The Feilding Borough Council has its office in Kimbolton Road. The Council is composed of Messrs. W. A. L. Bailey (mayor), John Gould, Edmund Goodbehere, G. W. Fowles, W. G. Haybittle, P. Thomson, J. W. Bramwell, W. G. Shearer, W. Reid, and G. H. Saywell (councillors). Mr. G. C. Hill occupies the position of town clerk. The Feilding Borough Council was incorporated in 1881, and held its first meeting on the 15th of August of that year. The total value (annual) of the property in the borough amounts to £15,105, the area of the borough being 3,500 acres. Within this area is a population of 2045 inhabitants, and the number of dwellings erected within the town boundaries is 365. At the Council's offices in Kimbolton Road is the Free Public Library and Reading Room, plentifully supplied with illustrated papers and magazines, and appreciated by the residents of the place as such institutions always are. In 1895 the present handsome municipal buildings were erected, at a cost of £1000. There are five room, including the council chamber, which is very large and often used for public meetings.

His Worship the Mayor, Mr. Walter Ambrose Lucas Bailey, was born in Tasmania in 1843, his father being chief clerk in the Controller's office there. After receiving a primary education in Hobart, at the age of twelve he was sent to London, where he completed his education. Leaving school, he was apprenticed to Wadie and Co., the well-known surgical and veterinary instrument-makers of Kensington. Here he remained four years, and then returned to Australia. From Melbourne he followed the gold rushes in Victoria and New South Wales for three years, and then came over to New Zealand. Landing at Wellington, he went to work with his brothers in their sawmill at Pahautanui for a year. From there he went to Canterbury and followed sawmilling on Banks Peninsula for seven years. He then came to the Rangitikei district, and in 1878 started business as a timber merchant with his brother at Taonui. In 1890 the firm opened business in Halcombe, and two years later transferred the business to their present premises in Feilding, where, with Mr. Cornfoot, they trade as the Manawatu Timber Co. The firm has five sawmills in operation in the Hunterville and Birmingham districts. Mr. Bailey was married in 1862 to Mrs. Webb, of Canterbury, and they have two sons and three daughters. Mr. Bailey's private residence is on his farm at Taonui. Here he has some 400 acres of good agricultural land, on which he breeds sheep and cattle. The farm is managed by his eldest son. Mr. Bailey is a Past Master in the Masonic order, and a captain on the retired list of New Zealand Volunteer officers, having had control of the Manchester Rifles for some years. He is chairman of directors of the Feilding Building Society, chairman of the Racing Club Committee, chairman of the Taonui School Committee, a post he has held for ten years, president of the Feilding Bowling and Football Clubs, and vice-president of many other pastime organisations.

Councillor Geo. William Fowles, of the Feilding Borough Council, was elected to a seat in 1886, and has continued to represent the ratepayers on that body up to the time of writing, 1896. Mr. Fowles has also occupied a seat on the Kiwitea Road Board, and sat for some time as a member of the Kiwitea County Council. More extended notice of Councillor Fowles, who carries on the business of a watchmaker and jeweller in the township, appears in the business part of this section.

Councillor Edmund Goodbehere has long been prominent in social and business circles in Feilding. Besides conducting his business, Mr. Goodbehere has found time to serve the town, with which he is so closely connected, in various capacities. In 1883 he was elected to the honourable position of mayor of the borough, and for six years since that time he has occupied a seat as a member of the Borough Council. Mr. Goodbehere is also a member of the Feilding Hospital Board, on which he has sat for two years past. He is also an ex-member of the Feilding Licensing Committee, and for nine years has satisfactorily filled the responsible office of secretary to the Kiwitea County Council. Not only in civic matters does Mr. Goodbehere take an active part, but also in respect to the recreations of the people. For years he acted as secretary to the Feilding Athletic Sports Committee, and has for a long time been a member of the jockey club. He also filled the position of secretary to the local Horticultural Society. Mr. Goodbehere has for many years past been manager of the Feilding Building Society, an institution which has done much to assist in the development of the town. Mr. Goodbehere's bus ness extends throughout the entire Colony, and he may at all times be relied upon to supply all needful information and place his services at the disposal of clients.

Councillor John Gould was elected to the Feilding Borough Council in November, 1890, and has held a seat there since. He was born in Broom, Warwickshire, England, in 1844, his father being a stockdealer there. After completing his education at the village school, the subject of this notice was apprenticed to the baking trade with Mr. Crow, of Alcester. On the completion of his apprenticeship, he worked as a journeyman in page 1221 Bromsgrove and Birmingham for some time. Eventually he started in business in Great Lister Street, Birmingham, and after fourteen years there, he removed to Liverpool, but after a stay of six months returned and began business in Aston Road, Birmingham. In 1884 he came to Feilding, New Zealand, bought a section, and started his present business. In the following year he removed to Denbigh Street, where he now carries on an extensive wholesale and retail bakery business, in which he is assisted by his son, Mr. Albert John Gould. Mr. Gould was twice married, a remarkable coincidence being that on each occasion the lady was a Miss Mary Ann Anyon; the first of Birmingham and the second of Liverpool. The family consists of nine children. Mr. Gould has been a member of the local school committee for about eight years, and is circuit steward in the Primitive Methodist Church. He is a prominent worker in the Feilding Prohibition League.

Councillor William George Haybittle, of the Feilding Borough Council, has been a prominent member of that body since 1890. Full reference to his career is made as an ex-mayor of the Borough.

Councillor William Reid, of the Feilding Borough Council, was born at the Hutt in 1853. and was educated there and in the Wairarapa. He came to Feilding in 1879 and purchased the property he holds at present. As a prominent member of the Council, Mr. Reid has rendered valuable service.

Councillor Walter George Shearer, of the Feilding Borough Council, was elected to this position at a comparatively recent date. As a cabinetmaker he is more fully referred to further on in these pages.

Mr. George Cole Hill, C.E., Town Clerk to the borough of Feilding, served his time as an engineer cadet under the Government, and passed both Civil Service examinations. He was employed for nine years on the construction of railways and other public works, and gained a wide experience. About 1881, Mr. Hill accepted the appointment of town clerk, and has filled the same office ever since. He also carried out the duties of borough engineer during twelve years of that time. He is agent for the Imperial Insurance Company. Mr. Hill, who has special qualifications for the duties of his office, is referred to under the heading “Architects.”

The Feilding Volunteer Fire Brigade is supported by the Feilding Borough Council. There are twenty members in the brigade, and the officers for 1896 are: Messrs. A. Wilson (captain), W. Gosling (lieutenant), and A. W. Parker (foreman). The brigade station is just off Kimbolton Road, close to the Free Public Library, and the fire-bell is in Manchester Square. The brigade has a fire-engine and reel of the latest pattern. The effectiveness of the Brigade is Brigade is attested by the fact that though many fires have started there has never been any very serious conflagration in the town.

The Feilding Brass Band was established in 1886, and possesses a valuable town section of a quarter-of-an-acre behind the borough chambers, on which they have erected a fine hall of 1200 square feet of floorage space. Practices are held regularly, the members taking great interest in the Band. They have been competitors on only one occasion, when they were content to take third place, in Easter, 1892. Entertainments are given regularly on the rotunda, and are well attended and greatly appreciated by the Feildiag public. The principal instruments of the Band are: Solo cornet, Mr. R. F. Haybittle; soprano, Mr. G. Haybittle; trombone. Mr. Eustace Haybittle; euphonium, Mr. S. Daw; bass, Mr. H. Bilderbeck. Its members number twenty-two. The officers for 1896 are: Conductor, Mr. Richard F. Haybittle; band-master, Mr. Samuel Daw; secretary, Mr. H. Bilderbeck.

Mr. Richard Frederick Haybittle, the Conductor of the Feilding Brass Band, was born in Wellington in 1854, and is the son of Captain Haybittle. He was educated privately, and went to Invercargill, joining the service of Cowper and Wilson, general ironmongers, having charge of the wholesale and implement part of the business for several years. He then went into the employ of Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach, remaining in charge of the heavy ironmongery and woodware departments for three years, when he came on to Feilding under engagement to Mr. W. G. Haybittle, with whom he remained as bookkeeper till 1894, when his brother retired from business. Mr. Haybittle was a prominent member of the Invercargill Band when it won the annual competition, held in 1887 in Oamaru, beating the Oamaru Band for the final result; he was also bandmaster of the Blue Ribben in Band, and won the solo cornet competition in Queenstown, when members from ten different bands competed Since Mr. Haybittle's arrival in Feilding he has done much to promote musical matters generally. He is the lessee of the Feilding Assembly Rooms, and supplies an orchestra from his own family, with the assistance of two others. He is a Freemason, and was choirmaster of the Wesleyan Church for four years. Mr. Haybittle is married to a daughter of Mr. Caleb Cull, who was the well-known host of the Freemason's Hotel, Wellington.