The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]
Mr. Albert Cracroft Fookes
Mr. Albert Cracroft Fookes,
who was the second Mayor of New Plymouth, and held office from the 18th of December, 1878, till the 17th of December, 1879, was born in Kent,
England, in the year 1839, educated in Oxfordshire, and, after leaving school, was for seven years with a banking firm in London. Mr. Fookes came to New Zealand in 1861, by the ship “Black Eagle,” and shortly after joined the Wellington Defence Force as a trooper, on the breaking out of the Taranaki war. Having been promoted and transferred to the Taranaki Military Settlers, he served with the rank
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of lieutenant through the East and West Coast campaigns from 1864 to 1868, and was awarded the New Zealand war medal for his services. On the conclusion of the war, Mr. Fookes entered into business as a storekeeper at Waverley, but removed to New Plymouth in 1876, and successfully established the Midhirst Special Settlement. He carried on business in New Plymouth as a land broker for over twenty years. Mr. Fookes has served twice on the Borough Council, and was connected with the New Plymouth High School Board of Governors and school committee for several years.