Political career

As a Councillor, Everett was named as one of several Councillors who voted for the appointment of Joseph Levien

Joseph Levien

John Henry Levien Esquire, JP was a Freemason and Mayor of Nelson in New Zealand from 1875 to 1876.- Political career:...

 in 1875.

Everett was the third Mayor of Nelson, replacing Joseph Levien who died in office. Everett was elected unopposed on 16 June 1876. He was appointed as a Justice of the Peace

Justice of the Peace

A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...

 on 6 July 1876.

On 8 December 1876 Councillor Pickering, on behalf of all the Councillors expressed gratitude to the Mayor for his ability to interpret the Acts of Parliament that controlled the Council's proceedings and conducting the finances of the Corporation. Pickering then asked Everett to retain the position of Mayor for a further year. Everett responded by saying that preferred the office to a rolling one with the holder being changed annually. This reluctance must have been overcome as it was announced by 23 December that Everett had been elected unopposed for a further term.

Everett represented Nelson at the conference of municipal delegates in Wellington in August 1877.

Also in August, Everett sought financial assistance for the passengers rescued from the ship "Queen Bee

Queen Bee (ship)

The Queen Bee was a three masted barque, constructed in Sunderland and launched in 1852. It was used primarily for transporting immigrants from England to New Zealand, having made about 11 journeys before grounding on Farewell Spit in 1877.- Journeys :...

" from other Mayors.

The City Council was required to have fresh elections on 13 September 1877. However, just prior to the election, on 1 September Everett announced his intention to retire from the Mayoralty. In its editorial, The Nelson Evening Mail

The Nelson Mail

The Nelson Mail is a daily newspaper in New Zealand. Founded in 1866 and then known as The Nelson Evening Mail. It absorbed another local paper, The Colonist about 1906.The paper is currently owned by Fairfax New Zealand....

 expressed the hope that Everett could be induced to reconsider because he had undertaken his responsibilities in a thorough and earnest manner. The editorial noted that unlike many Councils he had maintained good relations between himself and Council. In the interim William Waters had taken over the mayoral responsibilities in Everett's place.

Elections were held on 13 September 1877 with Everett being returned as a Councillor with the most votes (347), followed by Gray (337), Levien (331), Little (326), Hopper (299), Webb (274), Bethwaite (273), Tutty (261), Pickering (229), and Harley (207). Everett remained as a Councillor.

Everett was still a Councillor when Joseph Dodson resigned as mayor on 22 November 1881. Waters' fellow Councillors prevailed on to be Mayor for a further term. He agreed and was elected unopposed.