MUNICIPAL COUNCILS

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2126, 16 December 1880, Page 3

MUNICIPAL COUNCILS

CHRISTCHURCH. A meeting of the Council was held Wednesday, at noon. Present—His Worship the Mayor, Ors. Gapes, King, Lambert, Yinoont, Taylor, Cuff, Hulbert, Chorrill, England, and Thomson. The Mayor elect for the ensuing year, Cr. James Gapes, signed the usual declaration ■ jrovided to he made by the Mayor under the Municipal Corporations Act. His Worship the Mayor said it now became his duty and pleasure to invest Mr James Gapes with the chain of office, and to hand over to him the keys of the safe, &c. In leaving the chair he did so with great pleasure, as he was handing oven the rule of the city to one who had had considerable experience in municipal matters. Since Or. Gapes had last occupied the chair considerable changes had taken place, but he felt sure that Or, Gapes would always bring to bear the same zeal, the same singleness and honesty of purpose which had characterised him during his former year of office, ana that he would discharge the duties with credit to himself and honour to the city. Ho had now great pleasure in investing Or. Gapes as Mayor of Christchurch for the ensuing year, and in offering him his very heartiest congratulations. [Cheers.] Or. Gapes then assumed the chair as Mayor. The debtor balance at the bank was stated as being £512 Os Id. The receipts for tho past fortnight were stated as being £937 10s 7d, Accounts to the amount of £IOO 14s Id wore passed for payment. The Council then adjourned till Monday next at the usual hour. At the conclusion of the proceedings, by invitation of the Mayor, those present adjourned to the Mayor’s room, where the toasts of “The Mayor,’’ “ The ;iate Mayor,” “The Staff,” “The ex-Mayors,” “The Chairman of Committees,” “ Tho Auditors,” and “ Tho Press ” were duly proposed and responded to. LYTTELTON. At the installation ceremony, on Wednesday there wore present Ora. H. Macdonald, H. Hawkins, B. Weyburne, J. W. Smith, Mr H. N. Nalder (the borough solicitor), Mr W. H. Eyes (Returning Officer), and Mr Sowden (foreman of works). The town clerk, Mr H. J. Y, Rogers, was prevented from attendance through sickness. Mr Allwright thanked tho members of tho Council for the assistance they had given him in the past. He also paid a compliment to the officers and staff in the Council’s employ. Of the borough’s position he eaid that it was second to none in the colony, and its financial position would tompare favourably with any borough in New Zealand. During the last four years no leas than £6400 had been expended in distributing the water through tho town and largo sums had been spent in drainage works besides the ordinary expenditure. Having taken tho usual oath of office, the Mayor proposed the health of the officers of the Council, to which Mr H. N. Nalder replied. Or. Grubb, in eulogistic terms, proposed tho health of the Mayor, which was briefly acknowledged. Or. Hawkins also made a few pointed remarks, congratulating his Worship on his return to office. Mr H. N. Nalder proposed tho health of the Mayoress, and referred to the many worthy services she performed in looking after the really deserving poor in the tawn. The Mayor acknowledged tho compliment and gave the toast of “ The Press,” which terminated the proceedings. KAIAPOI. The annual meeting was hold at noon on Wednesday. Present —The Mayor, Mr G. H. Blackwell, Ors. Mathews, Pinching, Woodford, and Smith. The Mayor having signed the declaration required to be made by a

newly-elected Mayor, Or. Pinching moved—- “ That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Mayor for the able and impartial way in which be had discharged the duties of the office.” Or. Mathews seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Mayor briefly returned thanks. The Council then considered a letter in reference to the lease of Endowment reserve at Ashburton, when the Mayor and Or. Smith were appointed a deputation to inspect the reserve and report thereon at the next ordinary meeting. RANGIORA. A meeting of this Council was held on Wednesday, at which a majority of the Councillors were present. Or. Johnston was duly installed as the Mayor of the Borough for the ensuing year. ASHBURTON. The annual meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council was held onWednesday. The Mayor said the most important work of the year was the water supply, which had cost £ISOO, including £2OO for pipes and engineer’s commission. Three hundred and thirty chains of concrete channelling had been laid down at a coat of £670, and, after doing many smaller works, they now had a credit balance of £390, whereas they were £470 in debt when he took office. The borough’s income for the year had been £3036 19s 7d, all of which had been spent on various works. Ho thanked councillors for the assistance they had given, spoke in complimentary terms of the officers of the Council, especially the engineer (Mr Eooks), and regretted the resolution passed at last meeting, which he was afraid would have the effect of severing Mr Eooks’ connection with the Council. Or. Bullock said he wished to express his admiration of the manner in which the Mayor had administered the business of the, Council during the past year, and moved—“ That the Mayor take the chair for the ensuing year.” The motion was carried unanimously. A discussion took place with regard to the application of the Bank of New Zealand to be allowed to build additions in wood to its present building, and it was ultimately resolved to defer the question for the purpose of considering the alteration of the by-laws. The meeting then terminated.