James Hamlin Walker (12 March 1862 – 16 September 1944) was a New Zealand local body politician, sharebroker, and earlier plumber. He served as

mayor of Dunedin The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the local government, the city council of Dunedin, New Zealand. The Mayor's role is "to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform c ...

from 1909 to 1910.

Early life and business career

James Hamlin Walker was born in

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; mi, Ōtepoti) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Th ...

on 12 March 1862, the son of Thomas Walker and Helen Walker (née Hay). He was educated privately and at Union Street School. On leaving school he joined his brother to form the plumbing firm Walker Brothers. Walker became a sharebroker and land agent in 1913 and was a member of the Dunedin Stock Exchange. He married Isabel Blakeley in 1892.

Local politics

First elected to the Dunedin City Council as representative for the High Ward in 1904, Walker served as Mayor of Dunedin for a single one-year term, from 1909 to 1910. His period of office included the initiation of an amalgamation between Dunedin City and

North East Valley North East Valley (sometimes spelt Northeast Valley, and often abbreviated to NEV) is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. Geography North East Valley sits in the valley of the Lindsay Creek, a tributary of the Water of Leith and on t ...

Borough. He also submitted a proposal for amalgamation with the Dunedin Drainage Board and was instrumental in setting up a committee for the review of by-laws. He did not stand for re-election. Walker was the first Chairman of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, a position he held for eight years. He led a campaign for the extension of the hospital system in the province, particular with regard to sanitoria. He served as Chairman of the Otago Harbour Board and was a member of the

University of Otago , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate u ...

Council for eleven years. He was a member of the High Street School Committee for ten years and chairman for three. After World War I he was chairman of the committee which raised funds to build premises for the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association.

Other activities

Strongly interested in music, for thirty years Walker was closely associated with brass bands. He was a Vice President of the New Zealand Bands Association. Over a similar length of time he was closely associated with the Dunedin Competitions Society, his various roles including chairman, treasurer, and committee member. He was also involved with musical arrangements for the

New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition The New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition was a world's fair held in Dunedin, New Zealand from 17 November 1925 until 1 May 1926, which celebrated that country and the South Seas. It was the third such exhibition held in Dunedin, wi ...

of 1925-1926. As a trustee and chairman of the Mammoth Art Union Committee, Walker helped oversee the distribution of funds for the improvement of Logan Park. Walker was associated with St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and served as a deacon for many years. He was also a justice of the peace. A keen bowler, he was a member of the Kaituna Bowling Club.

Death

James Hamlin Walker died at his home in Grant Street, Dunedin, on 16 December 1944. He was survived by his wife, a daughter, and four sons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, James Hamlin 1862 births 1944 deaths Businesspeople from Dunedin Mayors of Dunedin