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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Councillor Charles Thomas Tatum

Councillor Charles Thomas Tatum who represents the Te Aro Ward in the Wellington City Council was born at Eastham, Essex, England. His father died when he was but two years old, and he was removed to London to the care of his grandfather, who had him educated at Dr. Yates' High School, Peckham. He was subsequently sent to the Elizabethan Grammar School, London, for a period of two years, and on leaving was articled to Messrs. Downs and Co. with the intention of qualifying as an architect. On completing his term, however, he did not remain to put his knowledge into practice, but came to the colonies, arriving in Port Chalmers per ship “Waipa,” Captain Gohm, 1879. Councillor Tatum speedily came on to Wellington and started a commission agency business under the title of Charles T. Tatum and Co. On the dissolution of this firm, Mr. Tatum joined Mr. A. J. McTavish in the firm McTavish, Tatum and Co., and was closely associated with that business during the years 1884 to 1888 inclusive. Councillor Tatum was captain of the Wellington Rifles for about eighteen months or two years, passing his examination in the Military School for the rank of captain with an average of over ninety per cent, of marks. After retiring from the firm of McTavish, Tatum and Co., Councillor Tatum removed to Wanganui, where he resided for about two years. He had always had a great liking for horses, and has owned and bred a number of thoroughbreds. Since his return to Wellington, he has occasionally practised as an Councillor Charles Thomas Tatum architect. He was first elected to the Council for Cook Ward for the balance of an unexpired term. Councillor Tatum is a strong believer in the necessity for the establishment of a bridle track round the Town Belt, which might afterwards be widened into a carriage drive, and considers that more attention should be given to planting and improving the City Reserves and Town Belt. He is also an advocate of city fresh water baths, and thinks that they could be advantageously constructed at the south-west corner of the Basin Reserve, where they would be available for athletics as well as the general public. He also suggests that, with a view to completing the asphalt footpaths, the Council should reduce the cost of ashphalting to say one half the usual price, which would induce people to have the work done, and so render the footpaths much more convenient than they are at present.