The eighth Mayor of Palmerston North was Mr William Park, who held office for two terms, in 1893-1894 and 1894-1895. He was born at Port Chalmers near Dunedin and was the first person born in New Zealand to become Mayor of Palmerston North. In 1882 he set up a business as a bookseller in the Square. He played a prominent part in civic affairs for many years. He was a fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society (England) and was largely responsible for beautifying the Square Gardens and other reserves in town. Mr W Park became Mayor at a time when the Borough was in financial difficulties, but a curtailment of expenditure and judicious administration greatly improved matters before he went out of office. He died in 1938.