Borough Of Oamaru . Oamaru was proclaimed a borough of four wards (afterwards amalgamated), on petition of the residents, on the 3rd of April, 1866, Prior to that date the local governing body was a town board, which had jurisdiction for about three years. Up to 1876, a stream flowing through the town was utilised a source of the water supply; but as this became inadequate, steps were taken to obtain a high pressure service. To this end the ratepayers agreed to a water works scheme, for tapping the celebrated Waitaki river about twenty miles north-west of the town. To carry out the scheme, a large stream, which affords an ample and neverfailing supply for domestic use and motive power for manufacturing purposes, was brought by a water race into a reservoir 372 feet above the level of the town, close to it, and giving a pressure equal to 110 pounds per square inch. The difficulties in connection with the construction of the water-race were very considerable, as it has to cross very wide and deep ravines, in aqueducts, which are in some cases 480 feet in length, and supported upon pillars or trestles varying in height from ninety feet upwards. The total cost of the works was about £140,000. The powerful water supply thus secured is of great service to the volunteer Fire Brigade, and danger from fire is consequently reduced to a minimum. The Borough Council has the control and management of the Public Gardens, which are specially described in another article. The annual ratable value of properties within the borough is £31,809, on which rates to the extent of 2s 9d in the pound are levied. The Corporation also owns the local gas works, which were originally the property of a company, and were acquired by the borough at page 502 a cost of £10,000. There are 340 consumers within the borough, and the streets are lighted by ninety-two lamps. At the census of March, 1901, the population of Oamaru was 4,836; namely, 2,282 males, and 2,554 females.

His Worship The Mayor, Mr. John Marshall Brown , who has been a member of the Oamaru Borough Council since 1885, was born in Kinross-shire, Scotland, in 1837. After being educated at the local parish school, he was brought up up as a wool spinner, and arrived at Port Chalmersin 1859, in the ship “Mariner.” Mr. Brown was for twenty years a storekeeper in Rattray Street, Dunedin, and visited his native land in 1878. Two years later, he returned to the Colony, and settled near Oamaru, where he acquired a farm. After three years Mr. Brown became the purchaser of the Star and Garter Hotel, which he conducted for twelve years. He is now in business as a cycle engineer. During his residence in Dunedin, Mr. Brown was, for six years, a member of the Dunedin City Council. As a Mason he was initiated in Lodge Otago Kilwinning, and is now attached to the Oamaru Kilwinning, N.Z.C., of which he has been secretary since 1886. He is Grand Superintendent of Otago, and Past Grand Principal in the Supreme Chapter of New Zealand. In 1870 Mr. Brown married the daughter of the late Mr. Charles Glover, of Birmingham, and his family consists of eight sons and one daughter.

Mr. J. M. Brown.

Councillor Alexander Clarke , who has served on the Oamaru Borough Council since 1901, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1855. He landed at Port Chalmers by the ship “Invercargill” in 1879. Mr. Clarke is manager of a co-operative store.

Councillor William Henry Frith , who holds a seat as member of the Oamaru Borough Council, is referred to in another article as a manufacturer of varnishes.

Councllor Alfred Headland is referred to in another article as Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the Third Battalion of the Otago Rifles.

Councillor Robert John Keys was born in 1858, in Armagh, Ireland. He came by the ship “Invercargill” to Port Chalmers in 1876, and settled in the Oamaru district.

Councillor Robert Mahan , of the Oamaru Borough Council, has been in business for some years as a photographer, and is senior partner of the firm of Mahan and Muir. He is further referred to in connection with his firm, and as a volunteer officer.

Councillor Donald Miller , who is a member of the Oamaru Borough Council, was born in Oamaru in 1889. He was brought up to the bicycle business, and is junior partner of the firm of Miller Bros., cycle engineers.

Councillor Robert Milligan was returned as a member of the Oamaru Borough Council in 1900. He served eleven years in the Railway Department, and left to join the firm of Milligan and Bond in 1893. Mr. Milligan was married, in 1900, to a daughter of Mr. Eyre Evans, of Oamaru.

Councillor James Mcdiarmid , who is a member of the Oamaru Borough Council, has been known for some years in connection with the boot trade of Oamaru.

Councillor John Vernor , who has held a seat in the Oamaru Borough Council since 1898, is an Irishman by birth. He came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Wellington,” in 1878, and has been a coal merchant in Oamaru since 1880.

Councillor William Waddell , who is a member of the Oamaru Borough Council, and was Mayor in the year 1891–1895, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1831, and came to Port Chalmers in 1879 by the ship “Oamaru.” He has been in business in Oamaru since 1830.

Mr. Thomas Mansergh Cunninghame , Town Clerk and Treasurer of the Borough of Oamaru, is a native of Dublin, Ireland, where he was educated and brought up to commercial life. He came to Dunedin by the ship “Euterpe,” in 1878, settled in Oamaru, and was appointed to his present position in 1888. He has long been connected with the Wesleyan Church, and has for a number of years been superintendent of the Sunday school.

Mr. Samuel Crawshaw , Engineer to the Oamaru Borough Council, was born in 1842 in Ripponden, Yorkshire, England, and was educated at the Wesleyan school, Sowerby Bridge. He became a factory lad at the age of eight years, and when but fourteen years old was apprenticed to a plumber and glazier, with whom he served six years. Mr. Crawshaw worked at his trade in England till 1879, and was for the last ten years in business on his own account at Batley, in Yorkshire. He arrived at Port Chalmers, in the ship “Taranaki,” in 1879, settled in Oamaru in January, 1880, and was appointed waterworks inspector to the borough in July, 1880, and in August, 1890, he had added to his duties those of borough engineer. Mr. Crawshaw was a member of the North School Committee for some years, and has been well-known also in connection with the Wesleyan Church in Oamaru. He was married in 1863 to a daughter of the late Mr. W. Dennison, of Liverpool; but that lady died in 1865, leaving a son and a daughter, the latter of whom has since died. In 1873 he contracted a second marriage with a daughter of the late Mr. G. Scatcherd, of Batley, Yorkshire, and has had by this marriage six sons and one daughter.

Mr. S. Crawshaw.