MR. LUKE IN THE CHAIR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1744, 8 May 1913, Page 5

MR. LUKE IN THE CHAIR.

The formal installation of (lie newlyelected Mayor and councillors of the City of Wellington, and tho elect also of tlio suburban boroughs, took plaeo at noon yesterday, when tho retiring Mayers, after delivering farewell speeches, gave place to their successors, ivith appropriate fflicitaUons. Tlio installation of Mr. J. P. Luke at Chief Magistrate of tlio City of Wellington took placo in the Council Chamber, Town JLlall, in tho presence of a largo gathering, which included a fair f-prink-ling ol' ladies. The new councillors wero seated round tho horseshoe table, whilo to the rear of them woro a number of exMayors and ex-councillors, and members of the corporation staff. Mr. D. M.'Laren, the retiring Mayor, presided over tho first; part of the proceedings. The towi\ clerk (Mr. .T. K. Palmer), having formally announced, the election of tho new Mayor and councillors, tho retiring Mayor addressed the gathering. In tho course of his 'remarks Mr. M'Lnren reviewed the principal events of the past hvclvo years of civic government in Wellington, <i period of development which, ho observed, was almost revolutionary in the direction of municipal progress. Councillors had come and gone—ho remembered well the sernoes rendered to the city by ex-Councillors Bell, Biss, Carmichael, Cohen, Devinc, Evans, Hales, Izard, Jorgensaa, Keens, Morrah, 1 Nathan, Slrirteliffc, Wiltshire, Tolhurst,, Winder, Trevor, and Smith, who had served the city well. (Applause.) Those twelve years of tho city's development had witnessed the creation of Greater Wellington, important street improvements, and the widening of tlio principal thoroughfares, tho introduction, of tho electric tramway system, tho extension of the city's water supply, anil drainage systems, the ercction of tho To mi Hall—additions to which wero urgently needed in tho interests of the stuff, and the administrative operai ions of tlio corporation, the purchase of tho elcctric light business ana its extension and improvement, extension of recreation grounds, and baths, and' so 'on. Since 1901, continued tho speaker, tho population, of the city had grown from •l.'i,ti3S to t)G,I3S; its area had increased from 2200 acres to i) 505 acres; the number of buildings had increased from 8192 to 10,211, while tho rateable value had doubled. Tho city had been very fortunate in tho men who had occupied the Mayoral chair during that period. In his'own experience as a councillor, ho had sat under Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, tho Hon. T. W. Hislop, Dr. Newman, olid Mr. T. M. Wilford. It liud always been tho earnest desire of tho Mayors and council* lors of tho city to work for the common good, and whatever their 'differences that ideal had never been lost .right of. Mr. M'Laren concluded by extending to Mr. and Mrs. Luke, the new Mayor and Mayoress, liis best wishes for a pleasant and prosperous year's work, and expressed tho hope that the city would bava no cause to regret its choice of Mayor and councillors when their term of offico expired. (Applause.) _ , Mr. .T. P. Luke, who was attired in bis civic robes, and woro his insignia of offiec, then took the chair, amidst applause. Felicitations of Councillors. Councillor E. Fletcher, as senior councillor, extended, on l»l\alf of the council, a hearty welcome to tho new Mayor, and referred to tho high responsibility of the Mayor's ofliee. Mr. Luke's past experience as a councillor admirably equipped him for his new responsibility, and he wished him every success in tho Mayoral Chair of a city which stood preeminent amongst the cities of New Zealand for municipal development and general efficiencv. (Applause.) Councillors W. 11. P. Barber and .Tolin Fuller, jun., also added their felicitations. Councillor Barber remarked that ono dcsiivjble aspect of Mr. Luke's election was the fact that ho was an excouncillor. There had been only two instances where tho occupant of tho Mayoral Chair had .served an apprenticeship as councillor. The Mayor's Address, Replving to tlio sentiments of the previous speakers. Mr. Luke, who was heartily applauded l en rising io speak, acknowledged the valuable assistance and inspiration which-'lie had received, flow Mrs. Luke. The influence,of the Mayoress in the social side of . civic work was, he said, of tlio greatest, help to the Mayor, and in that connection he desired to Tflfor in terms of the highest; appreciation to tho splendid services which had been rendered to tho city by tho'late Mrs. Hislop during tlio Hon. T. W. Hislop's occupancy of tho chair, and also the public spiritedness shown by the late Mrs. Newman during Dr. Newman's term of ofliee. (Applause.) Tho speaker then went on to review tlio principal matters of municipal work outlined by him in his pre-election addresses, especially stressing the claims of Wadestown to tlio consideration of the pity in tho matter of rates and tramway fares. It should bo a principle of tramway administration that the outlying districts should be given every consideration in tho matter,of faves in order that tho congestion of population within , the city proper might be relieved. He had no desire' to bo associated with any borrowing, or any increase of tho rates. The city was slowly rising out of the recent depression, but prudence and caution wero still necessary, and tho' city looked to the elasticity of tlio rates and the rentals from its leases for an improvement in its financial position; during the comimr year.

With regard to tramway matters it wm his individual opinion that the tramway* should be under (ho control of one man. assisted by n trallic superintendent, and lie said that in no spirit of deroiralon' eviticiun of Iho present Tramwov Jloard.. Tho linkinc-up of (he Constable Street line' with Kilbirnic, anil the modification of the curves round (he Basin jfteservr in accordance with '.ho City hncineer 1 plan?, were matters that ho honed would receive early attention, as well as such matters as the extension of recrcatio! ■grounds, improved'milk *hppljya- superomutation scheme for' the corporotior, s-taff, anil the removal of certain anomalies in the city leases.

The Mayor concluded with an appreciative reference to iho member* of tho corporation sthfl", which, ho paid was unrnuallcd in any city of the Dominion, and nlsn felicitated the retiring Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. M'Laroil).

STANDING COMMITTEES. Following upon tiie speech-making, the council proceeded to the appointment of (ho various standing committees, as under:— Abattoirs, 'Milk Supply, and Public Health—Councillors A. 1!. Atkinson, J. E. Fitzgerald, K. Fletcher, .1. Godber, E. Trcgoar, 1!. A. Wright, and T. C. A. llislop. Baths and Cilv llosorvos—Councillors 0. Frost, \v: 11. Barl)er, L. M'Ken/.ie, I!. A. Wright, M. Luckie, ,W. .1. Thompson, and 11. Muddle. By-laws, Fire Brigade, and Street lighting—Councillor.*; .1. Fuller, juii., J. Uodber, L. MMvenzie, M. Luckie, W. 11. I'. Barber, T. A. llislop, anil W. J. Thonipson. Legislation and Reclaimed Land Leases — Councillors A. IJ. Atkinson, AY. 11. 1\ Barber, James Gcdlier, A. 11. llindmorsh, L. M'Keiizic, 11. Buddie, and T. C. A. UUlup. Libraries-Councillors A. 1!. Atkinson, AY. It. 11.I 1 . Barber, J. Fuller, iun„ A. H. llinilmarsh, U. Tregoar, M. Luckie, ami K. A. Wright. Markets-Councillor* 11. Flelclier, \V, 11, I'. liarbcr, .1. Fuller, jmi. :\. II llimlmursh, K. Tregcar, 1(. A. Wright and T. C. A. llislop. Outlying Districts— Councillor* W. 11 P. Barber, .1. E. .Fitzgerald, (I. Frost. ,1 Fuller, jmi., A. 11. liindmarsh, L. M'io kenzie, and W. .1. Thompson. I'ok'it Slaiion." and Trnni»ay---n>iim:i] Uh's ti. l'lo-l, 1!. Fletener, ,1. K. Filz gerald, A. 11. ItindmaHi, 11. Huddle, ami W. .1. Thompson! 'I'lio chairmen ui' the alwve tolumil(ee\ when elei'tcd. will constitute thu Fin^m-e

Committee, thus ensuring the representation of each of the standing committees on this the most important cunuuittcp of the City Council. MAYORAL LUNCHEON. After tho appointment of the committees, the Mayor ontertained tho new council at luncheon in the Concert Cham, ber. There were also present: Messrs, J. Duthie, Dr. Nowman, M.P., tho Hon. T. W. Hislop, the Hon. C. M. Luke, and Mr. D. M'Laren, ex-Mayors of tho city, several ex-councillors, and the heads oJ tho municipal deportments. Tho function was a very enjoyable one, and after tho luncheon a short toast list was honoured by the 'company. The speeches were brief, and couched in felicitous vein, tho speakers being: Mr. John Duthic, Dr Newman, M.P., the Hon. T. W. Hislop. Councillor 11. .A. .Wright, Councillor J: Fuller, jun., Councillor 'I'. C. A. Hislop, Councillor R. Fletcher, and Mr. D. il'Laren.