Mayor of Blenheim facts for kids

Richard McCallum, who was the 16th Mayor of Blenheim from 1901 to 1903.

The mayor of Blenheim was the leader of the town of Blenheim, New Zealand, when it was known as a "borough." A borough is like a self-governing town. This important job started in 1869 when Blenheim officially became a borough. The role of Mayor of Blenheim ended in 1989. This happened because Blenheim Borough joined with other local areas, Picton Borough and Marlborough County Council, to form the larger Marlborough District. There were 31 mayors of Blenheim in total. The very last mayor of Blenheim, Leo McKendry, became the first Mayor of Marlborough.

Blenheim's Mayors: A Look Back

How the Mayor's Job Started

Blenheim became a borough on March 6, 1869. This meant it could have its own local government. The first group of town leaders, called the borough council, was chosen on May 15, 1869. That same year, Frederick John Litchfield became Blenheim's very first mayor.

Early Leaders of Blenheim

After Litchfield, Henry Dodson took over as mayor in 1870. He served for two years, then came back to be mayor again in 1883 and 1884. Henry Dodson was also a Member of Parliament for the Wairau area from 1881 to 1890. The third mayor was George Henderson, who served four times in total, first from 1872 to 1873, and again from 1885 to 1886.

John M. Hutcheson became the fourth mayor in 1874. He was followed by James Edward Hodson, who served for two years from 1875 to 1876. George Fell was mayor from 1877 to 1879. His father, Alfred Fell, was an important early settler in Nelson. Frederick Thomas Farmar was mayor from 1880 to 1882. After him, Dodson and Henderson, who had both been mayors before, returned to the role. William Douslin served one term in 1887.

Mayors in the Late 1800s

George Riley was mayor in 1888 and 1889. In 1889, George Houldsworth won the mayoral election by just one vote! He was mayor for two terms until 1891. The next mayor was Elijah Bythell, who also served two terms from 1892 to 1893. Thomas Horton, a banker, was mayor from 1894 to 1897. He had also been a finance minister in Fiji.

Edward Purser became mayor in 1897, winning by a small number of votes. After his time as mayor, he moved away and started a furniture business. John Grey Trevor was mayor for the year 1899.

Mayors in the Early 1900s

Robert McArtney was mayor from 1900 to 1901. He had been on the town council for 17 years before retiring. Richard McCallum followed him, serving as mayor from 1901 to 1903. McCallum later became a Member of Parliament for the Wairau area from 1911 to 1922.

William Henry Macey became mayor in 1903, winning by only four votes. He served two terms until 1905. Edward Henry Penny won the next election in 1905 and was re-elected without anyone running against him in 1906.

In 1907, Archibald (Archie) McCallum became mayor. He won against Penny and another candidate. McCallum was re-elected in 1908 and 1909. In 1910, Edward Henry Penny became mayor again. He won another election in 1911.

Changes in Election Rules

John Joseph Corry became mayor in 1912. In 1913, Edward Stone Parker defeated Corry to become mayor. However, Corry won back the mayoralty in 1914. From 1915, mayoral elections started happening every two years instead of every year. Corry was re-elected in 1915 and again in 1919. During World War I, Corry was very popular for his work helping to raise money for soldiers.

In 1921, Edward Stone Parker became mayor again. William Carr challenged him in 1923, but Parker won. In 1925, Malcolm McKenzie was elected mayor without anyone running against him. He stayed mayor until 1935.

Later Mayors and the End of the Role

In 1935, the elections changed again to happen every three years. John Stevenson won the election that year. Tim Smith became mayor in 1938 and served until 1945.

Other mayors who served Blenheim included William Girling (1945–1950), Bert Mitchell (1950–1953), Edwin Purcell "Ted" Meachen (1953–1962), Sid Harling (1962–1977), Claude Bertram Whitehead (1977–1982), Philip Taylor (1982–1986), and Leo McKendry (1986–1989). Sid Harling, who passed away while in office, helped bring the first roll-on/roll-off ferry service across the Cook Strait. This made it easier for cars and trucks to travel between the North and South Islands.

Leo McKendry was the last mayor of Blenheim. In 1989, the local government system changed. Blenheim Borough, Picton Borough, and Marlborough County Council all joined together to create the Marlborough District. Leo McKendry was then elected as the first mayor of this new, larger Marlborough District.

List of Mayors of Blenheim

This table shows all the people who served as mayor of Blenheim:

	Name	Portrait	Term
1	Frederick John Litchfield		1869
2	Henry Dodson		1870–1871
3	George Henderson		1872–1873
4	John M. Hutcheson		1874
5	James Edward Hodson		1875–1876
6	George Fell		1877–1879
7	Frederick Thomas Farmar		1880–1882
(2)	Henry Dodson 2nd time		1883–1884
(3)	George Henderson 2nd time		1885–1886
8	William Douslin		1887
9	George Riley		1888–1889
10	George Houldsworth		1889–1891
11	Elijah Bythell		1892–1893
12	Thomas Horton		1894–1897
13	Edward Purser		1897–1898
14	John Grey Trevor		1899
15	Robert McArtney		1900–1901
16	Richard McCallum		1901–1903
17	William Henry Macey		1903–1905
18	Edward Henry Penny		1905–1907
19	Archie McCallum		1907–1910
(18)	Edward Henry Penny 2nd time		1910–1912
20	John Corry		1912–1913
21	Edward Parker		1913–1914
(20)	John Corry 2nd time		1914–1921
(21)	Edward Parker 2nd time		1921–1925
22	Malcolm McKenzie		1925–1935
23	John Stevenson		1935–1938
24	Tim Smith		1938–1945
25	William Girling		1945–1950
26	Bert Mitchell		1950–1953
27	Ted Meachen		1953–1962
28	Sid Harling		1962–1977
29	Claude Whitehead		1977–1982
30	Philip Taylor		1982–1986
31	Leo McKendry		1986–1989