Taranaki County Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7971, 7 November 1905, Page 2

Taranaki County Council.

VALKIUCTOKY. THE ofIAUtMAN 1 WAItMLY EULOGISED. Monday's meeting of the Taranaki County Council being the final mating before Vive tri-eimial elections, the opportunity was taken to make souks valedictory remarks appropriate to the occasion,. Cr. (.'ray said that us one who did not! seel-, re-election 'he couhl speak freely, and had much pleasure in testifying to the iadnrirable service performed by thr- retiring Chairniau (Mr 11. Okey) during his many years' association with the Council. Mr Okey had tilled the position with conspicuous ability, ami had never .spared any efl'ort, in the interests of tin l ratepayers, 'tlie result fa-rin'g that i-ndu' his guidance tlve Council had made splendid progress, 'and successfully copid,\vith the multitudinous equircmcnts of ' the district. It would, apparently, be cosy enough, judging 'by the number of candidates, uO till the place of ordinary councillors (laughter), |-,ut it would be a very dilUcult mailer indeul to att-

eipiaiely replace the ivliring Chairman, whose punctualily and attendance established a record in "tile Council. In thanking Mr Okey for his couj'lesy in the conduct of the oasiness, Cr. Gray remarked that the Council had been "a very happy famly," and any flilTerences of opinion Hi.it hud cropped up had never been carried beyond the Council table. He went on to pay a | tribute to the Chairman tor his wyrlc in connection with deputations, referring to the act thai lie luvd charged the Council but a very small proportion of h s travelling expenses, lie lvad always made 'a point- of curtailing expenditure, and keepingjii view the in, teriSts of tlie taxpayer. Speaking personally, Cr. (Iray mentioned 'that lie might at some future time (igain oiler 'his services as Councillor. Cr. .Mtlti nul'd, who also does not ;rck re-election, said that, Mr, Okey had filled his position faithfully and impartiality,'-and had never missed a Council meeting. I lie concluded foj thanking live Chairman, Councillors, and late clerk (Mr C. T. Mills) for the uniform courtesy ai«t kindness extend,to himsell whilst a member of the Council.

Or. Ilopson. in supporting llu'previous speakers, said il would be hard to liiul a grii'lliinan who would devote so ninth of his l liuiei lo t'lu work of [he Council as IMr Okey had. Andrews said thai the Chairman's knowledge of (he district, and tin; fact tluvf. lie (ravelled about- Ihe district a good'deal in 'his lii.«incss, had been mi r great service lo the Council, and 'had saved a considerable amount, in travelling expenses, Cn his retirement Councillors would have -to. give more- time to supei intruding- work in their respective districts. Crs. Mill und l',ro\vn spoke in a similar strain. The Jailer said the onlyi fault 'ho could see was that Mr, Okey never claimed enough for his travelling 'expenses. Tile Council must- be prepared to pay eonsiderablv more in this direction lo his successor, lie felt .sure "Mi- ; okey would prove himself a good man in anv position lie undertook, lie conclude<Hiy moving that an 'honorarium of £SO be paid lo Air Okey in recognition of 'his past ycar:s services. This was seconded by Or. Hill and carried unanimously, Mr Okey suitably acknowledged the warm compliment paid him,, i The work had been a pleasure so far as he was concerned, and he had always received t-lie 'hearly co-operation of the Counicil. JTe mentioned that, the retiring; members were leaving the Council ,in a .sound position, with provision for liabilities. IHirim. llie last year the overdraft -had been reduced from C7IW I lot: 1710, and taking all the! circumstances into consideration tin! incoming Council would not have a h-ard legacy to lake over. He expressed his -.appreciation of the services of Cr. drav and Cr. .McDonald, the latter having been some fifteen Seal's on-t-lie Conn" ci], with OIHI interval .of three years. With regard to ihe matter of expends to the Chairman, he thougnt it a wise policy to make a fixed honorarium for 'the future, fn the motion of Cr. liroun, the Council carried a resolution thanking the Chairman amf rel iring Council" lorn tor t-heir services.

The Council then-dispersed, toas-f-e"il»lt' at the White I lan Hotel, where appropriate toasts were honoured. (Jr. (.'ray received the I'elicitaliojis ol' live (Jouiu'il nn his ap. proac-hing- marrmgv, ami J|r oke.v was ""'SMI success in -his Wec-ticn campaign-.