CHRISTCHURCH.

A meeting of the City Council was held yesterday a 6 noon, for the purpose of installing tie new Mayor in office. Present—His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Gapse), Councillors Lambert, England, Cuff, Treleaven, Bowman, Vincent, Louieson, Hiorna, Ayers, Bishop, Thomeon and Hulberb. The Mayor eleot (Blr J. G. Ruddenklau) having made and signed the usual declaration, Mr Gapes proceeded to invest him with the ' mayoral chain, and, in doing so, made i a few remarks to the following effect:— He fnlt sure thfit the reet of the Council wocli give his Worship their assistance, and that the chain of office would hang lightly en 1 his shoulders daring the year. He would leave to hie Worship almost the same legioy .. which he bequeathed to Mr Thomeon on , tfie occasion- of hie vttnnaiag the- Mayoralty ia 1877. On placing the chain on that . gentleman's shoulders he then requested 1 him to do the utmost in his power to ' put all the private streets and baok alleys of the city in as good a condition as be i poisibly could. A great deal of work had since been done in that direction, but much i still remained t3 be accomplished. Same of i the back alleys were still a great nuisance in ■ the town, and he traited that when the time ■ came for his Worship to vacate the chair he I would be able to say that, with the assistance ; of the Council, he had succeeded in putting t these baok alleys in a proper condition, and - that the city of Ohristchurch was in a healthy ) state. |_A Councillor—" With a water supi ply"—Oheers] r His Worship the Mayor having taken the i chair, confessed that he felt some diffidence in doing to for the first time. He knew that the i responsibility attaohing to the position was - very great indeed, but he felt sure that he r would receive the support of the Council in ) upholding the respect and dignity of the ohair. > He would say no more at present, except to express t> hope that the ensuing year would be fraught with good resulta to the trust reposed I in him. [Cheers/] i This concluded the formal business. The neoetsary applianoes having been intro--9 duced, Mr Gapes proposed the health of his i Worship, whioh, having been drunk, was i responded to in suitable terms. t His Worship then proposed the health of the retiring Mayor, and the toatt having been drunk, Mr Gapes returned thanks. i Cr. Themson, as the oldest member of the s Council, made a few remarks expressive of the • general regret felt by the Couticil at the severing of their connection with a Mayor 1 who bad always acted in a straightforward, 1 impartial and honorable manner. \ Several other councillors spoke in a similar • strain. The health of the officers of the Council i was drunk, and the proceedings terminated.