City Solicitor

Descriptive Data

TypeAgencyDate Range1863?-Circa 1903DescriptionFrom its earliest establishment the Council required legal services and opinions in order to set up its basic administration and operate its business regarding land, properties, streets and roading. The Solicitor dealt with the full range of legal concerns, from advising on parliamentary legislation and by-laws to dealing with the implications of drainage works on private property.

From 1863 Charles Borlase, a solicitor for the Wellington Province and a Commissioner for the Town Board, Board of Works and then a City Councillor, acted as the City Solicitor. In February 1871 the Attorney General informed the Council that "a member of the Council cannot act as Solicitor", and T L Travers was appointed on 19 May 1871. His duties were described as "consultations, advise generally, and occasional attendance at the Board when the assistance of a Solicitor might be useful in relation to legal points".

After this, solicitors based in legal firms were retained on a contract basis. In 1903 an in-house legal advisor was appointed as City Solicitor, working in the Town Hall building. Even after the appointment of O'Shea the previous solicitor, Martin, was retained for Supreme and Appeal Court litigation.

In the early period it appears that the Solicitor was under the direct control of the Board or Council. Significant office holders: C B Borlase. 1863-71 (Commissioner 1863-70, Councillor 1870-187) T L Travers, 1871-85? Travers and Ollivier Moorehouse, Edwards and Cutten, circa 1885 Thomas F Martin, 1897-1904, Featherston Street.

The early correspondence from the Solicitor was registered into the Town Clerk's correspondence (Series 00233). From April 1889 until December 1906 the Town Clerk's Department created a separate set of letter books for copies of outwards correspondence to the City Solicitor (Series 00299). There is also one later letter book, Town Clerk to Solicitor, March 1921 - February 1926 (Series 00312). The City Solicitor also created its own set of file registers and indexes - Series 00235. Series controlled: 00235 File registers and indexes

Series

Correspondence relating to Bill promoted for widening College Street [Mercer Street]

Agency or Organisation

City Solicitor's Department

Role

City Solicitor

Related Agencies

Successor Agency or OrganisationCity Solicitor's Department

Relationships

Related RoleCity Solicitor

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City Solicitor