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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]
[introduction]
Napier was constituted a borough on the 26th of November, 1874. At the census of 1906 there was a population of 9661, including those on shipboard, but not including Maoris. The financial position of the municipality for the year ended the 31st of March, 1905, was as follows: Receipts, £15,423 3s 11d from rates, £28,187 18s 7d from other sources, and £12,428 bank overdraft, being a total of £56,339 2s 6d. The total expenditure amounted to £51,987 17s 2d, leaving a balance of £4,351 5s 4d. There are 1180 ratepayers in the borough, and the annual rateable value is £88,532. The rates consist of a general rate of 9d in the £, three special rates amounting to is 8d in the £, a special sanitary rate of 4d in the £, and a graduated water-consumers' rate ranging from 1½ to 3½ per cent on the annual value. Members of the Borough Council for the year 1906. Messrs S. Carnell (Mavor), J. Spence, J. P. Thomson, J. C. Westall, W. Donaldson, T. W. Bear, A. Paul, A. J. Williams, Edward Crowley, and James Constable (Councillors).
The Borough Council Chambers are situated at the corner of the Marine Parade and Tennyson Street. Meetings of the Council are held at the Chambers on the first and third Wednesday in each month. The officers of the Council are: Captain M. N. Bower, Town Clerk and Treasurer; H. C. A. Wundram, Valuer and Clerical Assistant; W. Hodgson, Receiver of Rates; L. Pickering, Sanitary Surveyor; J. Henderson, Collector of Dog Taxes, Inspector of Nuisances, and Pound-keeper.