TypeAgencyDate Range1890-1919DescriptionThe Onslow Borough Council was incorporated in 1890 (under the Municipal Corporations Act 1886) in opposition to an unpopular road tax imposed by Hutt County Council. Its predecessor agencies were the Hutt County Council and the Kaiwarra Town Board. It covered the settlements of Kaiwharara, Crofton [later known as Ngaio], Khandallah (North Ward) and Wadestown, and was named after the Governor-General of the time, Lord Onslow.
Wadestown amalgamated with Wellington in 1906, and the remaining wards of Onslow Borough amalgamated with Wellington in 1919. The areas covered by the Wards and their names varied over time. North and South Wards were created in 1897, then an East Ward in 1899. North began as what is now Khandallah, part of Porirua, part of Kaiwarra, Ohariu and Crofton, and later was only Khandallah. South at first included parts of Wadestown and part of Kaiwarra.
The East Ward took over Kaiwarra, part of the Hutt Road, Porirua Road, and Te Kairanga, and the West ward was Ngaio, originally Crofton. Most of the South Ward (Wadestown) amalgamated with Wellington in 1906. By 1909 another portion of the South Ward was amalgamated with Wellington City and the three remaining wards were named Khandallah, Ngaio and Kaiwarra.
The offices for the Borough were originally in Khandallah (1894) and letter books indicate that they then moved to Kaiwarra. From 1900-1905 they were at 215 Lambton Quay and finally in Ballance Street (1906-1919).
Town Clerks of Onslow Borough Council were J Campbell (1890-1893); Robert E Flaws (Feb-June1894); S C G Vickers, who was also the Borough Valuer (June 1894-99); and H Abraham, who was also the Borough Treasurer, from around 1900 to 1919. Borough Engineers included Grainger Ward (from an unknown date until February 1907); F C Clapcott (1907-April 1910); and Richard Septimus Rounthwaite (1910-1913?).
