BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 311, 18 December 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

INSTALLATION OF MAYOR. A meeting of the Borough Council took place yesterday at noon for the purpose of installing the new Mayor, Cecil Albert DeLautour, Esq., in office. His Worship the Mayor (Captain Porter) and Crs. Townley, Lewis, Kenny, Graham, Brown, Hepburn, and Wilson were present. The usual declaration having been read and duly subscribed to by Mr. DeLautour, Captain Porter said that in vacating the chair, he had to thank the councillors for the uniform courtesy they had on all occasions shown him during his term of office. He was gratified to say that on former occasions when he had been mayor, the same feeling was manifested towards him. Without self-laudation he considered that in retiring from office much important work had been cc ried out during the last twelve months. The reconstruction of the Harbor Board, the erection of the Turanganui Bridge, the settlement of the dispute with Messrs. Common, Shelton and Co. had all been brought to a successful issue. The only important question remaining to be dealt with now was that of a water supply for the town. Had he remained in office it would have been his greatest aim to achieve that end. He felt the gentleman who succeeded him would in every way urge the importance of having a suitable water supply for the town, as, from his ability, he was in every way competent to do so. Mr. DeLautour’s legal knowledge and his experience in communicating with the Government, would be extremely useful to the Council. Captain Porter, after complimenting the Town Clerk and the other officers of the Council for the very efficient manner in which they discharged the arduous duties entrusted to them, and again thanking the Council, said he had much pleasure in vacating the chair for his successor, Mr. DeLautour.

) Mr. DeLautour, in taking the chair, j said he did not in the least under-rate the important position he was called upon to till. It was the more difficult because of ' the men—he might use the phrase in that way—who had been called upon from time to time to preside over that Council. ■ They had left a path for those to follow who came after them and it ' was not to be expected of all Mayors, to have the opportunities of making ■ themselves as fitted for the duties as had been the case with the retiring Mayor. The Council might be .assured of ‘.his that no effort on his (Mr. DeLautour’s) part would be allowed to pass, of making the business of the town go smoothly. The ensuing year-he did not wish to hide the fact far a moment —was one of great importance to the Council, both directly and indirecfy, because the Mayor, for the first time would be called upon to take his place on the Harbour Board constituted under the new Act, which fbre-_h-.dowed a sphere for that body of great usefulness .and magnitude. Hitherto the Borough Council had been the Harbor Board, but a change was about to take p’ace—it was a case of “ stoojfing to conquer.” Without traversing beyond what should be said on such an occasion as the present, there was no reason why this district should not have efficient harbour works, such as were only the object of our dreams. He would show the Council the fullest courtesy, and with their assistance hoped the business would be carried out promptly and harmoniously, and that when the time came for them to retire they would leave the Council in that high state of efficiency in which they found it. Cr. Kenny proposed and Cr. Townley seconded, a heartv vote of thanks, which was carried unanimously, to Capt. Porter for his zeal and ability in carrying out the onerous duties that had devolved upon him. That while undoubtedly glad to meet the new mayor, they experienced much regret at losing the presence of Captain Porter from the Council Board. Captain Porter in a few well chosen remarks heartily thanked the Council for the kindly feeling always shown towards him, and while recognising that it ’was well that a chance should from time to •ime be made, he could not help saying that he regretted very much to have to have to leave them.