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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Borough Of Invercargill

page 795

Borough Of Invercargill.

Southland's chief town was proclaimed a municipal corporation in June, 1871, and the first mayor and councillors were elected in the following August. The Hon. William Wood was the first mayor; and Messrs George Lumsden, George Goodwillie, William Garthwaite, Henry Jaggers, William Blackwood, Henry Thomas Ross, Thomas Pratt, and Robert Tapper were elected councillors. Shortly afterwards, Mr. William Benjamin Scandrett was appointed town clerk, and Mr. Edwin Cuthbert (now engineer of the Christchurch Drainage Board), town engineer. The Corporation was fortunate in having as its first mayor one well versed in, and determined to follow, parliamentary procedure. Standing orders and bylaws were framed with great care, and the excellent management of the town's affairs then initiated has been more or less observed by succeeding mayors, so, that, on the whole, the burgesses of Invercargill have good reason to be abundantly satisfied with their local administration from the beginning up to the present time. The progress of the town may be exemplified by noting the assessment for rating purposes. In 1871, the assessment on the annual value to let amounted to £10,350, and in 1891 it exceeded £50,000, the valuation during all these years being made by the town clerk, Mr. Scandrett, as municipal valuer. Since 1891 it has gradually increased until the annual value to let has reached £66,736.

Properties.

The town has been well provided with endowments, every tenth section being a reservation; especially is this the case in respect to the recreation reserves, which have been set apart on three sides of the town, the broad estuary making a fourth or aquatic pleasure ground. The Queen's Park, on the north side, has an area of 200 acres, and will in the not distant future become an ornamental public estate of great value.

Revenue, Rates And Expenditure.
The total capital value of all property in the borough as at the 31st of March, 1904, was £1,081,062, of which £647,854 represented the improved value. At the same date the total net indebtedness of the borough was £196,300, involving an annual charge of £9,707 for interest. A general rate of two pence and one-sixteenth of a penny in the pound, and special rates of five-sixteenths and one and seven-eights of a penny, are levied on the unimproved value; in addition to which there is a separate rate of three pence in the pound on the annual value, to provide for “hospitals and charitable aid. Sixteen publicans' licenses are granted within the borough, with seven wholesale licenses, and the fees for these together amount to £780. The total receipts of the borough from all sources amount to £30,014. This sum includes rates, £11,341, license-fees, rents, etc., £18,251, and a Government subsidy of £422. The total expenditure in 1904 was £30,348, which included £2,547 on public works; £806 for hospitals and charitable aid, and £1,405 for expenses of management. Rating on the unimproved value is in force in Invercargill, but is not generally approved by the councillors, as the annual revenue increases very slowly on this
Schooner Waihopai (Being Built In Conon Street In The Early Days).

Schooner Waihopai (Being Built In Conon Street In The Early Days).

system of rating, which was adopted at a poll of the ratepayers, taken in June, 1900, 386 voting for, and 174 against the system.
Gas Works.

The first important work undertaken by the Borough Council was the erection of gasworks, and very great care and interest have been shown in the construction and management of these works. Parliament authorised the borrowing of £30,000, which was raised in the colony on debentures bearing six per cent interest. The plant was supplied by Mr. George Bower, of St. Neots, England, Mr. William Daley, gas engineer, being appointed to superintend its erection and afterwards to assume the management of the works. Mr. Daley was a very capable man, having had experience in towns of somewhat similar size in England and Russia. The splendid illuminating quality of the gas supplied during Mr. Daley's management was the subject of general remark, and the engineer explained that the result was due to the excellence of the coal from the Brunner mines on the West Coast. Mr Daley died at Caversham some years ago, while acting as attorney and manager for the London owners of the Dunedin and Suburban Gas Company's works in that district. The Invercargill gasworks occupy three acres of land, adjoining Spey Street, and lying between the railway and the New River estuary. They were completed in 1874. There are three large holders capable of storing 200,000 feet of gas. The gas is distributed through about twenty miles of pipes, and there are about 1,400 consumers.

Water Supply.

In 1877, the council was authorised by vote of the ratepayers to undertake the construction of waterworks, but considerable differences of opinion existed as to the best system of water supply. A gravitation supply from the Dunsdale river in the Hokonui was available, the Government having reserved several thousand acres as a gathering area; but, after reports had been furnished, it was decided to sink for an artesian supply, and ultimately a water-tight iron cylinder well was sunk on the highest part of the town to a depth of 100 feet where a waterbearing strata had previously been discovered. The water rises in this well to within twelve feet of the surface, page 796 and is pumped into a large reservoir capable of containing 66,000 gallons, and built on an ornamental tower 100 feet above the ground. This tower was designed by the present borough engineer, Mr. William Sharp. The water is distributed by gravitation, the mains being laid through every street, and with sufficient pressure to lift it to the top of the highest building, the pressure of 150 lbs to the square inch being equal to effectually quenching any moderate outbreak of fire. The water tower has a site of an acre and a half, fronting Gala, Doon and Yarrow Streets, and Elles Road. The tower is ninety feet in height to the floor of the gallery, and 140 feet to the top of the lantern. The weight of water contained in the tank is equal to 300 tons. There are three concrete cisterns constructed at the foot of the tower for holding the reserve water, and these contain half a million gallons. The water is filtered through gravel shale, thirty feet in thickness, and is aerated by being passed through large sprays, and thus exposed to the atmosphere. The ordinary every day pressure throughout the borough is from 55 to 60 pounds to the square inch, but for fire purposes the mains are connected directly with the pumps, bringing up the pressure to the maximum already stated. The capacity of the pumps is equal to 36,000 gallons per hour. These are worked by two horizontal high-pressure steam engines, of fifteen horse power each. There are two Cornish boilers with Gallaway tubes, each of twenty-two horse power. About twenty-four miles of mains distribute the water over the town. The engine house and tower are erected in brick and concrete.

Abattoirs.

Invercargill has abattoirs, which were completed in 1899. They occupy a site of thirty-eight acres, including paddocks, at Waikiwi, on the main line of railway to Riverton, Winton and the Lakes. The railway siding is utilised for the receipt of stock, and the despatch of meat. The abattoir building is constructed on the open-hall system, and is composed of brick and concrete. There are two pithing pens for cattle, and separate apartments for the slaughter of sheep and pigs, combined with the necessary appliances. About seventy head of cattle, and five hundred sheep, more or less, are usually slaughtered every week. The cost of this establishment was £5,000, and the revenue from the abattoirs in 1903 was £1,000.

New River Harbour.

The New River harbour is under the control of the Invercargill Borough Council. It consists of an estuary fed by the Oreti (or New River) and the Waihopai stream, and empties itself into the sea at Foveaux Strait. A jetty at the foot of Tweed Street is a quarter of a mile long, and has tramways, and trollies for the conveyance of goods, with sheds and a crane. There is also a railway siding for convenience of shipment. Two small steamers ply regularly to the Invercargill whari, apart from special trips. One of these is the “Invercargill,” of 156 tons, which trades regularly between Invercargill and Dunedin.

The Fire Brigade.

The Invercargill Fire Brigade is under the control of the Borough Council. It was re-organised in 1888 and again in 1903. Officers for 1904: Mr. R. Miller, superintendent; Mr. W. Hamilton, lieutenant; Mr. John Young, first foreman; Mr. J. Challis, second foreman. There are fourteen fireman, and Mr. A. Harkness is secretary. The principal station in Esk Street, was completed in March, 1903. It is two stories in height, is built of brick, and has a bell tower sixty feet high. The ground floor of the building is laid down in asphalt, and the plant consists of a Merryweather steam engine, ladder carriage, and two reels. The Merryweather engine is retained so as to be prepared for any mishap which might occur at the water works during a fire. On the front floor there are ten bedrooms for the accommmodation of the firemen. At Invercargill South there is a branch station in Ettrick Street, where 500 feet of hose, with a reel, ladder, hooks, etc., are kept ready for any emergency. Both stations are connected by telephone, and with, the private residence of the Superintendent in Bowmont Street.

Swimming Baths.

The corporation has erected baths at the corner of Tweed Street and Ayr Street. The building is of wood and iron, and is well appointed in every respect. The swimming bath measures 60 feet by 30 feet; and there are four hot plunge baths, and a large boiler for heating water, so as to adjust the temperature in the swimming bath, which is filled by pumping from the estuary.

Gardens And Reserves.

Invercargill is noted for its remarkably pretty gardens, and its extensive reserves. There are four small blocks, which are being gradually reclaimed from a state of nature, and brought into a high state of cultivation. These blocks average about four acres each, and are centrally situated in the town; Puni Creek passes through them. About the half of one block, which extends from Clyde Street to Nith Street, is laid down in gardens and lawns, including a very fine bowling green another, extending from Nith Street to Conon Street, is planted with well-grown shelter trees on the north side, where numerous seats are placed for the use of visitors; and on the south side there are beautiful grass lawns and flower borders, which are resplendent with bloom in the season. A very pretty conservatory was erected in 1898, and is divided into two parts, devoted respectively to ferns and flowers. The third block, between Conon Street and Ythan Street is set off with a large oval lawn, flower borders and trees, and an ornamental pond, with black swans. The fourth block, which extends from Ythan Street to Ness Street, is planted with ornamental trees, and laid down in grass. Besides these gardens there is a strip of land all round the town boundary which has a total area of about sixty acres; and that, too, will be beautified as Lime goes on. The ground around the Water Tower is also prettily kept. The town's reserves include 5,000 acres, known as the Point Domain, 1,300 acres on the Bluff Road, and 1,000 acres at Seaward Bush. These large properties are gradually being improved by sowing suitable grasses.

The Public Cemetery is outside of the town, on the East Road.

Mayors And Town Clerks.

During the existence of the corporation, the following citizens have been, successively, mayors of the town: Hon. William Wood, M.L C. (two years), Messrs George Lumsden (two years), Thomas Pratt (two years), John Walker Mitchell (two years), George page 797 Froggitt (two years), Charles Steven Longuet (two years), John Robert Cuthbertson, Joseph Hatch, George Goodwillie, Nicholas Johnson, Henry Jaggcrs, John Kingsland, William Shirrefs Moir, John Lyon McDonald, David Roche, Edwin Alfred Tapper, Thomas Fleming, William Horatio Hall, James Walker Bain, Duncan McFarlane, Andrew Re aside, William Benjamin Seandrett, John Sinclair, Josiah Alfred Hanan, Hugh Mair, John Stead, James Smith Goldie, and—for a second term—William Benjamin Seandrett.

Invercargill has been fortunate in its Town Clerks, as in the long course of thirty-three years it has had only three, all men of high character and exceptional ability. Mr. W. B. Seandrett, the present mayor, held the office From 1871 to 1893, when he was succeeded by Mr. James Ewart Hannah. Air. Hannah resigned in 1895, and was succeeded by Mr. William Young, formerly manager of the Colonial Rank of New Zealand at Invercargill.

Present Council.

The present Council consists of the Mayor, Mr. W. R. Seandrett, and Councillors R. Cleave, S. M. McDonald, C. S. Longuet, D. Roche, J. Stead, J. F. Lillicrap, R. B. McKay, W. A. Ott, W. N. Stirling. J. C. Smith, W. Stead, and James Allan.

His Worship The Mayor, Mr. William Benjamin Scandrett , arrived
Gers'enkorn photo.Mr. W. B. Scandrett, Mayor of Invercargill.

Gers'enkorn photo.
Mr. W. B. Scandrett, Mayor of Invercargill.

in Dunedin in 1858. He was then a youth of eighteen years, and four years later he settled in Invercargill, where he has ever since had his home. Mr. Seandrett was town clerk of Invercargill from 1871 to 1893, when he resigned to begin business on his own account, but he has since served the town as councillor and mayor and he is now (1961) mayor for the second time. Some years ago Mr. Seandrett prepared and read a paper before the Southland Philosophical Institute on the “Resources of Southland,” which was afterwards published and had a wide circulation: indeed, the chief British newspapers, not only quoted largely from its pages but some of them published the pamphlet in full. Mr. Seandrett is a major in the volunteers, a Justice of the Peace, a director of several public companies, member of committee of several local institutions, and fellow of the Institute of Accountants of New Zealand. Altogether, Mr. Seandrett has given a full share of his time to the duties of citizenship during his forty-six years of strenuous, hopeful effort as a colonist of New Zealand.
Councillor David Roche has been a member of the Invercargill Borough, Council since 1875, and he was mayor during the year 1886–1887. Mr. Roche was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1830, and chew his blood from ancestors who had lived in his native place for centuries. In 1858, when he was twenty-two years old, Mr. Roche emigrated to Victoria, to which he was attracted by the reports of the discovery of gold in that colony; and there he was fairly successful as a gold-seeker. When the stirring news of Gabriel Read's discoveries in New Zealand reached Australia. Mr. Roche was amongst the first to leave Victoria for the New Zealand El Dorado. After he had been some time in New Zealand gold was discovered in the Wakatipu district, and Mr. Roche then resolved to leave gold seeking for business. To this end he opened a store at Athol. on the main road between Invercargill and Wakatipu, and carted goods for
Corner of Dee and Esk Streets, Invercargill.

Corner of Dee and Esk Streets, Invercargill.

Councillor D. Roche.

Councillor D. Roche.

his business from Invercargill with his own teams. This life, with its perilous journeys in the days of primitive page 798 roads and unbridged rivers, was rough, and not altogether unpleasant; for colonisation, then in its first stages, had something of the freshness and exhilarating influence of sunrise, and on all sides there was a stir of progress. For men in fair health, and with reasonable aptitude, there were many opportunities to better themselves, and amongst men themselves the prevailing feeling was one of hearty good fellowship. In that life Mr. Roche played a man's part, and in business he did so well that, in 1874, he left the small up-country township to settle in Invercargill as a general merchant, with his premises in Dee Street. Soon after settling in Invercargill he began to watch the work of the municipality. In due course he sought and obtained a seat in the Town Council us one of the representatives of the North Ward, and in 1886 he was elected mayor. At the time of the election he was the oldest member of the council, and this, with other strong civic and personal recommendations, resulted in his securing a large majority over his opponent. Mr. Roche has always taken a deep interest in the Invercargill Hospital, and was for many years on its managing committee. He has for many years been a Justice of the Peace, and one of the Visiting Justices at the Invercargill Goal. All along Mr. Roche has acquitted himself in a way which has secured and retained the respect of all those with whom he has been in any way associated; he is in some respects, a strong party man. but his frankness in this very connection should, perhaps, be numbered with the qualities which have won him so large a circle of personal friends.

Councillor Charles Stephen Longuet was elected to the Invercargill Borough Council in 1897, as representative of the South Ward, and, after being absent for a term, was re-elected to a seat on the Council. Mr. Longuet is a member of various other bodies, and is referred to in another article as a barrister and solicitor.

Councillor John Frederick Lillicrap has been a member of the Invercargill Council since 1900. He was born in Wellington, in 1806, and, having passed the prescribed examination, was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in 1894. Mr. Lillierap is a member of the firm of Hall, Stout, and Lillierap.

Councillor William Alexandra Ott , who has held a seat on the Invercargill Borough Council since 1900, was born in the borough in 1872. He was brought up to mercantile life, and became accountant to Messrs Henderson and Batger in 1898. Mr. Ott was married, in April, 1901, to a daughter of Mr. A. B.
Councillor W. A. Ott.

Councillor W. A. Ott.

Campbell, of Invercargill. and has one son. He is a fellow of the New Zealand Accountants' and Auditors' Association.
Councillor John Stead , who represents Third Ward in the Invercargill Borough Council, was born at Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland, but at an early age left his native land with his parents, and arrived at Invercargill in 1864 in the “Sevilla,” the first immigrant vessel chartered by the Provincial Government of Southland. Mr. Stead was educated partly in Scotland, and partly in his adopted town, and, on leaving school, was apprenticed to the drag trade. he was also engaged for some time in conveying the inland mails to the western districts, and afterwards served an apprenticeship to the boot trade with the well known firm of Messrs. Sloan and Sons, with whom he remained for nine years. He was afterwards with Messrs Kingsland and Sons for seven years, and in 1886 commenced business as boot and shoe importer in Deo Street. Councillor Stead was first returned to the Borough Council in 1890. since which the ratepayers of Third Ward have manifested their approval of his actions as their representative by repeatedly re-electing him. Mr. Stead has been long identified with Odd-fellowship in the Southland district, having joined the St. George's Lodge, Manchester Unity, on the 20th of September, 1875. He subsequently, filled the offices of E.S.V.G. and N.G.; in March, 1894. was elected D.D.G.M., and chosen G.M. at the following annual meeting. Mr. Stead is a trustee of the Friendly Societies' Dispensary, and of the
Councillor J. Stead.

Councillor J. Stead.

Southland Hospital. He also takes an active interest in St. Paul's Wesleyan church, of which he is a trustee. In 1877, Mr. Stead married Florence, daughter of Mr. Joseph Small, and has several children.
Councillor William Stead , who was elected to the Invercargill Borough Council in 1900, was born at Cirvan, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1857. He came to the Bluff, with his parents, by the ship “Sevilla,” in 1864, and the passengers were brought by a small steamer to the Invercargill wharf. Mr. Stead attended Mr. J. G. Smith's school in Invercargill, and learned his trade as a cabinetmaker with Mr. John Findlay. For some time he was in business on his own account as a cabinetmaker, and afterwards for a short time as a grocer. Since 1898 he has been in the employment of Mr. Dewe, cabinetmaker, Tay Street, and he is also a partner in the firm of J. and W. Stead, bootmakers, Dee Street. Mr. Stead has been a member of the South School committee for a good many years and was for some time chairman. He served for seven years in the Invercargill Rides, and has been connected with the local Fire Brigade since 1885. Mr Stead is also a member of Murihiku Tent, No. 27, Independent Order of Rechabites, in which he has passed all the chairs, and filled the office of District Chief Ruler in 1900. He is trustee of his lodge, has been a district representative since 1892, and is a member page 799 of the committee of management of the Friendly Societies' Dispensary. In his earlier years he was fond of
Councillor W. Stead.

Councillor W. Stead.

athletics, and in 1877 played in the first football match between Dunedin and Invercargill. Mr. Stead is a member of St Paul's Methodist Church, and holds office as a trustee. He was married, in 1882, to a daughter of Mr. Henry Preston, wool classer, Tnvercargill, and has four sons and two daughters.

Councillor William Neilson Stirling , J. P., who was elected a member of the Invercargill Borough Council in 1901, was horn in Dunedin in 1853. He attended school in Dunedin and Invercargill to which his parents removed in 1860. Mr. Stirling was brought up to mercantile life in Invercargill, with which he has been closely and continuously connected, except during a short sojourn on the Central Otago goldfields. In 1887 he commenced business in Dee-Street, as a storekeeper and merchant. Mr. Stirling is a vice-president of the Southland Horticultural Society, a director of the Star-Bowkett Building Society, chairman of the Middle School committee, and the Borough Council's representative on the management committee of the park. He has also for many years been a member of the session of First Church. Mr. Stirling became a Justice of the Peace in 1902. He was married, in 1882, to a daughter of the late Mr. Abel Kerr, of Table Hill, Milton, and has five daughters.

Councillor Joseph Crosby Smith has served as a member of the Invercargill Borough Council since 1901. He was born in Keithley, Yorkshire, England, in 1853. In 1876 Mr. Smith landed at Port Chalmers, by the ship “Calypso,” and was for about twenty-five years in the service of the late Mr. H. E. Shaddock, in Dunedin. He removed to Invercargill in 1901, and entered into business as an ironmonger in Esk Street, in partnership with Mr. J. M. Laing, under the style of Smith and Laing. Mr. Smith was a member of the Cavershatn Borough Council for about three years. He was married in 1877, and has three sons.

Councillor Samuel Mcculloch McDonald was returned as a member of the Borough Council in 1903. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1805. At the age of ten he landed in Wellington by the ship “Howrah.” Subsequently he resided for about twenty years in Oamaru, where he learned clicking, a branch of the boot manufacturing trade. In 1893 he commenced business in conjunction with Mr. J. McDiarmid, as manufacturers and retailers, under the style of McDonald and McDiarmid. Mr. McDonald retired from the firm in 1899, when he removed to Invercargill, and established a boot business in Dee Street. Mr. McDonald was married, in November, 1896, to a daughter of Mr. George Broad, of Oamaru, and has one son.

Councillor Robert Barbour Mckay was elected to the Invercargill Borough Council in 1903. He was born in 1853, and at the age of eight he landed with his parents in Victoria; but in 1864, removed to Southland, New Zealand. Mr. McKay became a saddler, and after serving his apprenticeship to the trade in Invercargill, he was some time in partnership in a business in Riverton. Afterwards he worked at his trade in Auckland and Christchurch, and on returning to Invercargill entered into business as a saddler for a year or two. He then left his trade, and gained experience as an auctioneer with Mr. Todd, and in 1896 entered into partnership with his brother, under the style of McKay Brothers, in Esk Street. He acted as auctioneer to the firm until 1902, when he sold his interest to his brother. As a volunteer, Mr. McKay has served twenty-two years in the Invercargill and Riverton corps; he rose to the position of captain, and obtained his long service medal in 1897; but his name has appeared on the active list since 1898. For several years Mr. McKay has been a member of the Military Board of Examiners, and is a member of the Drill Hall commissioners. He is a member of the managing committee of the Horticultural Society, the Poultry Society, and the Invercargill Cycling Club, and was elected president of the Invercargill Swimming
Gerstenkorn, photo.Councillor R. B. McKay.

Gerstenkorn, photo.Councillor R. B. McKay.

Club for 1904–1905. In 1903 he was elected a member of the Invercargill Licensing Committee. Mr. McKay was married, in July, 1878, to a daughter of Mr. George Bailey, chemist, Wellington, and has three sons and one daughter.

Councillor John Duncan Mcgruer has been for some time a member of the Invercargill Borough Council. He is senior partner in the drapery firm of MeGruer, Taylor and Company, of Dee and Esk Streets, Invercargill.

Mr. William Young , Town Clerk of Invercargill, was born at Lossiemouth, Morayshire. Scotland. As a boy he entered the Royal Bank of Scotland, at Lossiemouth, and later on was employed in the North of Scotland Bank in Aberdeenshire. He arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Cariboo.” in 1886, and for some years was cashier at Dunedin for Messrs Cargtlls. McLean and Company On the inception of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand Mr. Young became secretary, and was afterwards intrusted with the important duty of opening the London offices of the Bank in which he acted as accountant for four years. At the end of that time, he received a cable to return to New Zealand, and on his return became bank inspector or. the Otago gold-fields, and also held a similar position in Nelson, where he was manager for page 800 about five years. In 1885 Mr. Young was transfer rod to take charge of the bank at Tnvercargill, and held the position till his resignation in 1891. His signature appeared on the first £1 note issued by the Colonial Bank in New Zealand. Mr. Young entered
Mr. W. Young.

Mr. W. Young.

into a commercial agency business at Inverenrgill, which he continued until his appointment to the Town Clerkship in 1895. He was married, in 1870, in Dunedin to a daughter of the late Mr. Robertson, M.A., parish schoolmaster at Lonmay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and has three sons and three daughters.

Mr. Andrew Harper , Water Works Engineer to the Borough of Invercargill, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1849, he attended school at Portobello, near Edinburgh, and also a night school in the city. After leaving school he was apprenticed as an engineer to Messrs Bertram and Sons, of Leith Walk, Edinburgh, and remained with that firm twenty years, during which he gained an insight into all branches of the work. In 1883 he came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Trevellyan” (Captain Roberts), and settled in Invercaroill, where he found employment at the Vulcan Foundry for eight years, during the greater portion of which he was foreman. Mr. Harper left this employment, to accept the position which he has held since 1891. As a Forester, he is attached to Court Star of the South. Inverenrgill, and has passed all the chairs. Mr. Harper was married, in 1870, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Wilson, of Leith, Scotland, and has one son and five daughters.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. A. Harper.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. A. Harper.

Mr. William Rennie , Sanitary Inspector of the Borough of Invercargill, has been a colonist since 1869. He was born in Rossshire, Scotland. in 1853, educated at Tain Academy,
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. W. Rennie.

Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. W. Rennie.

and was brought up to the trade of a carpenter. In 1869 he arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “E. P. Bouverie,” and was engaged in gold mining, in which he had fair success on the West Coast for four years. In 1873 Mr. Rennie removed to Southland, and shortly afterwards was appointed Inspector of Works to the Borough Council. During the five years he held this office the sum of £70,000 was expended in improvements. When this fund was exhausted Mr. Rennie's employment ceased. He then accepted the position of machinist in the “Southland Times” office, and held it for over twenty years. During the whole of this long period Mr. Rennie never failed to arrive at the office at 3 o'clock each morning, and succeeded in getting the paper printed for early distribution, On leaving the office to accept the position he has since held under the Borough Council, he was presented by his fellow workers with a handsome writing desk, bearing an appropriate inscription. Mr. Rennie had some experience in the Eire Brigade, and rose from the position of fireman to that of superintendent; and now his numerous duties as Sanitary Inspector include the inspection of buildings and fire inspection. Mr. Rennie was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr. James Wyper, who was stationmaster for forty years at Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Mr. Henry Edginton , who was appointed Curator of the Invercargill Public Gardens, in 1893, was born in 1848, in Oxfordshire, England, when; he was educated. He was brought up
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. H. Edginton.

Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. H. Edginton.

as a nurseryman at Messrs John and Charles Lees' Ealing Nursery, was afterwards for several years at Allen's Nursery, Norfolk Road, London, and page 801 held positions as gardener at two different establishments, before coming to Port Chalmers by the ship “Gairloch,” in 1874. Mr. Edginton settled at Invercargill, and after two years with Mr. R. Cleave, at Avenal, was placed in charge of that gentleman's Bay Road Nursery, where he remained for seventeen years, when he was appointed to his present position under the Borough Council. He is a member of the Southern Cross Lodge of Freemasons, and of the St. George Lodge of Oddfellows, and also a Leading member of the Southland Horticultural Society. Mr. Edginton was married, in 1871, to Miss E. A. Sellwood, of Cornwall, and has seven sons and five daughters.

Mr. Herbert Seton Stewart Kyle , Government Veterinary Surgeon in charge of the Invercargill Abattoirs, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1874. He was educated at Geelong College, graduated at the Melbourne Veterinary College, and was in private practice at Ballarat for about four years before being appointed to his present position. Mr. Kyle provided the plans, and supervised the whole of the erection of the establishment, and has been in charge since the opening. He was initiated as a Freemason in Lodge Unity and Prudence, Geelong, and is attached to Lodge Victoria (Irish Constitution) of which he was Worshipful Master in 1903. Mr. Kyle has held office as president of the Invercargill Bog and Poultry Society, and is now Honorary Veterinary Surgeon to the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and also to the local Racing Club.

Superintendent Robert Miller , who has been in charge of the Invercargill Fire Brigade since March, 1903, and has been foreman of works of the Borough Council since September, 1900, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1862. He was educated in his native city, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. In 1872 he came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Peter Benny” After working at his trade for live years in Dunedin, and for three years at Lawrence, he removed to Oamaru. where he continued until settling in Invercargill in 1882. Mr. Miller followed his trade in Southland until his appointment under the Borough Council. He is a prominent member of the Order of Oddfellows and has taken the highest offices in connection with Lodge Shamrock, Rose and Thistle, as well as district offices; in 1902 he was raised to the position of Provincial Grand Master at Mataura, and is also a member of St. John's Masonic Lodge, Invercargill. Mr. Miller was married, in 1875, to a daughter of the late Mr. William Archibald, of Glasgow, and has three sons and four daughters.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. R. Miller.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. R. Miller.

Mr. William Cook has been a prominent, member of the Invercargill Fire Brigade for many years. Be was born at St. Marybourne, Hampshire, England, in February, 1852, attended school at Andover, and was at first
Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. W. Cook.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. W. Cook.

put to the trade of a baker. Subsequently he worked in a stone mason's yard, and ultimately turned his attention to asphalting. In 1874 Mr. Cook landed at the Bluff in the ship “William Davey,” and settled in Invercargill. For the first seven years he was engineer's assistant under the Invercargill Corporation, and took part in laying out the streets and fixing their levels. At the end of that time he commenced business as an asphalter, under contract with the Borough Council. Mr. Cook has also completed contracts in the same line, in several of the Southland boroughs. His Fire Brigade experience dates from the 9th of September, 1874. Mr. Cook continued an active member of the Brigade till 1903, when he retired to the Honorary Staff, after twenty-nine years of service, during thirteen of which he held the position of first lieutenant. While a member of the brigade he competed at many competitions, and won twenty prizes, including the Associations gold star for Southland. in recognition of his twenty-live years of service, during which he had never once been incapacitated from duty. He has represented the Invercargill Brigade at conferences held at Auckland, Dunedin, Christ-church and Blenheim. As a member of the Order of Oddfellows, Mr. Cook joined the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle Lodge in 1877, and became the first Vice-Grand. For several years he was a member of the Invercargill South School committee, and has for a number of years been vice-president of the Pirates' Football Club. He was married, on the 22nd of November, 1871, to Miss Noice, of Hampshire, England. His wife died on the 11th of August, 1893, leaving six sons and four daughters.
Mr. Alexander Scott Henderson , who has been wharfinger at Invercargill since 1886, was born in 1845, in Edinburgh, Scotland. At the age of fifteen he went to sea in his uncle's vessels trading from the Clyde to the East and West Indies, and was engaged in that way for six years. On leaving the sea he qualified for the duty of a letter sorter in the General Post Office, Glasgow. He remained for two yars in that employment, but found that confinement within doors was injuring his health. Therefore he resigned, and sailed from London in October, 1868, in the ship “Mermaid” for New Zealand. He landed in Port Lyttelton in January, 1869, and after a short stay in Christchurch removed to Dunedin, where he entered the employment of Messrs. Ross and Glendining. However, he left the service of these gentlemen to follow up the wool trade, as a classer, sorter and packer, and worked in and around the districts of Oamaru and Maheno for ten or eleven years. In 1883 Mr. Henderson removed to Invercargill, where he was in the railway service— page 802 Way and Works Department—till he was appointed to his present position in 1886. He was an elder of the South Invercargill Presbyterian Church from 1890 till the death of the Rev.
Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. and Miss Henderson.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. and Miss Henderson.

Andrew Stobo in 1898. Mr. Henderson was married, in 1876, to a daughter of the late John Murray, of Oamaru, and has had a family of two sons and seven daughters, of whom one son and five daughters survive.