AN INNOVATION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14971, 19 May 1914, Page 5

AN INNOVATION.

SPREYDON'S MATORAL INSTALLATION.

Somewhat of m innovation was the installation of the Mayor of Spreydon. Installation functions are generally restricted to members of the Municipal Council and a few prominent male burgesses. The social gathering given iv the Beckenham Hall last night by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sproydon IMr and* Mr s 0. R. Whiting) celebrated not only the Mayoral installation, but also gave an opportunity for social intefcourso between the Councillors and the borough's employees. There was a very good attendance, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was spent, concert items and dancing alternating, and a speech or so thrown in to vary the proceedings. . . In welcoming the guests. Mr Whiting said that last year the Borough Council held one hundred and ten meetiugs, three of them being public meetings. Whilst attending the Council meetings the Councillors and himself were always thinking about their wives-waiting for them at home. Instead of the meeting of the Works Committee that, in ordinary circumstances would have been hold that night, they were holding a social evening. They had paid him the compliment of returning him, unopposed, as flavor after twelve months' trial—(ap-pl-tus-.')—and he hoped at the end of his term to possess their confidence. Referring to tho progress made by the borough during the three years it had been in existence, he stated that i-'3H buildings, valued at .C91.72f>, had been erected, representing an addition to the population of at least WO people, and if the same progress was made in the next three- years it would mean that • population would he increased by ono Every street had been kerbed *nd channelled, and every footpath had been asnhalted. It was frequently argued 'that contract labour was cheaper than day labour, but Spreycion's experience did not- bear this out. The kerbing and channelling had been done at less than l'-l per chain, and the asphalting did not cost more than 30s per chain. He ventured to say that if there was a eontra'ior - present he would acknowledge that thai was excellent work. Ho congratulated the engineer, the foreman, and the workn-en. on that result. He pointed out that the work had been done within the estimate, despite increase'! wages . and shorter henrs. In addition a work not ineludoo in the schedule—the making of the River road (which, when completed, would be one of the attractions of the city)—had been put in hand, and would be completed within the next twelve months. There were three, matters that would engage the attention of the Council and the ratepayers this year—drainarrot. h,i":li nressure water supply, and fire prevention. Mr Whiting also referred to the necessity for a public hall in the district, and remarked that it was possible to secure, in the centre of the borough, a recreation ground of eight or ten acres on a nortion of which a hall could bo

er-jcted. At a later stage in the proceedings, Cr. Windsor, as the senior Councillor, nroposod a vote of thanks !-o Mr and Mrs Whiting, which carried by acclamation, cheers* being aiven for Mr and Mrs Whiting, and "He's a Jolly Good Fellow" being sung. During the evenin" son-is were g'vm by Misses Ebbc + t, Kepple, and Fisk. " vf r<; Gahapan. Masters Cummins and Wright, and Messrs H. Hrwin and Weston ; recitation by Mr Adnams, and a concertina selection by Master D. Campbell. The masters of ceremonies wee Messrs McCracken and Thompson, and tbe music, was orovided by the Messrs Woods. Dancing was kept up till an early hour.