The history of the Durban Town Council, 1854 - 1879

Abstract

"The History of Old Durban" by George Russell, a.resident of early Durban and "Fifty Years of Municipal History" by W.P.M. Henderson, a later resident and Town Clerk of Durban, are the only secondary sources available on some of the early history of the Durban Town Council. I acquired most of my information from the documentation of the "Mayor's Minutes" and "Municipal Council Minutes", as .well as "The Natal Mercury" from 1854 to 1879. The bulk of my illustrations are from the Local History Museum in Durban. The English trading system of currency and ass~zing is used throughout the thesis. No offence is meant by the terms "Coolies and Kaffirs", as it was widely used in the documentary evidence of the period r endeavoured to cover.