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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

Ex-Mayors

Ex-Mayors.

Mr. Joseph Kilgour was Mayor of Greymouth in the year 1870. He was a prominent and progressive citizen, and was engaged in business as an ironfounder and sawmiller. Mr. Kilgour died in August, 1898.

Mr. Edward Wickes was Mayor of Greymouth in the years 1871–72. He was the third occupant of the office, and succeeded Mr. J. Kilgour. During Mr. Wickes' mayoralty the great flood of 1872 devastated the southern portion of Greymouth, and will long be remembered by old West Coasters. Mr. Wickes was born in London, England, in the year 1836, and engaged early in life in the timber trade. In 1853, he went to Australia in the ship “Strathfeldsaye,” and followed mining at Ballarat and in Queensland, and was present at the Ballarat riots. Ten years later, he came to New Zealand, landed in Auckland, and worked as a builder and contractor. When gold was discovered on the West Coast, he established himself in business in Greymouth as an ironmonger, auctioneer, and mining agent, on a site now occupied by Messrs Griffin and Smith, in Boundary Street. Mr. Wickes was associated with the Wallsend Coal Mine, at Brunnerton, and was one of the founders of the Greymouth Acclimatisation Society. He has been a Forester and a Freemason, and has been active in promoting local interests.

Mr. George Glen was Mayor of Greymouth for a portion of the year 1873. Mr. Glen was a produce merchant in Greymouth, and died about the year 1895.

Mr. William Simpson Smith was Mayor of Greymouth in the year 1874. He was a member of the firm of Thomson, Smith and Barclay, drapers, and died in the year 1904.

Mr. George William Moss was Mayor of Greymouth in the years 1875
Ring, photo.Mr. G. W. Moss.

Ring, photo.
Mr. G. W. Moss.

and 1876. He is further referred to as a member of the firm of G. W. Moss and Company, auctioneers.

Mr. Francis Hamilton was Mayor of Greymouth during the years 1877 and 1878. He was well known for many years in connection with the firm of Buxton and Company, of Nelson. Mr. Hamilton died in the year 1901; his portrait and a sketch of his life appear on page 113 of this volume.

Mr. Richard Nancarrow was Mayor of Greymouth in the years 1879–80–81 and in 1886, and held office at a somewhat momentous period of the borough's history; namely, at the time when Sir John Coode designed the harbour works, which were estimated to cost £250,000 sterling. He was born in Kent, England, in 1844, came to New Zealand in the year 1854 in the steamer “Nelson,” landed at Nelson, and was educated at Nelson College, and trained for a mercantile life. Mr. Nancarrow subsequently settled on the West Coast, and took an interest in local affairs, especially in mining matters. He was at one time chairman of the Hospital Committee, and of the High School Board of Governors. Mr. Nancarrow died some years ago.

Mr. James Barclay was Mayor of Greymouth during the year 1882–83. He was a member of the well known firm of Thomson, Smith, and Barclay, drapers. Mr. Barclay died in May, 1890.

page 552

Mr. Fritz Carl Dupre , J.P., was Mayor of Greymouth in the year 1884, and served on the Borough Council for fourteen years. Mr. Dupre is a watchmaker. He has since left Greymouth, and carries on his business in the Wairarapa, in the provincial district of Wellington.

Mr. John Griffiths Thomson was Mayor of Greymouth in the year 1885. He was the founder of the firm of Thomson, Smith and Barclay, drapers.

Mr. Joseph Petrie was Mayor of Greymouth in the years 1887 and 1888. He is further referred to as a former member of the House of Representatives, and in connection with the Greymouth “Evening Star” newspaper.

Mr. John Mitchell was Mayor of Greymouth in the years 1889 and 1890. He was well known on the West Coast as a coach proprietor. Mr. Mitchell left New Zealand to settle in West Australia.

Mr. W. R. Kettle was born in London, England, and emigrated with his parents to Australia in the year 1861, when three years of age. The family came to New Zealand a few years later, and settled at Dunstan, Otago, where Mr. Kettle, senior, entered into business. In 1874, they moved to Greymouth, where Mr. W. R. Kettle was apprenticed to Mr. Duncan McLean, with whom he remained for over eight years. Mr. Kettle entered the Borough Council in 1891, and was elected Mayor in 1893. In 1894, he was nominated by the Governor as a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board, of which he was elected chairman in 1897. He was elected a member of the Grey Education Board in 1893, and has since continuously held his seat on that body, and was chairman in 1896–7. He is a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Conciliation Board for the settlement of labour disputes. Both in public and private life, Mr. Kettle is extremely popular with all sections of the community.
Mr. Andrew Matheson was Mayor of Greymouth for six years, and served for a number of years as a councillor. He served for ten years on the Greymouth Harbour Board, was for several years a member of the Hospital Board, and has been a
Ring, photo.Mr. A. Matheson.

Ring, photo.
Mr. A. Matheson.

member of the Westland Land Board since the year 1885. During Mr. Mathesons mayoralty, the progressive policy of the Borough Council was inaugurated; the works projected included water works, gas works, drainage, a town hall and library, as well as two large bridges over the principal streams in the borough. While on a visit to Scotland, Mr. Matheson successfully interviewed Mr. Carnegie, who made a subscription of £2,250 to the Greymouth library. Mr. Matheson was born in the year 1836 in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, where he attended school. He went to Australia in 1856, landed in Sydney, but spent about seven years in Victoria, and engaged in mining at Ballarat, Bendigo, and Forest Creek. Mr. Matheson was attracted to New Zealand by the Dunstan rush in 1863, and also followed goldmining at Mount Ida and Hamilton's. He afterwards removed to Invercargill, where he was engaged in the construction of the Invercargill-Bluff railway line, and, later, went to Auckland, where he held various contracts—military and civil—during the time of the Waikato war. In the year 1866, Mr. Matheson settled in Greymouth, and for a time followed mining. He subsequently took contracts for the construction of Government roads, and erected the first permanent wharf at Greymouth, in conjunction with the late Mr. Edward Butler. Mr. Matheson entered business as a general merchant, in 1878. He married the widow of the late Mr. William Norris, of Greymouth, in the year 1885, and has one son and three stepdaughters. Mr. Matheson is further referred to as a merchant and wool-brooker.

Mr. Felix Campbell was Mayor of Greymouth in the year 1895. He is well known in the district as a successful merchant.

Mr. Jacob Theodore Skoglund was Mayor of Greymouth in the years 1896–97–98. He was born in Sweden, and emigrated to Victoria, Australia, in 1859. In 1865, Mr. Skoglund came to New Zealand, and settled on the West Coast. He was for a considerable time a storekeeper at the diggings. Mr. Skoglund is in business as a commission agent, and is the shipping and general representative for the Blackball Coal Company in Greymouth, and was secretary to the Greymouth Gasworks Company, Limited.

Mr. Jesse Steer was Mayor of Greymouth during the year 1903. He is further referred to in connection with the firm of A. Hildebrand and Company.