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Early Wellington

Civic Affairs

Civic Affairs.

In the history of the Wellington Corporation a blank of twenty years appears, during which time the affairs of the town were looked after, or neglected, by the Provincial Government.

In 1863, however, when the population had slowly increased to about 6,000, the town was divided into three wards, and a Town Board elected, the Commissioners of which were appointed presumably by the Provincial Council. The following are the names of the Commissioners and the Wards, in whose interests they were appointed to act:—Messrs. W. Allen, C. B. Borlase and George Hart (Thorndon Ward); John Plimmer, George Moore and L. Levy (Lambton Ward); John Martin, William Hickson and J. H. Horner (Te Aro Ward); W. Allen, Chairman; W. Bannister, Clerk; and Mr. R. M. Street, Surveyor.

The rateable value of the property in town in 1863 was about £28,225, of which more than half was located in the Te Aro Ward. The Town Board existed for seven years and did useful work. Besides those mentioned above, the following were members of the Board:—Messrs. Edward Pearce, W. Allen, J. Drans-field, W. Bragg, Joseph Burne, S. S. Jacka, C. J. Pharazyn, J. Plimmer, J. H. Wallace, R. Collins, W. Bishop, E. W. Mills, M. Quin, R. Pharazyn, George Aicken, R. H. Carpenter, George Hunter, J. B. Wallace, and Captain Sharp. The first four gentlemen acted as chairmen at various times. Though the Act of Parliament, making provision for the institution of Municipal Corporations in the Colony was passed in 1867, it was not until three years later that Wellington tried a Council elected by its authority.

The “Independent” of the 14th July, 1870 contains the names, comprising three columns, of ratepayers of the Town of Wellington, petitioning to be constituted a Borough. The witnesses' names page 178 attached thereto were:—Messrs. John Plimmer, James Ames, Michael Quin, John Duck and Nicholas Marchant. This was dated 1st June, 1870. Sir George F. Bowen received the petition.

This Council, with Mr. “Joe” Drans-field as Mayor, met in August or September, and Messrs. C. B. Borlase, R. H. Carpenter, W. Miller, E. W. Mills, Lewis Moss, J. Plimmer, M. Quin and D. Raine each read a declaration solemnly to execute all the power and authorities reposed in him as a Councillor by virtue of the Municipal Corporation Act of 1867. The population at this time was 8,000. The Corporation revenue for the first year was £4,716, and the expenditure was nearly £24 greater. Ten years later the revenue was nearly ten times as much, and the expenditure over twenty times as much. There were some loans for street improvements allocated and spent in 1881. In 1891 the revenue had increased to £57,270.