BOROUGH OF HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1943, 18 December 1884, Page 2

BOROUGH OF HAMILTON.

Installation of M^yor. The cdr6mony-of installing Mr William Australia Graham ai Mayor of the Borough of Hamilton took plnce at the council chambers last night. The meeting was called in terms of the Act at noon, but was adjourned at the request of a number of burgesses who were unable to bo present in the middle of the day. The council met at 7.30 p.m., when there were present the retiring mayor, (Mr Peat) Crs. Dey, Johnson, Ste.idman, Sfcott, Tucker, Phillip, Bach, Tippen and Frear. The Town Clerk read the official notification of the election of Mr Graham, and the mayor-elect then advanced to the table and made the usual statutory declaration, whereupon he was congratulated by the outgoing mayoi. His Worship the Mayor, on taking his place at the head of the table, said it became his duty to thank the burpesses, through the council, for the very h'gh honour conferred upon him in electing him to the office of mayor. He referred to his early connection with the town just after the war, and remarked that when, a young man, he laid out the settlement he little thought he would Jive to see it attain its present proportions and himself its chief magistrate. He trusted that now he occupied that position the burgesses — those who had voted for his opponent as well as his own supporters — would unite to give him their he.uty support and sympathy in his endeavouis to promote the prosperity of the town, which was his .sole aim in consenting to take office. (Applause.) Since he first saw Hamilton, lie had been in various parts of the globe, but he had never foi a moment lost sight of the fact that the district had a grand future before it — that it was destined, in short ,to become the premier district of New Zealand : and he could assure his hearers that, though times at present might be dull, his prediction would be fulfilled. He knew that times were bad, but they were not so bad as they had been. Many years ago he had offered 5000 acres of land in Waikato for £500, and could nut find a purchaser (Laughter). Waikato possessed much more real wealth to-day than it did ten years ago. The bad times would speedily pass away, and of the coining prosperity Hamilton, as the central town of Waikato, would have its full share. For himself he preferred to act rather than talk ; there were many things to be done by which the interests of Hamilton might be promoted, and these he hoped to bring under the notice of councillors in the immediate future. One of the chief obstacles to the progress of Hamilton in the past had been the river, which cut the town m twain, but he was not without hope that the inhabitants would now aeroe to take a bioader view of their position, and work together. His interest was in Hamilton East, and he lived in Hamilton Weft, but he knew only one Hamilton, which embraced both sides. (Applause.) His predecessor, Mr Peat, had worked conscientiously in the interests of the town, and in opposing that gentleman he was guided not by his own desire, but by the wish of a large number of the ratepayers. Prominent among the questions they would have to consider was that of the fur/A>, find he hoped they would be able to devise some -cheme by which the fmvse nuisance, the "unearned inclement" of Waikato, could be abated. His main object in consenting to be nominated was a desire to foster local industries, a work which his official position would the better enable him to carry out, and he believed that with the hearty co-operation of the council and the burgesses he would succeed in his efforts. (Applause.) There were many other things which he could only hint at that he would be piepared to bring forward at an early date. He thought much of the work now performed in Go vprnmont Department* in Auckland ought to be transferred to Waikato, and this was a subject which would have his special attention. He again thanked them for the honour they had conferred upon him in electing him to the responsible office of Mayor of Hamilton. His Woiship reMimed his seat amid loud applause. An there wjis no other business before the council, an adjournment was, at the invitation of the Mayor, made to the Commercial Hotel, where the toast of " The New Mayor," "The Retiring Mayor," t " Mr Kno\', thrice Mayor of Hamilton," " The Late Member for Wai pa," and many others were proposed and heartily responded to, and a very pleasant hour was spent in discussing the future prospects of the Waikato in general, and Hamilton in particular.