THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 154, 21 June 1876, Page 2

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

The official declaration of the result of the late election took place at the Council Chamber at noon to-day, when Cr Webb, the Returning Officer, declared Cr Everett to be duly elected. Mr. Mayor Everett then came forward and said : — Allow me to thank you for the 'confidence you have shown in me in electing me, without a contested election, to be your chief civic officer of this city. It is both flattering and agreeable to possess your good wishes and opinions. It was not my desire to be put in nomination, as I thought there were others who had a higher right to the position of Mayor than myself, and I used what influence I had to induce a gentleman of high social position in this city to come forward. He consented to give it hia consideration but felt himself compelled to resign, thinking, no doubt, that his duties at the General Assembly demanded his first attention. With your permission I should like to express publicly the sorrow I feel at the death of the late Mayor — Mr J. H. Levien. That gentleman's loss will not only be felt by those nearest and dearest to him, but by this city and by those who had the pleasure of being associated with him in the management of mnnicipal affairs. The Council recognised in him an honest, upright, and able officer, and he was one who had the interests of this city thoroughly at heart. We all remember, the confusion that existed in municipal affairs when the present Council was elected; a large overdraft existed, and the office and ; officers in a complete state of disorganisation, but under the late Mayor's judicious management and* the general attention which all the members of the present Council gave to its affairs, the reign of chaos ceased to exist, and. order was established, and I think we may now, without vanity, accord to it aa high a standard as any in New Zealand. Should the abolition of provincea really take place thia session of the Assembly, the powers of Municipalities will be enlarged, and the duties of them become more responsible. Therefore it is to be desired that the electors will select the best men from those who offer themaelvea for election 1 , ; for, admitting that this Council haa attained a high standard, it must remain with the ratepayers to say whether that standard shall be maintained. The present Council has initiated and carried out works which they have every,, reason to believe will be greatly to the * advantage of the city. The"gasworks have been extended, and the work carried out well and economically, and that which has hitherto been a bad property will, I have every reason to 'hope, become, if not remunerative, at least a selfsupporting one. Arrangements have been made to erect a new dam, and to lay on 12---inch pipes from it to the reservoir. Thia, when completed, will fill the reservoir in . almoat aa many houra as it haa hitherto taken days to do, but I preaume there will be no difference in the presaure. The formation and gravelling of footways have been ordered to be done throughout the city, and the matter ia in the handa of the Public Works Committee, who, I have no doubt, will see the work carried out as early as possible. The widening of the Haven Road, and the formatiou of a footpath along it has been fully conaidered, but haa heen deferred until we see what action the General Government'intend to take in tlie' matter . of the construction of the railway to the Port. The who.c question of roads haa not been forgotten, and, as faras our funds will permit, will retain our earliest attention. The sewage and! drainage question, as you are aware, has been pretty fully discussed in the present Council, and it is, no doubt, one of the important worka that future Councils will have, not only to further consider, but , to carry out, and it is to be desired that whoever may be administering the Municipal affairs of this city, will demand that proper plans be drawn and syecifications made out to prevent any possibility of mistake in the rules and the carrying out of the works. : This last year several bye-laws have been passed, and are now in operation, which will remedy many of the evils complained, of previously. The gorse bye-law is certainly one of the moat important, and will,. I think, when one of its clauses is slightly modified, supress in a great measure the nuisance now complained of. We are indebted to our worthy Returning Officer for his persistent advocacy in agigating the question, not only in the Council, but in the Board of Works years ago. The proceedings then terminated with a vote of thanks to the Eeturning Officer.