MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1739, 3 May 1906, Page 3

MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

MU TOWN LEY’S SIXTEENTH

TERM,

A special meeting of the Borough Council was held at noon yesterday fur the purpose of installing Mr J. Townloy as Mayor of Gisborno for the sixtaonth time. There wero present: Crs Wbinray, Miilor, Bright, Webb, and Sbo.idau. On the uiotiou tf Or Sboridan Cr Whinray was voted to tbe chair. Tho chairman, in asking Mr Townloy to make the usual declaration, esp essed reg'OC that soma of tho councillors wore I absent, moro ospec ally as tho occasion was tho moat important in tho history of tho borough. Ho was sure that they wore all glad to boo Mr Townloy elected for the ensuing term, ns ha had for years fought strenuously for a wa’or supply for tho town They had had thoir diilorencos or tho schom 1 -, but tho ma'tor ha i barn fairly well settled, Tbo majority must rule, although they were not always in Bo right, and his Worship hid always allowed evory latitude in thoir discussions. There had been soma foeliug that sutliaioct consideration had not boon given to orr-

tain questions raised in tho Counoil recently. Those iuclulod tho leaden joiDts, settling basin, aad reservoir. He did not wish to raise dobstablo questions, but tho matter might bo threshed out at a later stage. It bad been a long fight, and they had various schemes, hut they hai now a good schome, and ho hoped that before Mr Towoloy’s term oxpired ho would sea the completion of tho work. (Applause,) It was art important work that they had undertaken, and no-ono was moro capable or so qualified to bco that it was properly carried out as his Worship.

Cr Bright regarded the installation of Mayor as a social funotion, and would leave out of his roma r ks anything debateable. Ho congratulated Mr Townloy on his election for tbo sixteenth time. Tbe Mayor’s devotion to tho town and publio business was so well known that to say anything further in tho wsy of praise was merely to paint tbo lily and adorn the rose. He knew that it was harder for the Mayor ta listen to praise than to hear an opponent, in the heat of debate, making obarges against him, It would be a publio oalamity if Mr Townloy did not occupy the Mayoral positioo, iu view of tho important works soon to be put in hand. A'l over tho colony Gisborne was g.tting a good Dams for its progress and its possibilities in tbo future, and tbe boon of 6 wator supply would add still further to its

progress. Cr Sheridan said that Mr Townley enjoyed the respect end confidence not ocly of tho Council, but of tbß bulk of the ratepayers of tho town. With tbo waterworks soon to be put through, the ohair could not be bttier filled.

On riaiDg to reply the Mayor was warmly applauded. Ho thanked the Councillors (or their kind romarks, aod said be must congratulate the Council on baviog at last let tbo contraots for the water supply. They bad let them to men who woul i carry the works out successfully, and the iusia'lntiou of tbo supply would give an immense impetus to the progress ol Gisborne. One of the contractors bad even gone so far as to offer to buy the Arai water supply from them, saving, '• If there are any croakers about the place we will buy it from you. We w

take is over from you, supply you with so many gallons a day, and buy it from you.” Tnis showed capable men were ready to assert that it would be a success. Oae contrae'or had said the supply was almost us good as the one Auckland were makiug great preparations to get, Thßy would certainly bave a supply unsurpassed in Nbw Zealand. He hoped every councillor would join ;n carrying the Arai eobeme into effect, fer if tney were fighting ail through he did not know whore tboy would bo. He hoped they would unite as oae man to carry ths scheme through successfully, aud before the eud of his present term of cilice be hoped they would be able to turn the water on. (Applause). In other respects ho was proud that tbo ratepayers had consented that be should .take another teim as Mayor. It showed their confidence, and he could only promise to do the beet he could. The past had been the most important year they had spent together He thanked Cra Whinrsy, Blight, and Sheridan for their kind expressions, aod he knew the absent councillors were away not through any ill-feeling. The ratepayers could look forward to having a very excellent work carried out, and until they had something really tangible before them they ehould not detraot from the soheme. There were misconceptions abroad. One lady had told him that her rats would be £8 a year on a small house. The Council must pursuo its usual course, aod do what they could to conserve 'their means, While they were anxious to build up the town, they did not want to build up an enormous burden.of dobt. When they undertook the harbor works they were to

__ d that they wore ruined. There waa not much ruin stating them in the face now. His Worship hoped the water sobemo would be the means of attracting people to the towD, and that they would have a good year’s growth, In conclusion the Mayor referred to the kindness shown by the press and the accuracy of their reposts. His Worship was heartily applauded upon resuming his seat.