ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1357, 21 December 1885, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council, and Mayoral Installation, took place at noon to-day. Present —His Worship the Mayor, On Quill, Williamson, Bird, and Sealy. - Mr Thomas Bullock (an ez-Mayor), and the Borough officers were also present. The minutes of the last annual maating having been read and confirmed. His Wonhip the Mayor (Mr R. Friedlander) briefly reviewed the work done by the Council daring the past year. He expressed his appreciation of the compliment paid to him by the burgesses in electing him to the office of Mayor for a second year, and pointed out that he was in- the rather delicate position of having to instal

himself. Referring to the Ashburton Traffic Bridge, he said be was confident this important work would not cost the Borough more than U.,000. The Council's expenditure upon the reserves recently acquired was already remunerative, and satisfactory arrangements had been made in connection with the pound. He regretted that daring the year a num-

ber of Councillors had been compelled by the stringent provisions of the Local Bodies Contractors' Act to resign their seats at the Council’s Board. The relations between the Connell and the Firo Brigade were not satisfactory, but he hoped that at a conference to be held between representatives of the two bodies on Wednesday next an amicable understanding would be arrived at. The Conned was indebted to Or Sealy for the presentation of a number of trees for planting purposes. During the year the Council planted about 4,000 pines and 6,000 willows and poplars within the Borough. During hisjarm of office ha had received the moat cordial support from the Councillors and Borough offi. cials.

Or Sealy, in moving a vote of thanks to the Mayor, referred to. the courtesy and ability he bad displayed la the discharge of the duties appertaining to the Mayoral office. The Mayor had been most indefatigable in bis attention to municipal matters, and his energy and act had secured many material advantages to the Council and tha Boroqgh. Cr Bird endorsed the remarks that had fallen from Qr Sealy, and highly eulogised the dlslqtemfcd eftrioei q{ the Jityor,

The vo«e tu carried by acclamation. At the inv.tetion of the Mayor Ilia Councillors and other gentlemen present v then joined His Worship in a gl*— of*> wioe.

Or WUliamson proposed the health of “ Bis Worship the Mayor.” He referred « to his long commercial and public connection with Hie Worship, end said ha bad never known anything in that. gentleman’s career which would not bear "the ... closest scrutiny. Lsat year he bed. predicted a eoecetefnl mayoral career for Mr Friedlan**or, and this fact cave him particular satisfaction in reviewing - the Metisation of his anticipations. He hoped His Worship’s health, which recently had not been so robust as bis frienda could desire, would|be .completely restored, and enable him -when the time came to take a third term of office. (Hear, hear. The toast was drunk with musioelVP' honors, with cheers for Mrs Friedlander and family. The Mayor briefly responded. He was exceedingly gratified by the evidence of good feeling ex sting between Councillors and himself. He hoped ha had succeeded fairly well in the con doc: of the OoimcUV business. One or two deplorable incidents . hid occurred during*the Council's debates;' but them would happen in the beet regulated families, and he bad always, - when appealed to, ruled with a.desire to ’■ do right and be absolutely impartial.. (Applause). Mr Thomas Bullock proposed the “Ashburton Borough Couuc L” Me thought the borge-ses bad reason to be prone of the Councillors by whom they had been represented during the past seven ye*Tf. He w»s sure no other) borough of the same sue end size in New Zealand'had . tnch favorable results to show. They had done all this without borrowing, and without being burdened by heavy taxation. He could (tea no retaon why, aa the Hnis of reserves increased, the Borough rate should not be reduced to iQdor 6d In he £. In the future be hoped to aee the streets watered, the town belts planted,sodthe stock of it on pipes realised upon and. V the proceeds applied to the reduction of -' the bank overdraft. He referred to the valuable services rendered to the bun .. gasses by Cr Williamson and the Mayosf since the formation of the ■- The to«-t was duly honored. v.'v.' The Councill rs present responded. L Cr Bird proposed the “Ex coupled with the names oi Mr Balloon atjiT / Or William-ton. . • Mr Bullock and Cr Williamson responded Crs Quill pr posed "The Officers of.the Cjudcu,” coupled with 'he names of Messrs Fooks and BraddelL Mr Braddetl and Mr 0.. E. Fooks responded in apprupria e terms. The Mayor referred in feeling terms to the death of ex councillor'Mr K. W. Shearman, and proposed . that a vote of condolence be forwarded to the wid< w of the deceased. Be also proposed that the burgesses he requested to close their places of business during the funersl hoUra tn-. morr -w —ft was resolved to send a letter - , of condolence as proposed, and it was - understood that the places ■of buslneaj:..: would be closed doting the funeral hours,. The toast of “The Dress,” by * Cr Saaly ani acknowledged by Messrs Saunders, Stone. Dune, and Paul concluded the proceedings.