mayor of Hokitika

The Mayor of Hokitika officiated over the borough of Hokitika in New Zealand. The office was created in 1866 when Hokitika became a municipality and a borough two years later, and ceased with the 1989 local government reforms, when Hokitika Borough and Westland County merged to form Westland District. The first Mayor of Hokitika was James Bonar.

History

File:Reynolds, Hokitika 269.JPG

Hokitika was first settled by Europeans in 1864 after gold had been found on the West Coast, and it quickly became the centre of the West Coast gold rush.{{cite book | title=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand | orig-year=originally published in 1966 |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga |url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/hokitika | editor=A. H. McLintock | accessdate= 4 May 2013 | chapter= Hokitika | date= 22 April 2009 }}{{NZHPT|1700|Customhouse|4 May 2013}} The first chairman of the municipal council was James Bonar{{DNZB|Minehan|Francis|2b32|James Alexander Bonar}} in 1865,{{cite news |title=Untitled |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18661215.2.11 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=15 December 1866 |issue=384 |page=2}} and this role became that of the Mayor of Hokitika in 1866. Hokitika became a municipal district of Canterbury Province on 5 June 1866, and through the Hokitika Municipal Corporation Ordinance of 1867 was designated a borough on 24 August 1868.{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial District |year=1906 |url= http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc05Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d5.html |publisher=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand |author=Cyclopedia Company Limited |accessdate= 4 May 2013 |location=Christchurch |chapter=Corporation Of Hokitika}}

The second mayor was William Shaw, who successfully contested an election against Charles Button and Evan Prosser on 21 October 1867.{{cite news |title=The Press |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18671024.2.12 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=The Press |volume=XII |issue=1549 |date=24 October 1867 |page=2}} Shaw, Button, and Prosser received 205, 193, and 130 votes, respectively.{{cite news |title=Official Declaration of the Poll |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18671022.2.13.2 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=22 October 1867 |issue=648 |page=2}} In the early years, the borough councillors usually elected a mayor from their midst, but in 1867, a local ordinance applied that gave the public the right to elect the mayor.{{cite news |title=The Contest for the Mayoralty |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18671101.2.5 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=1 November 1867 |issue=657 |page=3}}

Councillor Prosser was elected unanimously at a council meeting on 9 September 1868 by his fellow councillors.{{cite news |title=The Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18680910.2.12 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=10 September 1868 |issue=926 |page=2}} The next election was held in December of the same year, and the Hokitika Borough came within the normal schedule of voting the mayor at the end of the year as prescribed by The Municipal Corporations Act. At the meeting on 16 December, Mayor Prosser was re-elected by the councillors.{{cite news |title=Hokitika Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18681217.2.12 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=17 December 1868 |issue=1010 |page=2}} Prosser resigned during May 1869, as he had bought a pharmaceutical business in Dunedin, to where he was going to relocate; Charles Button was voted to replace him as mayor.{{cite news |title=Latest Telegrams |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18690309.2.16 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=The Press |volume=XIV |issue=1842 |date=9 March 1869 |page=2}}{{cite news |title=Hokitika Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18690518.2.11 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=18 May 1869 |issue=1139|page=3}}{{cite news |title=West Coast Times |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18690515.2.6 |accessdate=4 May 2013| newspaper=West Coast Times |date=15 May 1869 |issue=1137 |page=2}} Prosser left Hokitika during June 1869.{{cite news |title=Social and Domestic |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18690611.2.19 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=11 June 1869 |issue=1160 |page=1}}

Button resigned the mayoralty on 15 October 1869, as he was about to leave the West Coast.{{cite news |title=Hokitika Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18691016.2.9 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=16 October 1869 |issue=1269 |page=2}} The meeting was adjourned to 19 October, when Samuel Boyle was elected mayor.{{cite news |title=Election of Mayor |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18691019.2.12 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=19 October 1869 |issue=1271 |page=2}} At the council meeting on 15 December of that year, Boyle was re-elected as mayor for the following year.{{cite news |title=Election of Mayor |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18691216.2.14 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=16 December 1869 |issue=1321 |page=2}} At the council meeting on 21 December 1870, James Midgely Higgin was elected mayor in succession to Samuel Boyle.{{cite news| title=Borough Council| url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18701222.2.15 |accessdate=4 May 2013| newspaper=West Coast Times| date=22 December 1870 |issue=1633 |page=2}} Higgin foreshadowed his intention to resign at the council meeting on 15 September 1871,{{cite news |title=Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18710916.2.7 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=16 September 1871 |issue=1861 |page=2}} and at the adjourned meeting on 19 September, the letter of resignation was read out, and two councillors were nominated: James B. Clarke and George Frederick Hawkins, which Clarke won by five votes to three.{{cite news |title=Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18710920.2.7 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=20 September 1871 |issue=1864 |page=2}} The local newspaper, The West Coast Times, was highly critical of the situation and the new mayor. It thought Clarke unfit to be a mayor, and impressed on their readership that anybody who they vote for as councillor might become mayor, so they should take more care when supporting candidates.{{cite news |title=West Coast Times |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18710920.2.5 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=20 September 1871 |issue=1864 |page=2}} At the next election for mayor on 20 December 1871, three candidates were put forward: James B. Clarke (the incumbent), Councillor John Tait, and Councillor William Todd. The voting was six, five and three votes for Clarke, Tait, and Todd, respectively, but the whole situation turned into a shambles, as it was unclear whether councillors had voted for a mayor for the next year, or whether they had eliminated one of the candidates from the list. The West Coast Times was once again being scathing about the situation, pointing out that 14 votes had been cast by 9 councillors present, hence it could not have been an election for mayor.{{cite news |title=Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18711221.2.11 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=21 December 1871 |issue=1943 |page=2}}{{cite news |title=West Coast Times |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18711221.2.9 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=21 December 1871 |issue=1943 |page=2}} The disagreement carried into the new year, when a majority of councillors refused to accept the minutes as a true and correct record, stating that Clarke had been re-elected as mayor.{{cite news |title=Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18720103.2.12 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=3 January 1872 |issue=1953 |page=2}} Clarke resigned as mayor and councillor on 17 January 1872, and a new mayor had to be elected.{{cite news |title=Notices |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18720126.2.16.3 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=26 January 1872 |issue=1973 |page=3}} At the next council meeting on 20 January 1872, it was decided to vote for the remaining two candidates, with Todd and Tait receiving five and two votes, respectively. Each of the candidates voted for the other. Todd was thus declared elected.{{cite news |title=Borough Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18720120.2.7 |accessdate=4 May 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=20 January 1872 |issue=1968 |page=2}}

Frederick Learmonth was elected mayor in 1878. He resigned in March 1879.{{cite news |title=Borough of Hokitika |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18790322.2.14.3 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=22 March 1879 |issue=3116 |page=3}} John Tait and McLean Watt Jack were nominated for the resulting election, but Tait retired from the contest before the election was held and Jack was declared elected.{{cite news |title=Borough of Hokitika |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18790322.2.14.3 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=26 March 1879 |issue=3119 |page=3}}{{cite news |title=Borough of Hokitika |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18790404.2.11.3 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=4 April 1879 |issue=3127 |page=2}}

The regular 1879 mayoral election was held on 26 November and was contested by the incumbent, Jack, and the previous mayor Learmonth.{{cite news |title=Borough of Hokitika |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18791121.2.15.1 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=21 November 1879 |issue=3321 |page=3}} Jack won the election with 153 votes to 96.{{cite news |title=The Mayoral Election |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18791127.2.11 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=27 November 1879 |issue=3327 |page=2}} In the next election on 24 November 1880, four candidates stood for office: former mayor Learmonth, councillor John Tait, John Peake, and John Robert Hudson.{{cite news |title=Borough of Hokitika |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18801118.2.14.2 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=18 November 1880 |issue=3627 |page=3}} Voting was close, and Learmonth, Tait, Peake, and Hudson received 129, 110, 89, and 71 votes, respectively.{{cite news |title=West Coast Times |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18801125.2.7 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=25 November 1880 |issue=3633 |page=2}} There were concerns whether the preparation of a supplementary roll of electors was legal, and the matter went to court. The resident magistrate ruled on 18 December "that the whole election is void".{{cite news |title=Resident Magistrate's Court |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18801220.2.11 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=20 December 1880 |issue=3654 |page=2}} A new election was called for 10 January 1881.{{cite news |title=Borough of Hokitika |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18801222.2.17.1 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=22 December 1880 |issue=3656 |page=3}} Of the previous candidates, Peake did not stand again, and Learmonth, Tait, and Hudson received 149, 104, and 30 votes, respectively; Learmonth was thus once again declared elected.{{cite news |title=Borough of Hokitika |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT18810111.2.16.2 |accessdate=26 October 2013 |newspaper=West Coast Times |date=11 January 1881 |issue=3672 |page=3}}

List of mayors

The following is a complete list of the mayors of Hokitika:{{cite book |first=Ron |last=Fields |title=Hokitika: place of return |publisher=West Coast Historical Museum |location=Hokitika |year=1989 |page=95 |ISBN=0473007789}}

class="wikitable" ! !Name !Portrait ! colspan=2 \| Term of office ! Duration
align=center \| 1 \| James Bonar \| 60px \| 16 November 1866	23 October 1867	{{age in years and days\|16 November 1866\|23 October 1867}}
align=center \| 2 \| William Shaw \| \| 23 October 1867	9 September 1868	{{age in years and days\|23 October 1867\|9 September 1868}}
align=center \| 3 \| Evan Prosser \| \| 9 September 1868	14 May 1869	{{age in years and days\|9 September 1868\|14 May 1869}}
align=center \| 4 \| Charles Button \| 60px \| 14 May 1869	18 October 1869	{{age in years and days\|14 May 1869\|18 October 1869}}
align=center \| 5 \| Samuel Boyle \| \| 18 October 1869	21 December 1870	{{age in years and days\|18 October 1869\|21 December 1870}}
align=center \| 6 \| James Midgely Higgin \| \| 21 December 1870	19 September 1871	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1870\|19 September 1871}}
align=center \| 7 \| James B. Clarke \| \| 19 September 1871	16 January 1872	{{age in years and days\|19 September 1871\|16 January 1872}}
align=center \| 8 \| William Todd \| \| 19 January 1872	18 December 1874	{{age in years and days\|19 January 1872\|18 December 1874}}
align=center \| 9 \| Francis Christopher Tabart \| 60px \| 18 December 1874	4 August 1876	{{age in years and days\|18 December 1874\|4 August 1876}}
align=center \| 10 \| McLean Watt Jack \| \| 18 August 1876	20 December 1877	{{age in years and days\|18 August 1876\|20 December 1877}}
align=center \| 11 \| Frederick Learmonth \| \| 20 December 1877	21 March 1879	{{age in years and days\|20 December 1877\|21 March 1879}}
align=center \| (10) \| McLean Watt Jack (2nd time) \| \| 4 April 1879	15 December 1880	{{age in years and days\|4 April 1879\|15 December 1880}}
align=center \| (11) \| Frederick Learmonth (2nd time) \| \| 15 December 1880	2 September 1881	{{age in years and days\|15 December 1880\|2 September 1881}}
align=center \| 12 \| John Cross \| \| 16 September 1881	21 December 1881	{{age in years and days\|16 September 1881\|21 December 1881}}
align=center \| 13 \| William Llewellin Fowler \| 60px \| 21 December 1881	16 December 1885	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1881\|16 December 1885}}
align=center \| 14 \| John Tait \| \| 16 December 1885	15 December 1886	{{age in years and days\|16 December 1885\|15 December 1886}}
align=center \| 15 \| Henry Michel \| 60px \| 15 December 1886	21 December 1887	{{age in years and days\|15 December 1886\|21 December 1887}}
align=center \| 16 \| Charles E. Holmes \| \| 21 December 1887	19 December 1888	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1887\|19 December 1888}}
align=center \| 17 \| Joseph Mandl \| 60px \| 19 December 1888	28 December 1891	{{age in years and days\|19 December 1888\|28 December 1891}}
align=center \| 18 \| Henry Lee Robinson \| \| 28 December 1891	21 December 1892	{{age in years and days\|28 December 1891\|21 December 1892}}
align=center \| 19 \| Robert Wentworth Wade \| \| 21 December 1892	19 December 1894	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1892\|19 December 1894}}
align=center \| (17) \| Joseph Mandl (2nd time) \|60px \| 19 December 1894	16 December 1896	{{age in years and days\|19 December 1894\|16 December 1896}}
align=center \| (15) \| Henry Michel (2nd time) \| 60px \| 16 December 1896	4 May 1904	{{age in years and days\|16 December 1896\|4 May 1904}}
align=center \| (17) \| Joseph Mandl (3rd time) \| 60px \| 4 May 1904	2 May 1906	{{age in years and days\|4 May 1904\|2 May 1906}}
align=center \| (15) \| Henry Michel (3rd time) \| 60px \| 2 May 1906	3 May 1911	{{age in years and days\|2 May 1906\|3 May 1911}}
align=center \| 20 \| George Perry \| \| 3 May 1911	9 April 1942	{{age in years and days\|3 May 1911\|9 April 1942}}
align=center \| 21 \| Albert Elcock \| \| 27 April 1942	26 November 1947	{{age in years and days\|27 April 1942\|26 November 1947}}
align=center \| 22 \| Arnold Perry \| \| 26 November 1947	9 November 1953	{{age in years and days\|26 November 1947\|9 November 1953}}
align=center \| 23 \| Ernie Heenan \| \| 9 November 1953	15 September 1958	{{age in years and days\|9 November 1953\|15 September 1958}}
align=center \| 24 \| Jack Richards \| \| 6 November 1958	14 October 1974	{{age in years and days\|6 November 1958\|14 October 1974}}
align=center \| 25 \| Winston Reynolds \| \| 14 October 1974	3 April 1982	{{age in years and days\|14 October 1974\|3 April 1982}}
align=center \| 26 \| Henry Pierson \| \| 25 May 1982	31 October 1989	{{age in years and days\|25 May 1982\|31 October 1989}}

References

Hokitika

class="wikitable" ! !Name !Portrait ! colspan=2 \| Term of office ! Duration
align=center \| 1 \| James Bonar \| 60px \| 16 November 1866	23 October 1867	{{age in years and days\|16 November 1866\|23 October 1867}}
align=center \| 2 \| William Shaw \| \| 23 October 1867	9 September 1868	{{age in years and days\|23 October 1867\|9 September 1868}}
align=center \| 3 \| Evan Prosser \| \| 9 September 1868	14 May 1869	{{age in years and days\|9 September 1868\|14 May 1869}}
align=center \| 4 \| Charles Button \| 60px \| 14 May 1869	18 October 1869	{{age in years and days\|14 May 1869\|18 October 1869}}
align=center \| 5 \| Samuel Boyle \| \| 18 October 1869	21 December 1870	{{age in years and days\|18 October 1869\|21 December 1870}}
align=center \| 6 \| James Midgely Higgin \| \| 21 December 1870	19 September 1871	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1870\|19 September 1871}}
align=center \| 7 \| James B. Clarke \| \| 19 September 1871	16 January 1872	{{age in years and days\|19 September 1871\|16 January 1872}}
align=center \| 8 \| William Todd \| \| 19 January 1872	18 December 1874	{{age in years and days\|19 January 1872\|18 December 1874}}
align=center \| 9 \| Francis Christopher Tabart \| 60px \| 18 December 1874	4 August 1876	{{age in years and days\|18 December 1874\|4 August 1876}}
align=center \| 10 \| McLean Watt Jack \| \| 18 August 1876	20 December 1877	{{age in years and days\|18 August 1876\|20 December 1877}}
align=center \| 11 \| Frederick Learmonth \| \| 20 December 1877	21 March 1879	{{age in years and days\|20 December 1877\|21 March 1879}}
align=center \| (10) \| McLean Watt Jack (2nd time) \| \| 4 April 1879	15 December 1880	{{age in years and days\|4 April 1879\|15 December 1880}}
align=center \| (11) \| Frederick Learmonth (2nd time) \| \| 15 December 1880	2 September 1881	{{age in years and days\|15 December 1880\|2 September 1881}}
align=center \| 12 \| John Cross \| \| 16 September 1881	21 December 1881	{{age in years and days\|16 September 1881\|21 December 1881}}
align=center \| 13 \| William Llewellin Fowler \| 60px \| 21 December 1881	16 December 1885	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1881\|16 December 1885}}
align=center \| 14 \| John Tait \| \| 16 December 1885	15 December 1886	{{age in years and days\|16 December 1885\|15 December 1886}}
align=center \| 15 \| Henry Michel \| 60px \| 15 December 1886	21 December 1887	{{age in years and days\|15 December 1886\|21 December 1887}}
align=center \| 16 \| Charles E. Holmes \| \| 21 December 1887	19 December 1888	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1887\|19 December 1888}}
align=center \| 17 \| Joseph Mandl \| 60px \| 19 December 1888	28 December 1891	{{age in years and days\|19 December 1888\|28 December 1891}}
align=center \| 18 \| Henry Lee Robinson \| \| 28 December 1891	21 December 1892	{{age in years and days\|28 December 1891\|21 December 1892}}
align=center \| 19 \| Robert Wentworth Wade \| \| 21 December 1892	19 December 1894	{{age in years and days\|21 December 1892\|19 December 1894}}
align=center \| (17) \| Joseph Mandl (2nd time) \|60px \| 19 December 1894	16 December 1896	{{age in years and days\|19 December 1894\|16 December 1896}}
align=center \| (15) \| Henry Michel (2nd time) \| 60px \| 16 December 1896	4 May 1904	{{age in years and days\|16 December 1896\|4 May 1904}}
align=center \| (17) \| Joseph Mandl (3rd time) \| 60px \| 4 May 1904	2 May 1906	{{age in years and days\|4 May 1904\|2 May 1906}}
align=center \| (15) \| Henry Michel (3rd time) \| 60px \| 2 May 1906	3 May 1911	{{age in years and days\|2 May 1906\|3 May 1911}}
align=center \| 20 \| George Perry \| \| 3 May 1911	9 April 1942	{{age in years and days\|3 May 1911\|9 April 1942}}
align=center \| 21 \| Albert Elcock \| \| 27 April 1942	26 November 1947	{{age in years and days\|27 April 1942\|26 November 1947}}
align=center \| 22 \| Arnold Perry \| \| 26 November 1947	9 November 1953	{{age in years and days\|26 November 1947\|9 November 1953}}
align=center \| 23 \| Ernie Heenan \| \| 9 November 1953	15 September 1958	{{age in years and days\|9 November 1953\|15 September 1958}}
align=center \| 24 \| Jack Richards \| \| 6 November 1958	14 October 1974	{{age in years and days\|6 November 1958\|14 October 1974}}
align=center \| 25 \| Winston Reynolds \| \| 14 October 1974	3 April 1982	{{age in years and days\|14 October 1974\|3 April 1982}}
align=center \| 26 \| Henry Pierson \| \| 25 May 1982	31 October 1989	{{age in years and days\|25 May 1982\|31 October 1989}}