The Waverley Town Board (1896) was composed of:—Messrs. J.B. Taylor (chairman), T. Cathro, W. Dickie, J. W. Thurston, J. E. Palmer, with Mr. F. P. Fookes as secretary. The value of the rateable property in the district is £21,327, on which a rate of 1/2d. in the £ is levied each year. The district has a population of 442. The total revenue of the Board is about £140 per annum, over £90 of which is derived from licenses, Government grant, leases etc. Periodical meetings are held at the Board's office in Main Street, Waverley.

Mr. J. B. Taylor, is the chairman of the Waverley Town Board. He was born in Newdeer, Aberdeenshire, and received his earlier education at Aberdeen, finishing at Edinburgh. Mr. Taylor came out to New Zealand in the ship “Duke of Edinburgh,” and arrived here in January, 1874, the journey from London being accomplished in 108 days. Immediately on arrival in Wellington. Mr. Taylor shaped his course for Wanganui, and there stayed for a period of two years, moving from thence to Waverley, where he purchased those well-known premises which are at present in the occupation of Messrs. Taylor and Bremner, coachbuilders, etc. This coachbuilding business was established by Mr. Taylor on his taking up his residence in Waverley, and after working up a good trade in connection with it, he sent Home for his brother and Mr. Bremner to come out to join him. This they did, and on arrival were employed by him for some time in the business, he subsequently leasing the premises to them. After a few years' trial, Messrs. Taylor and Bremner purchased the business, and Mr. Taylor retired from it altogether, and adopted the practice of his own profession, namely, that of veterinary surgeon. In this capacity he had studied in Edinburgh, under Professor Dicks, of Dick's Veterinary College, Clyde Street, Edinburgh, and had been successful in passing the examinations of the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, and of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London. Mr. Taylor holds diplomas from both these bodies, and has a life membership diploma from the Edinburgh Veterinary Medical Society. He is also the possessor of a diploma for valuable contributions, and holds an honorary fellowship. No higher diplomas than these are possessed by any “vet” in the colonies. For writing valuable notes relating to his profession, Mr. Taylor was awarded the second prize. He left Edinburgh for Aberdeen, and purchased the practice of Mr. Sorley, veterinary surgeon, where he remained for nearly three years, during the last two of which he was appointed to an inspectorship under the local authority and Privy Council, owing to the prevalence of pneumonia and foot and mouth disease in the district The loss of his wife as this period had such an effect on Mr. Taylor that he decided to leave the land of his bereavement, and take up his abode at this side of the globe. In the course of his business, Mr. Taylor has travelled the country from Feilding to Opunake, wherever his services were required. He has been a member of the Town Board ever since its inception, with very few breaks, and for the last eight or ten years consecutively has been elected chairman. He is chairman also of the two domain boards in Waverley and Wairoa respectively; for three years, namely, from 1886 to 1889, was a member of the County Council, besides which he has occupied offices of all descriptions throughout the district. Through all these years Mr. Taylor has given much of his time and experience in the service of the bodies with which he has been connected. He is highly respected by all classes of the community, and is honorary velerinary surgeon in the Waverley Mounted Rifles, a position which he has filled since 1876, such a term of office having entitled him to the long service medal, which, of course, he holds.

The Kohi Road District is in the County of Patea, and has a population (1896) of 195, of whom thirty are rate payers, possessing property valued at £49,995 for rating purposes, the annual rate being a 1/2d. in the £. Of a total revenue of £80, of which £22 was a Government grant, over £66 was spent in public works. The members of the Board at the time of writing are:— Messrs. R. Bremer (chairman), J. McMichin, J. Johnston, J. Riddell, and W. R. Watkins.

The Okotuku Road District, near Waverley, which has an area of nearly twelve square miles, contains a population of 144. There are but twenty-three ratepayers, whose properties are valued at £49,455, the last rate being 1/4d. in the £. The gross income for the year ending March, 1896, was £279, of which £226 was derived from Government subsidy and special grant. The Board, which consists of four members, meets only when business arises. The chairman, Mr. George S. Bridge, combines the duties of clerk and treasurer, and Mr. P. Elmslie acts as inspector and foreman of works, and is charged with the carrying out of anything that may require to be done. The battle of Moturoa took place in this district, on the 7th of November, 1868.

The Wairoa Road District, in the County of Patea, had a population of ninety-eight at the census of 1896, of whom twenty-eight were ratepayers, residing in twenty dwellings and owning rateable properties valued at £50,534, the annual rate being 5/8d. £. The total annual receipts amounted to over £280, of which about £130 was collected in rates, the balance being derived from Government grants and other receipts. In 1896 the members of the Board were:—Messrs. O. Symes (chairman), F. Wilson, A. Symes, G. Saunders, J. Walker, and J. Hunter.

The Wairoa Mounted Rifle Volunteer Corps, formed just after the war of 1871, was first known as the Wairoa Light Horse. The headquarters of the corps is at Waverley, where an annual camp for instruction and training is held at the racecourse for one week. The corps ranks third in seniority in the Colony, the present strength being sixty-three. The officers (1896) were:—Messrs. G. Howie (captain and treasurer), G. Johnston, junior, and J. Riddell, junior (lieutenants), and W. Macfarlane, junior (secretary).

Captain George Howie, of the Wairoa Mounted Rifles, who is a son of the late Mr. Alexander Howie, one of the earliest settlers of the district, was born in Wanganui in 1855. He was educated in his native place, and was brought up to farming pursuits by his father, whose family for generations have been farmers. In 1870 Mr. Howie removed to Waverley, his family being the first white settlers to live outside the town. Mr. Howie's farm of 750 acres is called “Strathmore.” For ten years he has been an officer of the corps, with which he has been connected since 1873. As a marksman he has been a noted prize-winner. In all local matters he takes a great interest, and for eleven years he was a member of the Okotuku Road Board. As a footballer, he represented the county on various occasions. Mr. Howie is married, and has three children.

Captain Geo. Howie.

Major Henry Ferdinand Turner, who is a settler at Whenuakura, near Waverley, is the sole surviving officer in New Zealand of the 65th Regiment, and was born in 1824 in Jersey. He was educated at St. Servon, France. where the famous Millais, the artist, was a school-fellow. Major Turner, who joined his regiment in 1842, becoming lieutenant in 1845 and captain in 1856, served throughout the Maori wars of 1860–3. He took part in several engagements, receiving a rifle shot in the mouth during one battle. In 1867 he retired with the rank of brevet-major, and settled as above, receiving also a grant of 400 acres from the Government for his services. For some years he acted as inspector of the A.C. Force on the West Coast, and for two years subsequently he commanded the Militia in Wanganui. In local matters he has been active in promoting the establishment of freezing companies. Major Turner, whose portrait was taken in 1867, in his uniform as Major, was married to a daughter of the late Lieutenant Paul, of the 65th.

Major H. F. Turner.

Waverley Post and Telegraph Office, a convenient wood and brick building, is centrally situated. Mails are received and despatched twice each day both north and south. The office is also authorised to issue money orders and postal notes, and to do the post-office savings bank business.

Mr. Josiah Mayne, the Postmaster and Telegraphist at Waverley, who also acts as Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, was born in 1852 at Leamington, Warwickshire, England. After fourteen years in the service of the Queensland Government, Mr. Mayne came to New Zealand in 1879, since which time he has been in the public service. He was appointed to Waverley in 1895.

The Waverley Railway Station, thirty-three miles from Wanganui and twenty-seven from Hawera, is a wooden building of the usual class. On Tuesdays and Fridays six trains pass the station, and four trains pass every other day. The stationmaster is Mr. Charles Horsnell, who was promoted to this important position in January, 1897. A sketch of his career, together with his portrait, appears on page 1153.

The Waverley Public School, which is off the main road in the centre of the township, occupies a site of some two acres in extent, which is kept in very good order, and includes playground, tennis court, and cricket and football grounds. The building, which has four rooms with vestibule, is well ventilated, and the headmaster's residence is adjacent. The roll numbers 220, the average attendance being 195. The staff consists of the headmaster, with two assistants and two pupil teachers.

Mr. Frederick Newcombe, M.A., the Headmaster of the Waverley Public School, was born in 1853 in London, where he was educated at a private school. He came to New Zealand in 1887, and for five years was teaching in a private school in Auckland. He joined the Government service in 1891, and, before being appointed to Waverley in 1895, had charge of the public school at Goldsborough, Westland, for three years. In 1894 he took his M.A. degree in the Colony. In Waver-ley he is very popular, lending his aid to promote entertainments for the benefit of his fellow-residents. He was instrumental in establishing the Waver-ley Chess Club, and the local reading-room. As a cricketer he shines forth, playing with the first eleven of the Waverley Club, while as a tennis player he is a prominent member of his club.

The Kohi Public School, a fair-sized building of one large room with vestibule, is situated in a dip in the Kohi Valley, about seven miles from Waverley. The headmaster's residence, which adjoins, has a very nicely-appointed tennis lawn in front, on which the ladies and gentlemen of the vicinity hold weekly matches. There are thirty-two names on the roll of the school, the average attendance being twenty-nine.

Mr. F. W. Mason, who has charge of the Kohi School, was born at Wanganui, where he was partially educated, completing his school-days at Waverley. He joined the Education Department in 1888, and was placed in charge of the Kohi School five years later. Mr. Mason, who is married and has one child, takes a great interest in social affairs, and is ever to the fore in organising concerts and other functions for the recreation of the settlers.

Waverley Lodge, I.O.G.T., No. 205, which was re-opened in 1896, meets fortnightly, on Mondays, in the Waverley Public School, and has a membership of about thirty. Miss Ross is secretary, and Mr. Catanach district deputy.

Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club. Officers (1896–7):—Messrs. W. Wilson (president), W. Symes (vice-president), and E. P. Symes (secretary and treasurer).

Mr. Edgar Palmer Symes, the Secretary and Treasurer of the Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club, is the ninth and youngest son of the late Mr. Francis Symes, of “West Holm,” Waverley. He was born at Fordell, near Wanganui, and was educated in the district. He worked on his father's farm until the death of his paternal relative, when he became possessor of the property of 400 acres, which now carries 1500 sheep. In 1891 Mr. Symes was married to the second daughter of Mr. D. Hunter, of Patea, and has two sons. As a Volunteer, he was a member of the Wairoa Light Horse for five years. In football he has taken pleasure for fourteen years, and won his place in the Wanganui representative team. He is also an enthusiastic polo player, and has ever taken an active interest in all athletic sports.

Photo by A. Martin.
Mr. E. P. Symes.

The Bank of Australasia, Waverley, was established in 1877, the building being situate on the opposite side of the road to the present banking premises. The property, which was purchased from the Bank of New Zealand in 1885, contains banking chambers, manager's room, and dwelling. Mr. W. F. Kemp, the manager, has been in charge of the Waverley branch for over ten years.

Mr. W. F. Kemp, the Manager of the Bank of Australasia at Waverley, was born in 1857 in New South Wales, and was educated at King's School, Paramatta. In 1874 he joined the service of the bank in Sydney, and after ten years was transferred to Featherston, New Zealand, as manager. He was subsequently at Patea for a short time, being appointed to Waverley in 1886 Mr. Kemp has always taken a lively interest in athletics. He is an enthusiastic cricketer, and acted as secretary to the first tennis club formed, and he has been associated with the Waverley Jockey Club as a member and auditor. In Volunteer matters, he was for some time in the Patea Rifles. Mr. Kemp married a daughter of Mr. Piper, of Tamworth, New South Wales, and has four sons and one daughter.