THE INSTALLATION OF MAYOR.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 102, 20 December 1879, Page 2

THE INSTALLATION OF MAYOR.

According to the provisions of thelHunicipal Gorpomtibn3^A.ct, ,tka^fneaihei'3 of tlie Borough Counfil of Pulmerstqn North 1 met together on Wednesday nigtit — being the third 1 - Wednesday in December — for thepurpose of installiugthe M'ayor-electfov the coming year in his qfiijial , position. When -lho proceedings opened,. tliere'*y ere .ppeseht. His Worship (Mr. Snehon) and Councillors Linton, Jenssen, Roe, Ferguson, I£ißgj and Coleman: ; . ■ • •■- Tlie GHAIB.MA.2f said , that as no doubt Councillors were aware, they had been called together to take part 'in' the installation of the Mayor for the ensuing year, but before proceeding to perform that duty for his. successor, he woujd like to say a few words with regard to the orogress . of the borough since its establishment. Since Paimerston had the honor of being created a town, on August 13th 1877, there had been £1882 expended on the construction of streets, foothpaths, drains, &c, ? of which. £860 had been raised by debentures. That value was represented by 147 chainVof inetajled roads, 44 chains of metalled fcjotpaths, 5-4 Qhaiu@ of formed streets, .and 360. chains qf atifbetß cleared of thV bush. r^he impyovemepte in the Square had been effected at a cost of £696, the drainage alone costing £196. Since the formation'of tlie borougji, the maintenance of the streets,' &a, had' amounted to.£69Ej 10s., while the value of debentuyes issued for. the streets was no less than £860!. For the provision of Municipal Buildings a sum qf £500 had been expended. The works for which debentures have been issued, are as follow : In Gteqrgeptreet eleven chains had been formed and metalled ; Cuba-street had been formed and the centre metalled for forly chains : one. hundred and forty -four chains on the Bo^pdary Road had Jbeen fallen and cleared the cen|re of Main-street had been formed ; and inetalled .for twenty chains'; while the Square had been levelled and fenced, the streets graded, and the sides metalled. A por'tiqn'of the Town Reserve, granted by A!ct of Parliament lib the mayor, councillors, and burgesses of the borough, has been felled and let by auction to two tenantsMessrs.' Edwin Bi'iglitwell, and H. Wollerman—and idealises a rental of £95 per annum, the purchasers of the leases having paid a bonus amounting tq.iili6 IQ£. The cost of falling the" bush and farming I"ark Road, and a small expenditure on the portipii reserved for recreation pijrposes, amounting in the aggregite to £/83,' was advanced by the Bank of New Zealand, by arrangement upon bills drawn by Councilors.' Of this'sum £483 : had'beWgaid. off,' partly by the'proceeda bf the sale of leases .06 tlie portion otthe Reserve on the east, side of Fitzherbert strqet, which realised £142, and. of which ,£276 ss. lias already become available, and has been used with the rent falling, due, .aud an ad vaiico fr.q'm' the general abcount of iiiOl 4s. in liquidating the aforesaid sum of £483. Tht, balance will bepar ; tiivlly provided for by the balance' of the proceeds of the sale of the leases, .arid tlie l^nt to fait due, but there will be a deficjifof about £.75. TheJgrqW amount of ■\iabilijiies, including the oyerclrafl 4 at, the .bank was £1690 11^ '§d., : which; addfe'd to ike deficit of amount cfue on rbservesrbcfore alludeal to, brought up the whole to a graud total of £1765' U5." 3d. - To provide for tliose liabilitibs there would bor'an asset iii the shape of a return from the ruserr«s; of ;£217 7s.*; moiety of subsidy, £.207 105. lid." rates unp.iia, £.150 ; rents .to' be rei'eiverl, d527 rS^'.'Qdi 5 which together with th^bjin^. overdraft allo'wo.d, brouglitthe assets up id - £1077 lls. Bd. 'To shovy in what manner the present inclobteclness of the' Council had been'iucureed, lie might gb?6 the following analysis j" Amount taken^ over from the Lo-, caTßoard, £300'; advanced for Square- improve'mements, £100.; cost o£ prinfcipg debentures, £31 103.';- drainage- 'Von, Square, £153'; advance lo reserve, £217; total £801 -lps. To the reverse, however, of what might appear a ; somewhat gloomy, ijrospect^ ■ he might be allowed to point out 'tli'o^iiiarinei* ' in which the town had progressed since : its birth. During the first nine months^ its existence, in 18 a7-78, the receipts' weWionly £.36Q ; the following vear they had ri3qn to £.1100 ; and for the first half year of 1879', the rates wer6jid less. thau*^7so,, oi v shq> r -~ ing a prospective increase of £100. It could not. 'he" cle^nied that like other corporate bodiel th^y had been travelling pretty -fast stilL lie would make bold to assert that the money had been judiciously expended, and that'the improvements and progress in the town fully represented |;he ;outlay. He could see that tho ppeseiit position of the pouhoil, would demand defermirfecjl r^trenchin^nt, and in a great 'measure t*h«> stopping of public works. While dealing with, the assets of the borough, he might point out that f during the past week the Ealmerston North 'Reserve Bill had passed', its/ third reading,'and was now law. |By that Act the Md.yor, Councillors, and bxiirgesses q£ the • t(swn wern iiiade possessors' of a valuable piece of ground at Teri'aca End, up^n which the ; Hospital Btanda, and for which purposes it had "been granted. • H>> thousfht lie had now given them a pretty tail I ' outline of the position of the borough financially, ' protectively, aiid p^'Ogcessiye/y, hut; before prpebeding to "install 'his buoqessor, he would ask leave to make a few remarks upon a p'erspniil njatter! He begged to o^er his most §incei"D tnanks it.cr thq members of the Council both ihdiyidually and collectively, for thq /able ; and earnest aksistanee whicl| he ; had rapQived during his tenure of office. In pert'qr.inin'g its functions aiiiV carrying out- it3 duties, il was more than possible ho might on some occasion or, other have said sqmefching whiwh might no^ ha'va bean quite pleasant. If such had bean the case, and any C^ujicjl])r hadfftlt "aggiueved the'-eby, he trusted " it would he F.orgiven, as he would not wish to sever his connection' while such a' filing existed. Ho woiild now p^i'oceo.d to. induct his successor inlo the Mayoral 'Chair, arid he trusted that that gentleman would meet with the sam.e amount of cordial ep-opera-tioh as he had received during his term. o£ oflk-o. ■" • " ' % v '"' Councillor Lixtojt then read the fpllow,ing doplarivtion : — " t, James Lirifcpn, ' do so\eamly cb^N-' that I will fjiithfully and impartially; xix\\ apl-ording to fche/ beat of ray Jskill and j udgmeiit,. execute the. powers and auc.l\oritias : vedttid in "me ns Mayor of the B.orough of Patinar'slnn Norsi, inivirfue of 'Tiio Munioipal Corporations',. 445, 187 r 6/ ■ • •■'* .. !< '?'. ' '' * . ■ -- 1 "JfAipa , LippK. "Witness— Qeorge Snelaon, ' "Mayor." ■■■;.-, • Mr. Snolson.'was then about -to vacate^ ;^he Chair, when : vTJie Maxoe begged him to retain it while he.tnadft a few remarks. It would be seen from what had faflpn frqm ; ; his processor that there was Y^ry-litbl^chance of much public works beitig •pVodecuf e'd . 'diivinj^ the coming year ; and asftirsw he "coulp see, it wpuld'tako the Oonnei\ alrits time to wipe a\vay its p.respiit ind|sbtcclnc3s. I^ilje other an,d'oldeir bodies 'of. 11 siiTiikrchariicfcer, thoy had beetf sailing too Fast, airl'it wtts n:iVf aqu.es.tioftNvhethor they should continue 4;ha same c'Siiwe, or by a judicious rot.reiiclilrienfc p%ce. themselvqs in a differ>»nt RO,si•tibn. At the same time, he hoa,Hily agi^ed with Mr. Snelsoi^: that n0.5; only was /the out lay 'fully represented in .thq improve.^ inenfc's'of the to wu r but fu>ther, not one.. aiii^le peuny had been qxpt'udecl v^hiah

not been warrantee!. He had heant with Regret that Mr. Snelson had determined to reth>e* .from a connection "with municipal matter.*, as from the very first settlement of }?ultnerston they had worked .together^fqr its ; welfare, and in public inat^rs^ac];gdrieraily been yoked together, . It bad been by the CouneiHhat before Mr;' Snelsqn, should leave the Mayoral Chair j they wotild present him with some lasting mementb^of his connection with and services in it, and he had been -deputed while in Wellington to obtain an illuminated address, for. presentation, J n pp/nspquenee of an extreme press of ■ work, the artist bad been unable to have it finished against that ■evening r but the- -I'ownGl^Wuld read a copy, the original of which would, be handed to Mr, Snelsoii ijpbn another qe'cnsjpn. v ; Me. Keeling tlien' read tfooikllowing address :--* ' ' . ' •; ■•"••-.< .: p TO Gf-EO^GB MATttEW SjJELEjOSfj ESQ^PIEBT j Mayob op the libk^trdfl o¥ Pa'£- : MERSTOIT NOBTH, IJT TUB PBOVI3J■CIAL DI6TBi'OT ? O#-WEIjSKGTQ^, ' Coiosr .of New; Zealand. ' . ' WoBSHiPEUL Sraf--ivVe, yp'ur - fellow members f of itke --BorougTi" Council, upon your vacating the Mayoral chair, desire tq place on -rc.9C.r.ci" the High £ appreciation and esteem we entertain towards vou— an esteem grounHedTupon f TOur r able fulfillmeut at /the f undtioW;ijf your office," and your personal worfch v 'aa^a citizen.. While" regretting to War -tilikfc you"ha'\:e d'eterminetl • to iseyer; your connection, wjth municipal matters Jor the present'; iwe 'trust- io J again see, you take that active iutorest. in the town in tho future/ 'asvpdu^ have -evinced in thepast, and iyluch. hasjcbntributed in no sraaU : degree to , its present prosperity. In present jng tliis ' sligh 't -evidence /of • oar i-regard, 1 . may.it-iytjr prorei a pleasing mQmouto-ofr the jpsopiajjions connected with it. '"" ■ '.. V"' T - •* AlEXiifDjßß.fß'BEdXrSOlf ; [ ,\ - JAME3 LINTON* V, r J . . OB. P; Ambsbitjbsx I '.;..'■ ■ Tbiis Jenssex' v • - ■ „{Th6mas Eiira ' : ".-' ' ' ■■' .1 ... •.:. .. Mr ; . 3^bzsoit said it gave him : sincere satisfacjiion tb'findifchat his efforts.clcin'behali: of the iownhad met with tho approbation of his fellb'w epunefll6rs.L rHo 'had, rjdiiriqg his 'tenure of office, done his ifctmost to execute the duties entrusted tJE) him honestly, energetioally, and faithfally, and; thifc 'they bad successful was 1 in q, jery great r degra©" to be attributed -to the'heavty co-' , operation wh icli ; he had received from those with whpm he had been associated! ' 'If-' lie had done his, duty, he believed ho, had done nothing more than would anyothermVmner' of the! Council who : jiad been. placed- iu his position. "It. was'^hfe dixlf of all , "to gifo" their aid and assistance for the publio. bonefitj and it was most pleasing' to'iiiuV •that his' -^ efforts had^.giyen :. satisfaction.. Whilej thanking' tbem ' tn6's6> borH^illy''''fb? the vejry flattering r.§cox - d -of their, regard arid approciation, lie" although not taking purl in the governmeivfr of the 'town, he Would still ' alvrayi rtaSe'itie liveliest interest in its progress, and advancemont^ _;' . -V'-'-; 11 ■/-"■•< '* ~ /}~n~ "■• ' The' Chaiema^t 'said he was quite aware that :' ij; w'as. a Tdn"a"' ; 6'f : stei'edtypecl -fiusto'm upon |the retirement of holdew of office to Be pvesented' witk'^ddrfease's^^-h.ichi-'hbw.-' ever, preally meant nothing. With regard to thjit" _-j tisfc re^ ;? to ?r&itf t ■pi'edebSssbß, \yißhe'd to say. that it was of a vory different character. •'•During; h« '.term' ot ofi&o" as : Ctairinari of the Council, -no doiibt Mi*. -Snelsoii had "differences o£/6p ( inion' Vith" 'some of its membersj but the harmonious in'inner in which its.,prjceeilings had alwaj-s been conduiif eii, was' tli^ stepiigcsi^evl^ence that sucK 'diffijrences' Ba'd not nothing of a pai^soiial character in them: It w2s ! irib>t aatisfactory- |o the Council— 43 : no doubt aUo it -was to" Sir. Snelson-^afc "siieh ai-'ti'me "to h'ljid 6uch foelihgi evinced as were exhibiled by ttte ad'driss'i -wh n en it ;.waa almost ■: custojiiju-y in ol^der "and nioye. pretentious :corporations to'sjgniilise the vacating of t.lieMayJii^ ; '-"c ; ndir\vmta^:'a-perfeot;-warfore" : 'bf. iu'vectife . and;- abuse. > Tlie cont rast. should be, itiosfc satiafafeVory to the ratepayei'sV Wiis' creditftble ; to the Council generally, and sTibu^d be most pleasing to' tlie Tlato -"Mayor indivjidually. As the then, repitesentative .of the town, he (Miv Lihton)- Would first say on his own-ibehalf fcluib M> Snefeon was wUl jdbjerying of the honov w.hich had been paid; 1 and that lie had done his jduty nobly, ah expres.Bion i .-oC sentiment which,- h^e;fett siirej would be-'heSrtiiy-re-eclioedby%vei:y ra'tepayer in the town and. resident in, the district. ' Before "sitting! clowu; the man^ expressed a wish that his term pt office would be charadterised by that •cprdM> harmony- In the Council which had been its leading feature in £he ''pjistv and th'at he> would -fill the position ivith ho nor to ; the town and credit to T-lie. -tiien^ financial ':. position of tHe Rorough entirely precjuifed; that the, same 1 amounfc.of T^Oi'ks; could be carried' pn in tlie coming year a§ ; had i been -exqeut ed; in the past, for £li.hpugh : it , had:' been stated that, there were £700 Btill| to coaae in, , those who .wpre'cpii-', verdant with sucu" mai Idrs were well a ware that the cream" was filwa.vs obtained during-; t)ie;first half ; and therefore, althougl3*t;lre lieyenue was no douly the amount, ;stn ted, 1 it v^iis "scarcely' possible the sum mentibfied' would be availab^Q; I|q undertook. the. re- . sponsibilitips deterinined "to do hii besti" and/ he would be satisfi^ad at.the ; termi-r nufcioh :df. his of office to "see l tlte" p^'esen't liabilities of the .Co,uncil >yiped v pff. ;> Mr.' Snelson then .'withdrew,* a'nd"''^ 6 ftinnal business of ' the -Oounoil Wai prp- " ceeiiea with!,;^ : :y\ ; : * iK **v-. :: » ■> -..-A fe