Presentation to Dr. Barclay.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 178, 20 July 1901, Page 3

Presentation to Dr. Barclay.

On Thursday evening there was a large and representative gathering, including a number of ladies, in the Borough Council Chambers to present Dr Barclay, ex-Mayor of the towh, with a small tokehXof the esteem in which fee had bsemheld during his term of-office. Mr J. B. Mi Isom, chairman of the deception Committee, occupied the chair. He touched briefly oh the good work Dr Barclay had done .in the town daring his term of office, and expressed, on behalf of the subscribers to the testimonial, the heartiest appreciation of these, services. Both inside and outside of the Council’s office Dr Barclay, as Mayor, did his utmost to further the interests of the borough, and if several schemes he brought forward were not yet fulfilled, it was certainly not his fault, and the more encouragement they gave to, men of his sort the better for the town. He would ask Dr Barclay to accept a small testimonial on behalf of tho subscribing citizens, as a mark of appreciation of his services while Mayor of the Borough from December, 1893, to May, 1901.

(The testimonial in the nature of itn illuminated address has already been described in our columns.) Mr Nicol was verj pleased to be present to certify to the very capable rnanner in which Dr Barclay performed the duties of the municipal chair. .There was a Tittle friction at the council - table, but that is always the case when progress is mooted in all countries. He

was Mayor immediately before Dr Barclay, bat the latter had had a great many extra functions. His own term had been all honours ; he had been in office at the time of the Diamond Jubilee and the visit of their Excellencies

Lord and Lady Raufurly, while Dr Barclay had the sending away and receptibn of contingents and the functions in connection with the Queen’s death. There was one great difficulty Dr Barclay had to contend with that has been overlooked, and that was the changes in the office. These changes had involved a vast amount of work and worry, far more than outsiders wore aware of. Those who found fault, with Dr Barclay’s ruling forgot this. He thought that'the time had-come

for some more than empty honour should be given to the Mayor. He had a large amount of sbcial duties to perform, and all he got was the prefix “ Your Worship,” and other names not so pleasant. (Laughter). At the Council table he had always found Dr Barclay a valuable Councillor ; he seemed aote to at once grasp a subject and discuss it in ail its noims. The speaker hoped he would long continue at the Council table. . lie thoroughly endorsed all that had been said in the address. Mr J. Sinclair, ex-Mayoc, said he

had worked with Dr Barclay, and * bad never worked under a better, man. Strange to say the little things Dr Barclay had tried against hard opposition to get carried were c being brought in in a different ( form, and be was sure that in twenty-five years they would have t them all. Ha hoped Dr Barclay g would long continue in his seat on . the Council. ‘ Ex-councillor Philip expressed ( his pleasure at being present. The only fault ascribed to Dr. Barclay was too much “ pushfulnesa,” as j the Yankees said, but that was a fault that a few more in town ( might be imbued with. < Or. Freeman was very pleased to ; 1 Ihe present. The doctor had been > ( accused of rashness, but he thoughtall his schemes would shortly come to pass. They needed a water supply badly in Waimafce, and he would do his best to have this scheme promoted. Doctor Barclay said it was needless to say that ho was extremely gratified at the presentation given' him. This was’ the second occasion on which, the.y had foregathered and enjoyed' themselves, ■ and this was ample 'repayment tor; all he had undergone in the past. He had particularly' to thank the ladies who had subscribed to the - ] testimonial before him. He was I pleased ti.ft it snowed while he wasin the Mayoral chair some thought.; he had -tried to follow a straight ; line irrespective of whether his friends or his opponents were concerned. He did not want to comment unfavourably on Major; ] Steward, but he lived in Ashburton away from the district, and they sometimes felt that they were not ' in touch with the Government and ■ the Ministry.' They had, howeyery ! got a Minister of the Crown to visit, j the district and also outside members! : of Parliament, and good results bad ; already followed. The Show ground' > had been enlarged, and a railway. aiding provided'. Also, land had been brought under his notice as' suitable for settlement as workmen’s n holdings, and a telegram received M that day stated that the,-matter I I would be put before the Govern- , ment. In these ways the . visit 1 i had done good.’ In regard to, the fc .| workmen’s holdings he would like ‘ to say that if the land on the Timuru road were out Up it would be g entirely due to Mr Mi Isom’s energy, g The question of the deviation of the Railway had been also brought up lfc at this time,' and was-now .a live !r one. He did not. think the niain e | line would be diverted, but a loon line ihight be run sO that Our trains 10 could go direct to Timaru -and J OamarUi toad this -wodld be ft geeftt re advantage. The question of a w ’fratOr supply was hedged round adpply al mljea off and;opt9ide -th« Jatraeto TjTyed lot

apart and were not wealthy enough to go in for a very expensive scheme. The question was, whether with a population of 5000 they should go : into a scheme of £12,000. Thewater to the back streets would have to bo"brought in two or three inch pipes. He thought that by putting up tanks at corners of out of 1, the streets with a hose, so that in' case of drought or fire it would be -close ‘at hand, would be ‘a step in the right direction. The main cost was the reticulation of the streets of the borough. To vote against a supply because everyone did not have a supply in bis house would be a dog in the manger policy, while the better principle to follow would be that half a loaf j was better than, no bread. Under "this plan 'the dweller in the back streets lessened his insurance, had. no fear of scarcity of water, and paid no water rata but a small interest rate only. They would have a less complete supply and would pay correspondingly less for it. If they would be content with this plan for ten years or so it, would put the scheme that many years ahead. The new Municipal Corporation Act provided that outsiders coulcl be delegated to perform' certain duties for the Council, as committees, and he thought this a; good idea, thereby strengthening the Council’s store of expert know-

ledge. He called to mind a time when he once suggested that the names of some outsiders should ho. added to a special com.itittee, andhow the proposal was scouted as unconstitutional. Within three years after, "this very principle was embodied in this Bill. He hoped the question of beautifying the town would be handed to a committee half composed of the Council members and the other half of energscic members of the Horticultural Society. In regard to the Fire Brigade, he thought they needed better appliances, especially a fire engine. These men voluntarily gave their services, and risked their lives, and often for a poor return, either in, thanks or anything e#. In regard to the Town Hall, he had not changed his opinion that this -tewn badly needed such a place for ; public functions. The Timaru Harbour Bill was much under notice now, but its influence on Waimato was undei the notice of the Mayor in whose hands their interests would be safe. He would like here to express his appreciation of Mr Manchest -r’s unfailing courtesy

and impartiality to all councillors since he had occupied the chair. Referring to several matters for which he had received severe criticism, one was the water supply. He bad proposed some three years ago the investigation of certain springs for a water supply. They had scouted the idea at the time, but now they were almost back to it again. He was also accused of using his casting vote, but at present ho would point out that it had been used four times in one night, thus showing that it was quite necessary, and that much outside criticism was the result of ignorance. Also, with the amount of business done, Mr Akhurafc. the town clerk, could not bo said to have “ nothing to do.” He did not wish to refer to refer at any length to any unpleasantness that had existed. He had not given in one

job in his views, but he supposed his critics were honest in their opinions but they were manifestly founded on a misrepresentation of motives. He gave them hearty thanks for the banquet and presentation, and for the great kindnesses and for the moral support which was . shown him on many occasions, and if his services were required at any | time they would always be freely accorded.

The speaker resumed his seat amidst applause. On the motion of Messrs 0, Dash and W. J. Wills, a vote of thanks was passed to the Borough Council for the use of the hall. A vote of thank- to the chiir closed this pact of the b isiuess. Dr Barclay then invited all present to be his guests tor an hour or two, and the invitatim being accepted, a very pleasant evening was spent in song, jest, Story and appropriate toasts, the gathering dispersing after singing “ Anld Lang Syne,” having just previously drunk the health of Dt and Mrs Barclay, singing “ They ace jolly good fellows —-and meaning it.