INSTALLATION OF MAYOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8100, 3 May 1906, Page 2

INSTALLATION OF MAYOR.

MR. E. DOCKRILL SWORN IN. The formal swearing in of Mr E. Docki'ill as Mayor of New Plymouth took place in tho Town Hall on Wednesday morning. Mr R. Cock, the retiring Mayor, presided, and there were present: Crs. Montenth, Ewiug, Brooking, Col lis, Hutchen, Stolir, Brown and Webster. The Town Clerk, Mr F. T. Bellringer; borough engineer, Mr E. H. Gibbon; olectrical engineer, Mr H. Black; sanitary engineer, Mr A. H. Kendall; and several burgesses were also present. Mr Cock, before rotiring from ofllco, spoke at some length on borough affairs. Councillors had been told recently, he said, tliat they wero not good financiers. The fact remained however, that when they took ofllco the Council was in debt, though not to any serious extent. At the 31st of March of this year, there was a credit balance. On top of this the Council could refer with pride to its record of the past three years, Now streets had been opened, and they were leaving these in jjood order. The engineer had now prepared for them a statement showing the condition of the borough roads and streets. A vast amount of work had beon done, and with all due deference to tho statements made during tho Mayoral election campaign, he believed Nc,v Plymouth had never been in a better position than she was that day. It had been saul that much of the work done by the present council would have to bo undone, as it was not up to tho standard of work done previous'y. It ought to bo remembered that the staff was almost the same now as under the previous Mayor, and none of this bad work had been reported to the council. He c»nsidered New Plymouth had not shared to the full extent the slump rccontly experienced in business circles in the colony. New Plymouth people eould improve matters, too, if tho.y put their shoulders to the wheel and started manufacturing. Soap and biscuit works could be made to pay here as elsewhere. Taranaki's population of 30,000 would give ample support. Ho thought the loan money had been spent too slowly, and not too fast, as had been alleged recently, but there only remained tho electric lighting to settle up. Mr Cock accorded a meed of praise to the staff, particularly mentioning Mr F. T. Bellringer, the Town Clerk, to whom he was deeply indebted for valuable assistance freely given. He congratulated Mr Dockrill on his eloction, and in introducing the now Mayor to the council, said he believed him to be thoroughly capable of carrying out the Mayoral duties of the borough. Ho would leave tho i council in his hands, and. trusted they would have a happy and prosperous term of office. Mr Dockrill then made tho usual declaration, witnessed by Councillor F. §tohr, and took his seat in the Mayoral chair, the new and the old Mayors exchanging a warm hand-grip as Mr Cock passed to the seat on the new Mayor's right. Mr Dockrill delivered a neatly turned non-committal speech, lasting only a few minutes. He thanked Mr Cock for his kind remarks in introducing him to the council. This ws not the occasion for referring to (he council's business op to the ejection contest. With his big majority, too, he could afford to bo generous to his opponents, otherwise lie would bo totally uulit for public life. He recognised that, as a public man, he must be prepared to be fired at, and if lie could not stand it he had no business in public affairs at all. Personal feeling in tlipsp matters never troubled him—it was not his nature, He had got 04 ronjarkably well with the previous counoils, and no doubt ho would continue to do so. Ho again thankod the burgesses for the honor conferred in returning him as Mayor. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Cr Brooking, tho appointment of committees was deferred till the next council meeting on Monday night. On the invitation of Mr Dockrill those present th'n gathered in the Mayor's room, where refreshments soon made their appearance. His Worship asked the company to drink |he health of tho retiring Mayor and Mayoress, eulogising the amiability and energy of Mrs Cock, who, however, had not been well enough lately to do all she wished in various public affairs. He trusted that the Mayoress would soon be restored to good hoalth. Mr Cock, he said, was native-born, and they were proud of him as a determined champion of the interests of New Plymouth. Mr Cock replied, thanking the Mayor for his kindly references to h'mself and Mrs Cock. In return, he p.'oposed the health of the new Mayor Mayoress. Ho warned to his subject when speaking of the excellent services rendered by Mrs Dockrill in every description of social functions, and in every doserving cause. He considered Mr Dockrill would make a most capable Mayor. This terminated a very pleasant function.