CITY COUNCIL.

The Council met at noon. Present—The Mayor (Mr J. W. Prudhoe), Crs. Bonnington, Wood, E. Smith, J. T. Smith, Thomson, Gray, Widdowson, Payiiag, Fleaher, Anderson, Gapes, Appleby and Swarm.

There was also a very large attendance of ladies and gentlemen, the latter including s> number of the ex-Mayors. Apologies were received for the absence of Crs. Cooper and Calder.

The Mayor said that this was the statutory meeting to instal the Mayor for Che ensuing year. He would now ask Mr Eden George to make the usual statutory declaration.

This was done by Mr George. The Mayor said it gave him the greatest pleasure to instal Mr George as Mayor, He would impress upon the Mayor elect the high and honourable position to which he had been elected. Perhaps he laboured under some disadvantage as he had not been in the Council before, but this he looked upon as a very slight difficulty. Mr George would have a very good Council to work with him and an efficient staff to aid him. Any information he might require would be cheerfully supplied by Mr Haskins, who as had been truly said was a perfect encyclopedia of municipal knowledge. He felt sure Mr George would receive from the Council that support which he (the retiring Mayor) had also found. He handed over to Mr George what was termed " the municipal nest-egg"—an overdraft of some £5000. He now handed over to the new Mayor the chain of office, and wished him a pleasant and prosperous year of office. Mr George then took the chair amidst applause.

Cr. Bonningtok, as one of the older Councillors, desired to congratulate the Mayor-elect upon having succeeded to the high and honourable position of Mayor. He felt sure that Mr (George would discharge the duties of the office efficiently, and, for hia own part, recognising, as he did, that Mr George was emphatically the choice of the people, he would be prepared, as indeed would, he felt sure, all the Council, to give the new Mayor every assistance. (Applause.)

Cr. Gray took the opportunity of contradicting the rumour which had gone abroad that he was an opponent of the new Mayor. This was not true, and he desired now to congratulate the Mayor-elect upon his caking the chair. He would, in common with the rest of the Council, do all he oould to assist the Mayor in the discharge of his duty.

The Mayor elect said he desired to pay a tribute of respect to the gentleman who had just left office, Mr Prudhoe, who had discharged his duties in a manner deserving the respect of the citizens. Now he desired most heartily to thank the citizens of Christchurch for having conferred so unique an honour on him. They need not 'fear that he would lose his head, but he would give to the office a great deal of his time. He was glad to hear the speeches of Crs. Bonningtoh and Gray, and he recognised that, though in the heat ot electioneering some hard things might be said, but now this was over the Councillors, he felt sure, came thereto do the business of the city. He intended to go in for a course of atudy of municipal matters, and in a few months he hoped to be able to formulate a scheme which would create quite a reversal of municipal policy in Christchurch,- which he thought the public required. Hβ would submio his scheme to the ex-Mayors and take their advice, and then submit io to the Council. He could not but express regret that they could not utilise the wide experience of Mr Prudhoe. He also regretted thut he was two months too late for the municipal cradle. Hβ had to face the overdraft, but still he did not feel overwhelmed, but would work in the interests of the city. He wished to see a Mayor's Court established, where the Mayor, with two Justices, could deal with the commercial cases. He thanked them very heartily for the honour they had paid him. He would so try to work and uphold the dignity of the chair that at the end of his term of office he-would leave the chair with that respect, encouragement and applause he had met with that day. He wished,to mention that he would like to see the Committee system which had grown up in the Council shortened somewhat, and he would endeavour to have this done. He once more thanked them. (Applause.) Cr. Pbudhok moved —*' That a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the staff of the Council." Personally he had always received the most valuable assistance from the etaff. ' Cr. Thomson seconded the motion, which was carried. The Tows' Clerk responded on behalf of the officers.' - ■ -;- J l ■■■- ; The meeting then terminated.

At the conclusion of the installation ceremony, the Mayor and Mrs George entertained a number of ex-Mayors and Councillors,, together with their wives, in the Council library. After sundry toasts had been honoured, the party were driven to New Brighton in two four-in-hand drags, and on arrival there partook of light refreshments and, after spending a pleasant hour or so, returned to town much gratified by the enjoyable outing provided for them by Mr and Mrs George.