MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6496, 22 December 1881, Page 6

MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

CHRISTCHURCH. lb- installation of Mr BoddenkDo w Mover of Christchurch took place y©#twrrt*.r rt iVma. **he following were present :-D»« fie Mavor (Mr J. Gapes) »ni the chair. Coi.n«Uora Aver*. Bidiop. Lnwnt, H eras. Louisson,’Bowman, Trrlesven, Otff, Hulbert, Thomson. England, and Humbert. Aft?r the minute* of ‘be I" 1 * 11 *'*,? tike Coaned had been confirmed, Mr Kudden kUu msdc ihe iteual declaration. The late Mayor then transferred the Mavoral Chair to the preiwt Mayor, exDfoising his pleasure in doing so, and leaving Sm the legacy he had done to Mr Thomson, vis., lo get'the private street# threoghou. the oily brought into a proper state. Much had vet lo be dose, and he hoped the new Mayor, p “ retiring from office, would bate the vatisUrtioa of knowing that he left In* whoh- of the city in • thoroughly good sanitarv condition. (Applause.) ~ Mr Huddcnkhw took the chair vacated by, Mr Oaprs. sr.-i presently r#mg aodroesed the Oouncil as followsl confess I M some diffidence in taking this chair for the Br#l time- I kww the rasponribiliues of the p«nHen- which are very great indeed, but I f#el sura that I shall have yonr support in keeping up the dignity of, and the respect due to, she cljur. 1 need not say much just now, as afterwards 1 shall have u» ray more. I Uiaofc you for having placed me in this pcMUcti, and tbepacur work will be fraught with good rMsdra to the trust imposed uion us. (Hear.) beict eo other butinc**, ihe declared the Council adjourned. A! the invitation of the Mayor, those prerant remained to lake a gW» of champagne j and toe following toast* were drunk s Mayor, I 'proposw by the ex-Mayor; ‘The es-ilaror, Mr (Hpra," proposed by the Mayor, and spoken to by Councillor* Thomson, Hulbert, Caff, Bishop, Riores, Ayers, VicowEt, Twleaven, ex-M*jor Hobbs, Councilor Lcaissoa, and Councillor Lambert j « fhc oSeers of the Councilproposed by ex-May or Gapes.

BYDENHAM.

The annual meeting of the Sydenham Borough Council for the purpose of the iustaliatioa of Mayor, was held at noon jesterdayj present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr Brown) and Councillors Hail, Joyce, White, Ktcholl, and Webber. Apologies ware mode for the non-attendance of Councillors Forrester and Andrew.

Hi* Worship explained that the meeting had been called in compliance with the Act for the purpose of installing tho Mayor elect, send, he had much pleasure in eallmg on Councillor Joyce to make the usual declaration. Councillor Hall said that before the cereBsoDT commenced he had a resolution to propose, which he had oo doubt would be unanimously agreed to. It woe as follow#— “That the members of the Sydenham Borough Council beg to express their thanks for, ar<d appreciation of the kind and canaid crate manner with which his Worship the May -r, John Thompson Brown, Ekj., has for the past t»o years presided over them, and now that he it about to vacate the chair, they hereby present, in all sincerity, the parting'wish that he, Mrs Brown and family may enjoy many year* of health and happiness.” Councillor Joyce had much pleasure in seconding the motion. He had always felt mat pleasure in being associated with bis Worship in the Council, and he was sore he wu speaking the sentiments not only of the OoaodHor# present, but of those who were absent, when he said that they would heartily sodom what he had said. The motion was then earned unanimously. Hi- Worship said he must say a few words in acknowledging their kind expression of good withe* towards him, which he knew was • since re one. -So oS:e or responsibility bo had ever held had been more cheerfully embarked in and carried out by him than the one t e was j cst about to vacate | and this had been owing to the agreeable and pleasant manner in which the members bad always v-ieJ, He really did think—and he said I*. cot as a common place remark, usually mode o : ~ such creations, but from a sense of AMmc.ion, hr thought that there bad been an absence of that “jarring" element in the Oaurfil which had obtained such on odious same i-r k» smut other public bodies. There had been free expression of opinion and foil atii-j j: •.i vet sharp discussioos os matters brought I? fore the®, but *o toon as a question war oWidt d, r.c amaict remained, the minority chwfi.-I'T submitting to the majority. In rvl«r': .»f to the Borough itself, bethought Uwy all ought to be thankful for the put and for the future. Although they had, perhaps, not accomplished so much hm they would with on account of the co-j.r eze-ial depression cf the past three itm, yet he hoped times would ieoprf" <% -..-. i tr.ey would be enabled to turn their a', tent toe to the raising of a loan for public meek* throughout lb® Borough. He i. u.t«i them for their kind expressions ftt'.usp, end with hi* best wishes for the f'iUtrr {iro«perity of the Borough, be would ►or to Ahem good-bye and God speed them t«- thnr work. (Applause.) Councillor Joyce, the Mayor elect, then read and signed the usual declaration, which was attested by the Councillors present. His Worship (Mr Brown) said bo bad now great, pleasure in welcoming Hr Joyce to the swot, he then vacated.

The r*«*ly elected Mayor then took his •eat, and on rising said lie could scarcely find words to express nil feelings for the honour that had Wen done him. What he valued most aas not so much the mere position of Mayor, but the confidence which 8000 or QtKfO people had reposed in him in allowing hi® to b* elected! without opposition to a position of great trust. He expressed a hope that the Councillors would aid him in mamtames the dignity of the office of Mayor of Sydenham which had attached to it under his two predecessors, Messrs Booth and Brown, upon whose terms of office they could look with pleasure. He thought the Council owed great responsibility to the people of Bydenbato, and upon its action would depend whether they advanced or retrograded in the mareh of progress and kept up with other places. Difficulties were before them which they should he prepared to meet. So long as the Drainage Beard imposed such a heavy rale, which was banging like a millstone round their necks, he w»# afraid they would not be justified in borrowing money for Birough work*. He wished to mention the responsibility that had been placed on the people of Sydenham under the new licensing Act. One of flu provisions of that Act was that they should elect Commissioners to form a licensing Bench. He might e»y in passing that ho thought the Act would lead to increased taxation, seeing t'-.sl there would bo considerable expense in working it, no less than 800 licensing districts being constituted throughout the Colony with fire commissioners in each, or a total of 4000 commissioners to be elected. Uoweier, although the Act might need amendment, they would have to work coder it, and lie hoped the inhabitants of Sydenham would see to it, and elect a Bench who would not be willing to bare the distiict over • run with public houses, and produce the wretched state whi-h

existed in several towns whero such

»H the ca»r. He hoped to see the * Borough Bclioal enlarged, and a Public Library erected, and would like the School Committee to haw greater power* conferred upon them. He wished to thank the rate* jay or* and also the Council for permitting ikizti ti occupy the position he did that day. (Applause.) It w»* resolved that the Council's workmen should be allowed a holiday on Boxing Day and Jan. 2, and the Council adjourned to Jan. 4,1881.

LYTIELTON.

A special meeting of this Council was held #1 noon yesterday, lor the purpose of iotUl* ling tie Mayor clvctj present—-Hie Worship the Mayor, Mr 12. ill wright, Councillor* M'Donald, Stinson. Webb, and Bmith,

Tee various officers of the Council were tiro prmat.' Mr AUwrigbt signed tbe declaration a*

Mavor. He raid It had not U« hw fatoo* lioo to «mK re-election a* Mofor this ye** many rvMOM, and he had hoped l \ %{ *? m f‘ on? of the 0 unci! hating exrerienM in municipal matter* wornd hate come lorwartf. He wa»><*weter, p«od of elected, and he m#t ray •{•* * h « fulfilment of the duties of the owe* fiuted a comtderaWe wusriflw of a *«««* time. He had hop'd to he able to hatetakeo a holiday thl* ye*r, hut it had been the with of the hurgevra* that ht should «"e a|gß »« Mayor, and he would todravour <odte eha-ge the dntie* of the office to the beat of hi. ability, and the wU.faetion of the burgessra. He had to thank tha|ou««»lo» for their hearty co operation and fn carrying out the dime* o he tJ«S feeling aure that had he not It*;I their amtUnc? he could never have fi W the office #o aatiffaclotily. Mr AUwn|hl eon* sidered that as much credit »« d"eto»he member* of the Oouncil aa to htmtelf for the hichlr creditable portion of the Borough, and that the hearty thank, of the h«W«£ were due to the members of the Council. Ho mutt take exception to a remark wade by hi* opponent in the Mayoral election, that ho *M supported in the election by many pereoni who hoped to hare some picking, from l.io Borough during th« year. Ho mlaht .ay that it was well known to every one that the work of the Oouncil was fairly and honertly given and competed for, and he wae very torn that a member of the Council should have made such a remark, a* ' H »»• • reflection an the Council generally. He had been naked by ««wal burgeweii to mention this mailer, and regreUedl exceed ugly that bo had can?? lo do «o. Mr AUwright .aid he would not refer to the worn done by the Council or to it* Handing, which ho considered «m pre eminent. He might perhaps refer to these waller* at some other time. He again begged to thank the Council for the asnrtance given him, and hoped that the coming year would be a* aati.factory a ono to them and the town generally as the past rear had. . * Councillor M'Donald congratulated Mr All wright on his re-election, considering that he was eminently qualified to fill the office. He contended that the Mayor should ba a man of experience in town matter*, and he did not know any ono who would have given «o much time to the business of the Borough as Mr AUwright . Councillor Smith also congratulated the Ifaror on hit reflection* adding that acteral individuals had been asked to name forward to fill the office, but all had declined. He was not in favour of the office of Mayor being held successively by ono individual, but considered it neocssary that it should be filled by some one of considerable experience in Municipal affairs. He wished it to be understood tbit his remarks were not disparaging to Councillor Webb in any way, only he thought the burgesses had returned the test man for the office, and congratulated the Mayor accordingly. Councillor Webb failed to aw that the Borough was in such a grand position, eseing that the receipts for the pa*t year had amounted to over £6OOO. Ho certainly did make the remark that many persons supported Mr AUwright solely in hope of being able to make some pickings out of the Council, and lime would Drove that he was ri.-ht Ho failed to see that be was so inexperienced at it had been sought to make him out, and felt certain that at ro;re future time he would he returned as Mayor without seeking any assistance from the members of the Council. Mr Webb considered that had it not been for the efforts made by the Oouncil Mr AUwright would not have been returned as Mayor. Ho would not then refer to several proceedings in regard to the Mayoral election, to which he look great exception, but he might refer to them at eome future time. Ho bogged fo congratu* late Mr All wright on his re-electicn. The Mayor then bad some champagne put on the table, and the following toast, were proposed and duly honoured:—“Th. Borough Officer..*’ responded to by Mr EL J. V. Rogers j “The Mayor and Mayoreat," and the “Representatives of the Press," the latter responded lo by Messrs 0. Leys and W. H. lance. The meeting then adjourned.

KAIAPOI

The annual meeting of this Ccuccil wm held in the Ooooetlroom, Eabpoi, yesterday, at noon j present His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Blackwell), and Councillor* Pinching, Moore, May, Fraser, Stanton, Mathews, Parnham, Woodford, and Smith (the Mayor elect). The Mayor stated that they had met in accordance with clause 70 of the “Corporations Act, 1676,” for tho purpose of installing the new Mayor. The Clerk then read the minutes of the last annual meeting, which were confirmed. The Mayor elect (Mr Caleb Smith) then took tho usual declaration, and the late Mayor installed him as Major, and handed him the key of the safe containing tho seal of the Council. The late Mayor (Mr Blackwell) thanked the Council for the way he had been supported by them during hie term of office.

The new Major thanked Mr Blackwell for the kind waj in which he had spoken of him. All bo could eaj was, that be should endeavour to carry out the works of the tows, and would try and conduct the business of the Council in as impartial a mac* ner as the late Major bad done. He then invited nUjpresetil to join him in drinking a “ Merry Christmas and Happy Hew Year,** which was done; and the meeting terminated.

BANGIORA.

Yesterday, at noon, the annual mealing of ibe Bangiorm Borough Council to instal the Mayor wa# held, but as Mr Johnston hod been re-elected, there did not appear to be any interest taken in the ceremony. The Councillors present were Messrs Burt, Good end Crotbcrs. Ur Johnston having made the necessary declaration, expressed hie thanks for the confidence the burgesses had again reposed in him, and said he should continue to act in the came manner as ho had hitherto done, and congratulated the Council on the harmonious manner in which their business was conducted. Tenders were then opened for work on White street and footpath near the West Town Belt, and one in each ou« was accepted. The meeting, which bad been hurriedly assembled {as wee shown by the fact that one of the Councillor* was present in hi* shift •leeves), then adjourned.

ASHBURTON

Yesterday, at noon, the whole of the mem* her* and officers of the Ashburton Borough Council met in the Chamber* to bear the leavetakiug of the old Mayor and see the new one in*tailed. After acme routine preliminaries, the *xMayor (Mr Huro Friedtaoder), who pretided, taid, in the language of an old Scotch writer, “ The hour had come—and the man," and be (the speaker) yielded to them gracefully. He had now tern for two term* Mayor of Ash* burton, and during those years it had hern to iiim a work of great personal pleasure to labour for the welfare of the ratepayers, and although one could not hope to be perfect, he wa* not shut out from cherishing a hope that he had dona hi* duty while ia the seat of honour in their midst. Taking a retrospeo ti»o view of the work done by the Council, be we* sure they would agree with him that the Borough's money lad been judiciously spent. They could not comply, for want of funds, with every petition that had been pro* rented to them tor work that was asked to be done j and though some may have fended themsclve* overlooked when they found that all their was-.ts were notation tied to, it would be conceded that the more pressing works bad been done, and that In giving preference public convenience had always been con* sidered. But in ail the works undertaken the Council had economically borne in mind that there woe a Considerable overdraft at the Bank, and that this had to be kept within moderate limit*. At a time like the present it was a* well that they should look baok

over their work, and see what they had actually done. He, therefore, look the opportunity of summing up what he had seen done since he look that chair, and the figure, were mlerc.ling, 145 chain, of footpaths and sltert* hid been re-formed i the two hells had been formed and metalled to the extent of 100 chains, and there had been very many sluv t !<" gib* of footpaths formed end improved l>v the Borough*, men Mona square had been fenced end ploughed and otherwise improved. About 50 chains of asphalt pavement had been laid down, while 101 chain# of cement clmnlo iting had been laid. He would also notice the Introduction of the Bradley asphalt channelling, which hod *o far proved a decided success, ami the speaker hoped that every encouragement would he given lo the new imlus* ry. flic introduction of the water channel*, with their sumps put down el intervals, had been a wonderful saving lo the town, a* iwrt !Ir<-* had proved. The Mayor then referred ro the outfall drain and concrete sewer of 31 chain# length, and wont on to say that the benefit to the sanitary arrangements of the Borough given by this work could not be calculated. Ho then referred lo (he number of rc.erve# owned by the town, and these, properly managed, would pul the future burgeeie* heyotil lira necessity of any extra Uxaliftn. After, a reference to the proposed purchase of lira gas works, and the exchange of the western half of Baring Square—both of which movements he had yielded up in deference lo the wishes of the rat epayers, I hough not a majority of them, the speaker went on to sjraak in high term# of his successor, and concluded hv asking him to receive t’ra Borough Seat Key. and take his seat as Mayor of the Borough.. Mr Fricdlandcr then invited those present to refreshment, and the healths of lira old and now Mavor* having bsen drunk, and those of the’officers, suitable acknowledgments were made and the Council .adjourned.

TIMARU.

Tho on mu! meeting of this Council ni held at »ooj» ye»lcrdny; present His Worthin tho Mayor, Councillors Jackson, Bom, Filmcr, GaSitce, Cullman and Shop* herd. Tho To»n Clerk submitted the annual statement of accounts, and Hie Worship the Mayor stated that tho debit balance at the Bank of New Zetland was £150012t 7d. As against this debit balance the Council had available assets in the shape 2750 yards broken metal, value JJt‘63 I2« 7 dso a sum of £505 6i to receive from Government, as a refund of tho amount paid to Mr Rhodes for land taken near the viaduct at Whale’s Creek, it would be seen from this slatemeU that tho available assets amounted to £1473 17s 7d, leaving a debit balance of only £26 15s. When he (the Mayor) took office in August, 1870, the debit balance at the general account was £2771 lls 9d, lees a water works credit of £250. It would thus be seen that a debit of £2221 lls 9d hod been reduced in two years to £26 15*, and tho ordinary works in the Borough had been carried out in tho meantime. (Applause.) On the motion of Councillor Jackson, seconded by Councillor Boss, tho balance sheet, as submitted, was received and adopted. Councillor Jackson then moved a hearty vote of thanks to his Worship tho Mayor (Captain Suiter) for the very able and efficient manner in which he bad discharged his duties as Mayor during the past year, in proposing the resolution, Councillor Jackson paid a very high tribute to his Worship for his earnestness in working for the good of the Borough. A mare hardworking and pains* taking Mayor he was certain never presided over any Council, and fas was exceedingly pleased to tee that Captain Sutter was about to occupy the Mayoral choir for another year. (Applause) Councillor Boss seconded tire motion, and in doing so he said that tho Council and the townspeople hot reason to feel proud that Captain Sutter hod again consented to preside over municipal affairs. Captain Sutter had plenty of time at bis disposal, and he had always used that time coupled with his own business ability in devising and carrying out measures which had placed Timaru in the pre-eminent position which it now occupied. motion was pot and carried unanimously. The Mayor thanked the Councillors for the very flattering resolutions they hod just passed, and he felt pleated at tho hearty expression of goodwill which had been manifested towards himself. He woe proud to bo able to say that since he bad taken office as Mayor, Municipal matters had gone on without a single hitch. It was unfair to attempt to give him all the credit for tho succeie which had resulted from tho efforts of the Council. The amicable and friendly feeling which had always existed between Councillors and himself wsa the real reason of their tuccoss, and for that success Councillors were equally deserving of thanks. The Mayor elect then made the declaration required by the Municipal Oorpomtions Act, and be was duly iciliated as Mayor for tho ensuing year. The business of tho Council was then brought to a close by the reading of the minutes.

HU Worship then invited the Councillors end Messrs R. A. Chisholm, T. Plante, W. Evans, J. Dobson, and K. G. Kerr, who wore present by invitation, to partake of a champagne luncheon. The following toasts were proposed : " His Worship the Mayor," proposed by Mr W. E*«nsi “The Town Clerk," proposed by the Mayor, and responded to in a neat speech by Mr Lough i *• The Bankers of the Council,” responded to by Mr R, A. Chisholm, local manager of the Bask of Bew Zealand i “ The Borough Council," by Mr Chisholm, responded to by Councillors Jackson and Gibson t “ The Press," responded to by Mr Kerr j and "The Insurance Companies, responded to by Mr W. Evans. The proceedings then terminated.