j Napier, he was Clerk of'Woi-ks and [ assi taut engineer to the Auckland: City.Council for a period of three years. Prior to his Auckland apr pointment he was Inspector .of Works and Sanitary Surveyor to the Borough of Caversham, and had also held the position of temporary assistant in the City Engineer's office in Dunedin. He was articled .in the surveyor's office of the Borough of Wolverhampton (England), and afterwards appointed to the' Borough Engineer's staff at Harrogate'. During his appointment in England ue had to survey, take levels, make plans, set out roads, etc., and supervise the laying in of sewers and surface water drains.. At Auckland he had the full control and' sup" ervision of '!)•• whole of the men employed by the Council on roads, bridges, etc. During the period he .has been at Napier he has filled the position of acting Town Clerk. Mr Archer, who forwarded some excellent testimonials, stated .-at he oould probably take over the duties of office in three weeks' time.