Installation of Mayor

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 78, 18 December 1890, Page 2

Installation of Mayor

The BdrdSgh" CJotiricil itiet yesterday af noon for the piifpUsi of installing Mtf Vv\ G. Haybittfev Ihe Mayor-elect. Fredent — Mr F. IT. Leihfrridgef the retiring Mayor,- Crs Btttherford? Goodbehere,- J.C. Thompson,- I.- B.- Chatnberlainj and W. G. Haybifrfcle,- the Mayor-elect. Vir Lethbridge" expressed his regret that the whole of the Councillors wertf not in attendance; because he wished ttf say a few words,- arid give some' advictf which he thought., would be serviceable; if followed,- to both the Councillors and!the burgess&s. He", thought it was high time the Council had a suitable meeting place of their own. At pteselit they were paying for the room used for tUe Public Library a aom 1 of £20 a year* a sun* which wotdd pay the interest on £400" which cotfld be expended in putting vp 1 Council Chambers He would recolnmend this to the consideration of his successor. He alsd urged on the Council the? necessity for doing all in their power to* assist in getting a bridge over the Oroua River St Aorangi. He had already brought up this subject in the Manchester Road Board, of which he is Chairman,and would bring it up again ah the next ; meeting of that Board ; but he reminded : the' Council that that body did not seem' willing to undertake the work, therefore* it would properly devolve upon the Council to accept the responsibility. He" also 1 referred to the Kiwitea stream protection works, which should receive the constant supervision of the Council in order to* give them a fair chance, and keep logrf away from them, and also allow the re-cently-planted willows to grow strong.He thanked them for the invariable courtesy with which they had treated him when in the chair. He then vacated the chair. " Mr Haybittle having made the usual declaration was duly inducted' into the" chair. Cr (Joodbehere congratulated Mr Haybittle on the position he now occupied. Cr J. 0. Thompson said he felt confident that Mr Haybittle would be able to fill the Mayoral chair satisfactorily ; andY he complimented him on having been the" recipient of the highest honor which can] be conferred on a citizen . by his fellows.He could not let the occasion pass without proposing, That a hearty vote of thanks of the" Council^ as representing the burgesses* be given to the retiring Mayor, F, Y.Lethbridge, Esq., for his Services during the past year. This was seconded by Cr Rutherford, and carried unanimously— with applause. The Mayor, Mr Haybittle} said that having been elected unopposed to the* position, he accepted that as an indication? that the Councillors and the burgesses had confidence in his ability to icarry out the duties of the office to their satisfatf* tion. He would do his best to deserve 1 their confidence, and hoped that at the" end of his term of office they would have no cause to regret their choice. During his five years service as a Councillor he had often had to vote against proposals made by other Councillors, but he had only done so on public grounds, and for* the public good. : He may have made mistakes, but he always acted in the Council with the best intentions, and he trusted they would pull together during his term of office as Mayor. He expressed his regret that they were tumbler to retain the services of Mr Lethbridger at the Council table, and referred in complimentary terms to the satisfactory conduct of the business under the presidency of the late Mayor. Proposed by Cr Goodbahere, seconded by Cr Chamberlain, Tliafc the Borough Council offices be closed for the Christmas holidays from December 24th to January 2nd,- 1891.- -Carried. The Council then adjourned.