The fifth Mayor was of Palmerston North was Mr Ludolph Georg West, who held office for one term in 1886-1887. He was the second Scandinavian to become Mayor, being born in Denmark. In 1868 he arrived in the Palmerston North District and a few years later went into business as an architect and commission agent. He designed many of the prominent buildings of the early township. After his death in 1919, his son Ernst Vilhelm West continued the family business and also served on the Borough Council.