ROBYN PARKES
Following public consultation and intensive investigations, Motueka was on its way to becoming a borough.
The statutory public notice of the intention to petition the Government for the proclamation was completed mid-August.
The petition was given to Waimea County Council who were in opposition on the grounds that if the borough were constituted it would wipe out the Motueka Road Board and some six miles of main road with several crossroads would have to be maintained by the Council with only about £30 worth of rates.
A motion was passed to protest the formation of a borough and protest they did. The Colonial Secretary’s Office acknowledged receipt of the protest; however, the Council was referred to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1880, concerning counter-petitions.
A section stipulated that such protests made by the Council must be made in the form of a counter-petition, which to be effective must be signed by a number of people not less than that of those signing the petition for the borough. A letter was also received from E. McKenzie, stating that the Col. Secretary would have no power to suspend the issue of the proclamation and no further action would be taken.
With the Council having already made its protest, there was not much chance of getting an equal number of signatures in Motueka to a counter-petition.
In early November 1899 Motueka was proclaimed a borough. Horatio Everett was appointed Town Clerk and returning officer for the elections of Mayor and the six required Councillors, being held in January 1900.
Two candidates put their name forward for the position of Mayor, Mr Wratt and, ironically, Mr Richmond Hursthouse. The Road Board was of opinion that Hursthouse, having been an opponent of the petition had no claim, while those who had requisitioned him to stand maintained they had the right to select whom they liked.
Hursthouse was successfully voted in as Mayor with 141 votes as opposed to 57 votes for John Wratt. Successful Councillors were Messrs H. Rankin, F. Thorpe, M. Simpson, W. Ryder, W. Moffatt and J. Satherley.
The first meeting of the Motueka Council was held on Wednesday the 17th in the Courthouse. The mayor elect, having first made the statutory declaration before the Town Clerk, received the declarations of the Councillors.
Crs Rankin and Moffatt congratulated the mayor on his election to the position, which he held for just two years, and expressed a hope that all would work harmoniously together for the good of the borough.
The mayor thanked all for their expressions of good will, and said the present Council was a good representative one, and that all would do their best in their new positions. First actions of the Council were to officially appoint H. Everett as Town Clerk to the 31st of March next at a salary of £6 and expenses, and approach the Resident Magistrate with a view to using part of the Court House for municipal purposes.
Also resolved was that the two dayman be under the orders of Councillors Rankin and Ryder, and the Clerk was to convene another council meeting as soon as accounts were adjusted with the Waimea County Council.
Richmond Hursthouse held the position of mayor for two years before leaving Motueka in 1902.
