THE MUNICIPALITY OF GEORGETOWN. 



By Luke M. Hill, B.E., M.Inst.O.E. 

 (Honorary Life Member. E. A. and C. Society.) 



I readily comply with a request from the Editor of " Timehri " to 

 write an article on the Georgetown Municipality, prompted. I have no 

 doubt, by his knowledge of my long association with its administration 

 as one of its chief executive officers. 



My distance from official records will, however, I fear prove a dis- 

 advantage, as in the absence of facilities of reference to them. I can only 

 depend on my memory, aided by some notes of events taken by me from 

 time to time in the course of my official life. 



The older history of Georgetown has already been related by Mr. 

 J. Rodway in "The Story of Georgetown," published as a serial in "The 

 Argosy " February to May. 1883 ; and retold, with some additions, by 

 Mr. Laurie Thomas in two interesting lectures delivered by him at the 

 Middle School. Georgetown, in July and October, 1912, so there is no 

 necessity to repeat it : suffice it to say that the Municipality of George- 

 town dates from the year 1837. when it was incorporated by Ordinance 

 No. 2 of 1837, during the Governorship of Sir James Carmichael Smyth, 

 K.C.M.G., replacing the old Board of Police which had administrative 

 charge of Georgetown up to that date. 



The first meeting of the Mayor and Town Council was held on the 

 27th Ma}', 1837. at which were present the following duly elected Coun- 

 cillors : — 



Hon. John Croal William Bruce Ferguson 



Hon. Hugh McCalmont Alexander Wishart 



J. V. Neddermvn Samuel D. Landry 



Hugh Rogers George Booker 



Henry Howes. 



From amongst these the Hon. John Croal was unanimously elected 

 first Mayor of Georgetown. In connection with this historic roll of 

 ancient and worthy ,: city fathers," it is interesting to note that three 

 grandsons of one of the number are at the present time in the service of 

 the Corporation : also that No. 2 on the list, the Hon. Hugh McCalmont, 

 was a forebear of that well known Irish sportsman and race-horse owner, 

 Colonel McCalmont, now succeeded by his son, Captain McCalmont. 

 owner of the celebrated winner " The Tetrarch " which at the last 

 moment was scratched for this year's Derby ! 



Mr. David Rose was the first Town Clerk of Georgetown ; but at 

 the start there was in addition a Secretary to the Mayor and Town 



