ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1721, 21 December 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

INSTALLATION OF MAYOR, The annual meeting of the Borough Oounoil for the installation of Mayor, and other business, was held at tbe Oounoil Chambers at noon to-day. There «e-e preaent • The Mayor (Mr T. Scaly) and Cm R. Fried Under, H Frledlander. Harrison, Roberts, Thomw, D. Wltliam»on an* Tucker. There were also present, Mr _. Bollook (ex-Mayor), E G. Orisp (Borough Solicitor), 0. E. Fooks (Borough Euglneer) and A. H. Shury. The minutes of the last annual meeting having been read, the Mayor satd that m former years It h*d been tha oustom of the outgoing Mayor to review the work that had been done by the Counoll daring hia year of offioe. However, thtro was no necessity for him to follow this oustom, for tbe reason that daring the past year there had been no large under* takings carried oat. For the two or three years previous to his taking office there had been several large works oarrled out at considerable expense and a consequent increase of the Oouoo l's overdraft, Tha Council's object last year had been more to the direction of patting the finances m order than la undertaking new works. They had succeeded to a large extent, and tbe burgesses should ba pleased at being represented by a careful end eoonomloal Counoll. During the last year the Council had only collected tbe ordinary •hilling rate, yet they had effaeted such a saving m the outlay that the overdraft was between five and six hundred ponndi less than it was that time last year. There would have been a still farther reduction had It not been tbat au unforeseen necessity had arlaen for expensive proteotive works m the riverbed. Some people oondemned this expenditure, saying that It was simply throwing money m tbe riverbed, but he thought that the outlay though heavy was judicious. If they allowed the property that the Borough had acquired at so muoh trouble to ba swept away the burgesses would not thank them and he felt sure that property —the reserve below the bridge containing some forty or fifty aores— would be * pride to the townspeople In a few years henoe. However, In spite of the expense entailed by this work and the ordinary expense Incurred by attending to the streets, tho Urge saving he had mentioned had been effected. Tbls saving was quite sufficient to pay the total ooßt of the steam fire engine which lt had been decided to procure and still leave a balance. That ahowed that the Council had been careful. While on the subject of tho steam fire engine be could not keep remarking that he thought the cost of tbe engine should bB paid out of the ordinary revenue, which he thought oould be done withont difficulty, for he felt strongly that the ratea should not be Increased. H* thanked the members of the Oounoil for the uniform courtesy whioh had been alwaya extended to him, and he also expressed his acknowledgment to the Council's offloera for the assistance always willingly rendered by them. The last offiolal aot he had to perform was to instil the new Mayer whom the burgeisea bad elected to tbe chair after « long term of servioe at the Council. He felt sure that the Counoll would extend the same consideration and courtesy to the Mayor-elect that they had always accorded him, The retiring Mayor then vaoated the ohalr giving Or. Harrison, the Mayor-elect the keya and seal of the Borough and saying that whatever feeling had been evoked by the Ute election he bad forgotten and as far as he was concerned the hatchet had been bailed. The Mayor-eleot then took the- chair and signed tbe customary declaration. Mr Scaly asked those present to join him In drinking the health of the new Mayor. Mr Scaly proposed the toast of " the new Mayor," one to whioh he was sure they would oordially respond, He hoped that at the close of his tenure of office Mr Harrison would feel as satisfied as he (Mr Scaly) now felt. He felt sure from bis own experience and that of other exmayors that the Councillors would asilafe the new Mayor m every way In their power, Mr Harrison had always been hardworking and energetlo ss a Ooaaoillor and It waa only right that he should have a term of office rs a recompense for the duties he had performed. The toast was drank with cheers. The Mayor In replying referred to the pleaaure the kind remarks of Mr Scaly gave him. Daring his term of offioe he would spare no effort to do the work required of him and he felt sure that the assistance of the Council would be unanimously "accorded. He trusted that whea hls term of office was ended Councillors would have nothing to. say of him bat that whioh was kind and generous, and that he would have given satisfaction m regard to the way he had acquitted himself of his duties. The Mayor proposed the health of the retiring Mayor. He was glad that this toast had been placed In his hands so that he had the opportunity of saying a few words The ohalr had been aooorded to. him after a keenly fought battle and be. was extremely gratified at the generona manner In whioh he had been met by Mr Scaly, Mr Scaly had occupied the ohalr with honor to himself and benefit to tha Boroagh and had spared himself no time and trouble m the discharge of his duties. He had been more than once severely put to the test and had always acquitted himself with fairness and discretion. He hoped that In leaving the Chair Mr Scaly _ services would not be lost to the Oonneil, bat that he would consent to sit at the Council table and so give the bargesßCß the benefit of his knowledge and experience. The toast was drunk amid cheers: Mr Scaly returned tha .Ira for the kind manner lo which the toaat had been received. He was glad to think that the Mayor had entirely forgotten the little affair In connection with tha recent Bleoticn ; for his part the hatchet had been burled long ago and be was glad to and that that was also the oase on the Mayor s part. Referring to hia term of jffioe he aaid that he never had any lifijoulty owing to the kind manner In svhioh Councillors had accorded their assistance, (Owlug to the late hour at which the iroQeedlnga terminated we are unable to five the conclusion of the report In thlff Bane)