THE CITY COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 8

THE CITY COUNCIL.

A SPECIAL MEETINC,

MOTION OF REG-RET PASSED.

All tie members attended the special)., meeting of the City Council yesterday in connection with the death of tha late King. For the occasion the Coun. cil Chamber was appropriately draped in. purple and black relieved by touches of white. In. addition to fho officers of the council there was a fairly larga attendance of citizens. x The Major (Mr. T. H. Wilford, M.P.) said that the occasion of the meeting was to give expression to the grief felt at the loss of the ruler of the Empire. First of all ho would like to thank the citizens for the as< sistance given him in showing an in« stant recognition of the loss of our ' Sovereign on Saturday last. The reso* lution he proposed moving read aa follows: — "The council and citizens of • Wellington, New Zealand, deeply regret the sad news received, of the . death of our beloved Sovereign." In speaking to the resolution the Mayor said that King Edward's death' was a world's loss and a nation's grief. He was a king indeed. Even those who loved not England , loved ninu When he'ruled, reason occupied theThrone. The abatement of social friction, tho increase of public prosperity; and the expansion and consolidation of the Empire were largely due to hia tact and wisdom, while the advance-' ment of art occurred because she. was a child of his heart.. All olasses loved him because he loved them. It was as peacemaker that the late King would take, his place among the illustrious men of history. Could he to and for the citizens say more, than that they joined with those of other portions of the Empiro in expressing their sincerest ■ grief at the necessity for such an occasion as the present? Politically the late King Edward was a power; socially he was esteemed by all; while in his daily life he lived in the aims and aspirations of his people. Only for nine years had he held the sceptre, yet in that short time he*had done much., The Mayor then moved tho resolution. Councillor Luke,' in seconding the resolution, fully endorsed all that tha Mayor had said. Members of the council signified their approval of the resolntion by standing in silence, the officials and rate-' payers present doing likewise. Before . the meeting terminated tho Mayor remarked that in accordance with the resolntion a cablegram would at once be dispatched to tho Secretary for State. He added that he had thought it advisable'to call the meeting independent of what the Govern* ment might do.