BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1584, 17 December 1885, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

YESTERDAY,

[Continuation of Report.] Mr Ferguson having gone through the customary form of declaration, was duly elected Mayor for the ensuing year. Mr Linton the retiring Mayor said he had much pleasure m introducing Mr Ferguson to the Council. In parting with the Cm he might state that his term of office diving- the past year had on the whole heen a pleasant one. Thera was more cause during the past year for congratulation inasmuch as they had attempted more m the shape of a loan and had so far succeeded. He would leaveall the Crs m the very best of feeling. If any harsh word had heen spoken by him m the heat of argument, he hoped it would be overlooked m the sams way as he had forgotten anything of the kind which might have occurred with other Crs. He felt justified m saying that the success of the loan was a certainty ; every step requiredhad been taken, and the matter was now bo far j advanced that all necessary documents were m the hands of the printer, and also that he believed there was not the i slightest doubts m the minds of those who had taken the matter up that its success was assured. He waa very glad the offer to supply the town with gas had come m the manner it had. It showed plainly the opinion the leading people of Wellington had formed of this town and its future. His successor, Mr Ferguson, would be likely to experience better times during his term of office. The loan scheme would be m operation, also the lighting of their town with gas, the railway communication with Woodville, and erection of the Gorge Bridge. There were evidences of extensive alterations m the township, which would be m" a far more progressive state during the coiaiup twelvemonth than it had for the I past three rears. He would always be glad to asssist the Council m any manner possible, and if ever he should be re | quested to sit at the Council table again ! hewould if m health, gladly come forward and share m the public responsibility. He had great pleasure m introducing Mr Ferguson to them as Mayor for the ensuing year. Mr b'erguson said he might honestly state that he believed no man ever entered on public life more reluctually than he did on this occasion, but he recognised the fact that every man should take a part m the performance of these duties, and he hoped he would always be supported m acting consistently m the interests of the ratepayers. They had returned him to the office, and he would endeavour to act on their behalf with an important and unbiassed judgment. He labored under a certain disadvantage m as much as that he was succeeding three such excellent men who had held office before him as Messrs Snelson, Linton, and Jen*sen. It was admitted by all that these men had worked well on behalf of their town, and even m outside townships he had frequently|heard their names mentioned m thft highest terms for the manner m which they pushed the town ahead. He had sat at the Council table some six years but had not been a | Cr for the past 18 months. There were some misapprehensions he believed, outside, as to the part he would play as Mayor. He had heard it stated that he would be a mere puppet m the hands of the Crs. If such imagination were indulged m by anyone hie could only say : they should have got someone else to act as puppet. He, at least, would have the courage of his opinions, whilst he sat at that table. Since he had sat at the Council table, there had been a good many changes. The borough had been at that time represented by one body of councillors, now eacli ward had its individual members to represent it. No Cr should do anything* on behalf of his ward that would not benefit the borough as a whole, and as he had been elected by the whole of the burgesses he would have to act m their continued interests, and not m the interest of anyone portion. He thought it spoke volumes for the friendly relations existing between the Council and those gentlemen who had held office as Mayor before him, ihat they should have been returned year after year as they had. Mr Linton, he believed, three or four years, Mr Snelson the same. They might depend that on all occasions inside and out of the Council, he would be courteous to everyone, and strive to act at all times." for the public good. "When his term of office expired he hoped to be ma position to introduce his successor to the Council with remarks characteristic of that good feeling which had existed between the Council and its late Mayor,* and which he trusted* would be continued during the ensiling 12 months. Cr McNeil stated that he believed their late Mayor had the good wishes of, all the public men m the town, and hs would like some of the older Crs present to en - dorse the vote of thanks which he proposed should be accorded to Mr Linton. He had during the many times he had' held office acted moat conscientiously^ and disinterestedly on behalf of the ratepayers, and had put himself to considerable personal incor>renien«e on many occasions m order to bring about a successful issue. Cr Hawkins had great pleasure m speaking to this motion ; he had always | found their late Mayor to bo a shrewd, practical, and common-sense man of business and m his position as Mayor of their town be had always done the very best he could for them, and had done outside services which should be placed to his credit now and m the future. Cr Rush said he would like to pay a tribute to Mr Linton. He had alwayg found him to be a first-class leader m affairs of dispute, and was endowed with that discretionary power necessary to a person holding the position he did. The Mayor (Mr Ferguson) endorsed the well wishes of the Crs tendered to his predecessor m a few words, and the retiring Mayor (Mr Linton), suitably responded. N The meeting then adjourned.