OUR HISTORY – WHO HAS SERVED LONGEST?

Following the Association’s formal business at a meeting within months of its founding in 1922, talk centred on who among Auckland Justices of the Peace had served longest. It was agreed on the day that H. Dunbar Johnson had the honour, having been gazetted in June 1885. John Gemmell subsequently claimed longer service, from 1883. But Robert Hill surfaced, a Justice of the Peace since October 12, 1871, and his claim with 51 years’ service was not disputed. 

Researched and compiled by Ric Carlyon