Greymouth Borough

The Greymouth Borough was the borough council covering the urban part of Greymouth, New Zealand between 1868 and 1989, when it became part of Grey District.

History

The Municipal Corporations Act, 1867 was passed by the New Zealand Parliament, and this allowed for petitions to the governor for towns to be constituted a borough. This would then allow such borough to govern itself. Such a petition was forwarded on behalf of the citizens by John Hall in May 1868.^[1] By notice in the New Zealand Gazette on 16 July 1868, Greymouth was constituted a borough;^[2] the same day as Timaru.^[3] The boundaries of the borough were defined as follows:^[2]

All that piece or parcel of land situate and being in the County of Westland, bounded on the west by a line of 160 chains and 80 links [3.23 km], extending from the South Spit along the beach thence along the South Town Belt 115 chains and 50 links [2.32 km]; thence along the East Town Belt 120 chains and 90 links [2.43 km] thence along the Native Reserve, number 31, 41 chains 30 links [0.83 km] to the Grey River and thence along the River Grey to the point of commencement.

— Governor of New Zealand, Notice in the New Zealand Gazette, 16 July 1868

The area covered by the borough was later extended to the north across the Grey River, and the suburbs of Cobden (effective 1 October 1934^[4][5]) and Coal Creek were added.^[6] Greymouth Borough existed until its abolition in the 1989 local government reforms, when the area was amalgamated with Grey County to form Grey District.

Out of 22 candidates,^[7] the first nine councillors were elected on 26 August 1868.^[8] Within days, it was discovered that according to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, three of those councillors had to retire by rotation on 10 September.^[9][10][11] All three councillors stood for re-election,^[12] but one of them was replaced by Edward Masters.^[13] At the first meeting of the council in the following week, Masters was elected the first Mayor of Greymouth by his fellow councillors.^[14][15] The office of mayor of Greymouth was the predecessor to the current office of mayor of Grey District.

References

1. "Colonial Secretary's Office". Grey River Argus VI (366). 19 May 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
2. "Untitled". Grey River Argus VI (394). 23 July 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
3. "The Evening Post". The Evening Post IV (132). 17 July 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
4. "West Coast Notes". The Press LXX (21285). 3 October 1934. p. 5. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
5. "West Coast Notes". The Press LXX (21289). 8 October 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
6. McLintock, A. H., ed. (22 April 2009) [First published in 1966]. "Greymouth". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
7. "Election Notice". Grey River Argus VI (407). 22 August 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
8. "West Coast Times". West Coast Times (915). 28 August 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
9. McLintock, A. H., ed. (22 April 2009) [First published in 1966]. "Government – Local Government". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
10. "Untitled". Grey River Argus VI (412). 3 September 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
11. "Election Notice". Grey River Argus VI (414). 8 September 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
12. "Election Notice". Grey River Argus VI (415). 10 September 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
13. "Election Notice". Grey River Argus VI (416). 12 September 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
14. "Borough Council". Grey River Argus VI (418). 17 September 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
15. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Greymouth Corporation". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 September 2015.