Councillor John James Clarke, who is a member of the Hokitika Borough Council, was elected in 1895. Mr. Clark was born at Blackley, Manchester, England, in 1847. From the age of twelve he followed mercantile pursuits, and was in the employment of Mr. Robert Whittaker, Pendleton, and of Messrs Booth and Whitehead, brokers, Salford. He then spent fifteen years in the Royal Navy, sailed to Panama in the ship “Captain Cook,” and came on to New Zealand in 1866 as an able seaman on the R.M. s.s. “Rakaia.” Mr. Clarke procured his discharge at Wellington, caught the gold fever, and went to Hokitika, where he worked as a miner, and was fairly successful for several years. In 1875, he undertook the duties of district assessor, and became a general commission agent. In 1878 Mr. Clarke was engaged by Mr. Archibald Scott, insurance, shipping, and general agent, Hokitika, and when that gentleman's business was bought by Mr. W. Duncan, in 1879, Mr. Clarke was retained as manager, a position he still holds. He is also chairman of the Hokitika school committee, a position be has held for a number of years, and is also a member of the Westland Education Board, and of the District High School Board. Mr. Clarke was instrumental in forming the Stafford Literary Institute, in 1870, and is on the committee of the Westland Institute. Mr. Clarke has been associated with the Oddfellows since 1869, and has passed through all the chairs of the Loyal Waimea Lodge. In Freemasonry he is associated with Lodge Pacific, No. 1229, English Constitution, Hokitika, and was secretary of the District Grand Lodge of Wastland for many years, besides having filled all the offices. Mr. Clarke is married, and has, surviving, two sons and two daughters. One of his daughters was killed by a waterwheel while she was picknicking with a party of friends at Lake Mahinapua, on the 27th of December, 1901.