Mr. Peter Bell, who has been a prominent citizen in Wanganui for nearly forty years, is an ex-councillor of the borough. He is a Scotchman—a native of Edinburgh—and landed in Wellington per ship “New Era” in 1855. Mr. Bell settled in Wanganui soon after landing in the Colony, and was a participator in the vicissitudes of the early sixties. Two years after locating in the district, in conjunction with his brother, Mr. D. Bell, he founded the drapery house of D. and P. Bell. In 1872 the establishment was taken over by Mr. P. Bell, who conducted a considerable business till 1893, when he sold out. The premises known as Victoria House, in Victoria Avenue, were erected under Mr. Bell's direction, being in his occupation for many years after completion. Before the institution of the Wanganui Corporation, the local governing body was a town board, of which Mr. Bell was a member. He has since sat on the Borough Council, having been elected a councillor on more than one occasion, retiring from office in 1896. Mr. Bell has always taken a great interest in educational matters, and was for a long time a member of the Wanganui School Committee.

Mr. William Henry Clapham, who held a seat on the Wanganui Borough Council for four years, was born and educated in Wellington, where his father, Mr. T. H. Clapham, arrived in the ship “Birman,” one of the first ships of the Port Nicholson contingent, early in 1842. After leaving school in 1869, Mr. Clapham served four years in the office of Messrs. W. B. Rhodes and Co., where he gained considerable experience in mercantile life. In November, 1873, he entered the employ of Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. as purser in their steamers. Leaving this a year later, he took a situation in Mr. John Duthie's office in Wanganui, page 1367 and has resided in Wanganui ever since, with the exception of two years, 1879–81, when he was in Wellington as bookkeeper for Messrs. John Duthie and Co. Mr. Clapham was elected to the Wanganui Corporation in November, 1892. In February, 1882, he was elected sub-lieutenant of the Wanganui Naval Artillery Volunteers, and captain in April, 1886, and still retains command. He has hold the office of chairman of directors of the Wanganui Sash and Door Company almost since its inception in 1884. He is also director of the Wanganui Loan and Finance Company, and a partner of the firm of Messrs. James Thain and Co., ironmerchants.

Mr. Peter Dodds Hogg was born in Wanganui in the year 1860. His father, the late Rev. David Hogg, was a Presbyterian minister, and arrived in the Colony in 1848. The rev. gentleman was born at Haddington, near Edinburgh, where he was educated and trained for the ministry. He was the first Presbyterian minister to settle in Wanganui, but unfortunately was obliged to retire from the ministry on account of ill health. In consequence of the retirement of her husband, Mrs. Hogg, who was born at Catrine, Ayrshire, began business in the drapery line, and it is this business, now grown to a large concern, of which the subject of this article is a co-partner. Mr. Hogg has always taken an active interest in all matters connected with the welfare of the district, and has been identified with almost every public matter of importance. He was elected a member of the Wanganui Corporation on the abolition of the wards by a large number of ratepayers. Mr. Hogg was re-elected, and his term expired in 1896. Mr. Hogg is a member of the committee of the Wanganui Jockey Club, and a very hard-working member of the Pastoral and Agricultural Association.

Mr. Tom Boswall Williams, who for three years served as a councillor of the Borough of Wanganui, is a native of Newport, Monmouthshire, his parents leaving there for the Victorian goldfields in 1852, when he was but a child. Mr. Williams is well-known as late proprietor of the Wanganui Brewery, which, with Mr. Garner, he established in 1878. After the business had been thus carried on for about fourteen years the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Williams was sole proprietor until 1895, when he disposed of the business to Messrs. Gibbons and Hole, and retired to the life of a settler. He owns the Pointum Estate, which is referred to further on in these pages.