The Municipal Corporations Act, 1867 was passed by the New Zealand Parliament, and this allowed for petitions to the governor for towns to be constituted a borough.
[1] By notice in the New Zealand Gazette on 16 July 1868, Greymouth was constituted a borough;[2] the same day as Timaru.
[3] The boundaries of the borough were defined as follows:[2] All that piece or parcel of land situate and being in the County of Westland, bounded on the west by a line of 160 chains and 80 links [3.23 km], extending from the South Spit along the beach thence along the South Town Belt 115 chains and 50 links [2.32 km]; thence along the East Town Belt 120 chains and 90 links [2.43 km] thence along the Native Reserve, number 31, 41 chains 30 links [0.83 km] to the Grey River and thence along the River Grey to the point of commencement.The area covered by the borough was later extended to the north across the Grey River, and the suburbs of Cobden (effective 1 October 1934[4][5]) and Coal Creek were added.
[8] Within days, it was discovered that according to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1867, three of those councillors had to retire by rotation on 10 September.
[13] At the first meeting of the council in the following week, Masters was elected the first Mayor of Greymouth by his fellow councillors.