THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1024, 1 August 1879, Page 2

THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL.

At the conclusion of the ordinary business before the Municipal Council last evening, the retiring Mayor said that, as this was the last time he would have the honor of presiding over the deliberations of the Council, he wished to express the pleasure he had reoeived from being connected with it. He had prepared a written statement of the doings of the Counoil during the three years that he had occupied the position of Mayor. With their permission he would read this to the Council. In taking his farewell of the Council, after the long period of three years continuous occupancy of the Municipal Chair, he desired in the first instance to express his s,ense of the high honor conferred upon him by the citizens of Oamaru in having thrice elected him to the chief magistracy of the Borough, and next to thank the Council and officers for the uniform courtesy he had experienced at their hands. In view of the not infrequent examples of a very different order of things, it was deserving of mention that never on any occasion during the whole term of his office had it been necessary for him to call a Councillor to order, nor had there boen at any time any unpleasantness at the Council board. This was a subject for great congratulation, and he ventured to hope that the same harmony and unanimity might continue to characterise the Council's proceedings in the future that have characterised them in the past. [The Mayor then gave a long resume of the Council's proceedings during the past three years, but we regret that pressure on our space precludes the possibility of our publishing it in crrfen.s'o.] His Worship concluded by again expressing his hearty thanks to the citizens for their confidence, and to the Councillors and officers for their hearty co-operation and assistance, and his sincere wish for the continued progress and prosperity oi the Municipality. Councillor Gibbs referred to the great good feeling that had prevailed in the r i.— roavs. nnrl which, ho said, was greatly owing to the uniform kindness of the Mayor, to whom they were bidding adieu. He concluded by moving, " That the members of the Oamaru Municipal Council desire to place 011 record their appreciation of the very able manner in which the retiring Mayor, W. J. Steward, Esq., has conducted the duties of his office, and that the same be recorded on the minutes." j Councillor Procter seconded the motion, ! saying he did so as one of the retiring Councillors. He (Mr. Procter) was also I leaving} the Council. He would now say, in the language of Shakespeare, " Farewell, a long farewell, to my greatness/' The motion was carried by acclamation. The Mayor then thanked the Council for their mark of approval of his efforts, and said he was greatly indebted to the Council for the assistance and consideration given to him by the whole of the members of the Council. Councillor Humphrey .proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Councillors, Messrs. Familton, Spence, and Procter. This was seconded by Councillors Headland, and carried. Councillor Familton replied, saying that had he been able to give the necessary time he would have been glad to have again taken a seat at the Council table.