The Installation of Mr F. H. Wood as Mayor of Greytown.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4301, 22 December 1892, Page 3

The Installation of Mr F. H. Wood as Mayor of Greytown.

Mr F. H. Wood was duly installed as Mayor of Grey town at noon yesterday in the now Counoil room. The outgoing mayor (Mr R, A, Wukelin), opeuotl tho proceedings with a few remarks, He was sorry that more councillors were not present, which wastoboaooountedforby tbe busy timo of tbo season,

Cr Hoagerty moved that tbo hearty thanks of the Council be accorded tho outgoing mayor for his services during his term of office.

On being put to the vote tbis was carried unanimously. His Worship said that he had tried to do his best as mayor, in a consist" ent and straightforward manner, Previous mayors had also takeu & great deal of timo and trouble and he thought that he had received rather too much flattery, He felt ccrtaiu that the Council would havo to strike a larger vato, as at present they only had one of 7Jd and had to pay two permanent salaries out of that, He had considered that as the township bad advanced so greatly, tbo Council should make a step in that direction for tbo erection of tho building they were now in. He expressed his gratitude for tbe resolution just passed. Ho regretted that the lonn had not been completed, but said that it would be available within four or five weeks. There was still a largo Bum owing to tho contractor, Mr Benton, which should bo paid off,. After paying for tho furniture, etc. there would still be about i 25 left to expend on the building. There were outhousos to bo erected, and tbo doors should be lettered, The library bad been iu a very dilapidated condition, but within the last few weekswasputinorderand new books sent for. The books would cost £lO, aud the periodicals £24 per annum, Ho had received a donation from a gentleman of twenty guineas towards that purpose. He thanked the councillors for the conrtoous manner, in which ho had been treated during his term of office, and hoped they would show the samo courtesy to the incoming mayor, who was bettor qualified for the position than himself. He then asked Mr Wood to sign the declaration and handed over the chair to him.

Mr Wood spoke as follows:—Mr ox' Mayor and Councillors, Gentlemen—Notwithstanding the elevated platform, nod the very confortahle seat providod for the use of tbo Mayor, 1 feel extreme reluctance in assuming offico to-day. It is, however, a satis« faction to me to know that I am takiny office at the wish of at any rate a majority of the Councillors and a very lurge majority of the ratepayers, but I feel that my term of office must of necessity be a very unpopular one, owing to the fact that the exchequer is empty and next year's rates all forestalled. Ido not wish to oast any blame on the out going Mayor, but as far as I can Bee the finances of the Borough are, to say the least of it, not in a very flourishing condition. I havu not been able to get a statement of assets aod liabilities prepared for to-day's meeting, but I must nek the Town Clerk to be good onongh to have one prepared for the next ordinary meeting of the Council, both for niy own information and that of the ratepayers, I believe in progress and improvement, but don't like big overdrafts. The question of how to have the one and avoid the other will have to be gone into very seriously. Amongst other liabilities of the Counoil, there is one that I am compelled, however, reluctantly to touch ii| on to-day and that is the payment for the section inHastwell-street, purchased by the Council in September, 1891, for £SO. Instructions have been given for a summons to be issued for the amount, together with interest and coats, and I very much regret that this matter could not, or rather was uot, settled bnfore my accession to office. There is no doubt that the rates will have to be increased, but it is thought likely that the Eiver Board will be able to reduce their rate from Is to 9d so that if the Borough Counoil increased their ratoby 3d no heavier 1 burden would be plaoed on the rate-' payers, ■ ■ Cr J, Fabian welcomed the mayor on his resuming office, Ho considered thooponiDg of roads was a great advantage to any borough and that thero should be some opened out from Greytown to the back oountry. Cr Kempton said that he was glad to see Mr Wood in the mayoral obair again and hoped that the councillors would take a lesson from him; by being punctual, Ho thought that the Town Hall should be again erected before long. CrHeagerty remarked that) when the loan was obtained the overdraft would be considerably reduced, He would render his Worship all the assistance he possibly could, as he had done to his predecessor. Or Cameron said that during Mr Wood's previous term of office he had been justly striot and always conducted the business in a proper manner,

Considerable discussion here took place as to the summons to be issued against the Council for the purokse money of the section in Hastwell Street and it was ultimately resolved to obtain a legal opinion, and if the Counoil was liable the amount should be paid, , Mr Wood in putting the resolution regretted that this should be the first one in his term.

Mr Wakelin voluntarily offered to assist in inspecting the building before it was takon over from the contractor. Tho meeting adjourned at 1.30 p,m, . ,