Christchurch.

uhe annual statutory meeting, of the Christchurch City Council, for the installation of the Mayor of the city for the ensuing year, took, place at noon to-day.. At the opening of tho- meeting the retiring Mayor, Mr W.-Bfudhoe, presided; and there were present Councillors- Bennington, Wood, EL. Smithy Widdowson, Gray, Payling, Flesher, Anderson, J. 1:. Smith, Thomson, Gapes, Appleby, and Swarm. Several ex-Mayors- and ex-Counoillors and & considerable number of ladies and other spectatoresiwere-preeent. The mantelpieces were decorated 1 with flbwere and greenery. Apologies were mada-fer the absence of Councillorß Cooper, and (Solder. The Mayor called upon Mr EdeniQeorge, the Mayor-elect;, to- make the statutory declaration. Mr George made tho- oustomaryv deolkration. The retiring^ Mayor said that it gave, him great pleasure torrihstall Mr George- ia the high and important office to • which he had been elected*. Though Mrr George mipht labour-.- under some disadvantage from not having held a seat' on the Council previously,, yet that was- not of much moment; ae^B' had to assist, him. a Council composed of gentlemen of abiliiy and experience, large ratepayers, and also a very eflMeh* staff. Mr Haskjae, the Town Clerk, . was- a- perfect encyclopaedia of municipal knowladge, and t was always ready to gins bis advice and assistance to the holder offtheofi.ee. Mr George- mast remember that one essential forr a. Mayor was firmness, combined, of course, with courtesy. . He> (fixe retiring May on); bad to hand o~ar to his successor r a municipal nest egg innthe- ahape of an overdraft of some -35C©0,i which, he had not seen any means of getting; rid of. Ho- would ask the Councillors to give the newly -elected Mayor every, assistance in theirr-power. The retiring; Mayor then invested Mr George with, the chain of office,, and installed him in thos chair. Councillor. Bonnington congratulated Mr George onihis election, and said tbat he CQuldj.endorßG-the retiring Mayor's remarks as to the ability and extensive expe.rience.of Mb- Haskins. 3b expressed ' a hope tj-fct the- members ofi the Council would give- tho- newly eleatedi Mayor all. the, help r in>theicr power, remembesing tbat he was, the- elect of the ratepayers. He had no. doubt that Mr George wonld acquit i himself with dignity and credit. Cousueillbr (firay said thabhe aleo- wished to congratulate^Mr George, and to contradict -Krumoust which had beoome prevalent , that, -he- was a kind of ringlhader of individual/.- determined to aat in opposition to the. r-owty'oltected Mayar.. He had no doubt that. Mr George would receive the support*, ofr' the Council, duxiasg his year of offieftr. • The newdy-installed Mayor said that he L mua£< pa_v a tribute to the- gentleman who padi pseceeted him in the-altair. He also alluded to the present ofi ai Memorial Board containing! the names* of the Mayors of tho, . bity)-madr> to the Council' by Mr Prudhpe. H3> thao-ted Council-bra Bonnington and, jfci.ay foil their kind* espoeEsions, and foe, their nc-miseß of the support of the Council. jHd- fel_- that no matter what sohemea a (Mayor- might bring, .onward they would ihfwe- oaaall chance- of- success if the whole.. iof the- Council wo»e- against, them. ., He.. 'felt the responsibility of his position jdeepSj, and the ajora- bo as he had been {elected as no othe? man in CJnragfc-,. johuaeh had been,, because he, r hadi •baa* taken from business pursuits wiihontfc ' 1 having had any previous experience, of the j ;' Council or of ppblia life. He had come. j forward for several publio offices,, becaueaIhe thought tiftt, he was fitted, for, such I offices. Ec was not, however, going ia, | adlow himself to-be puffed up withi,pride>, i ®ar to lose hia head- He intendad-,to make- ] a close study of. municipal affair^, for, theee i hours every day,, and at the endofrthnxs jor four rcspths he would probably be i prepared with a scheme . which, be ' hoped, wculdi effect a complete, aitetfation of the management.., of- munici- | pal affairs ia the city, . a. thing which, ho considered, publi&opinion, called for. He would not, howev^endeasoar to force hio.,ach»me on the. .ci,ty, , but. would i submit ita to. those who w«r.e-mose eotperienoed in municipal matters than ho-was himself. E<s>wo__id be happj^o a vail, himself of the advice o5 his predecessors in, office. He also intended to establish a Mayoi's Court, whichnwould tend to relieve the pressure of work ia the . Magistrate's, Court. He hoped that some plan would be -devised ' wher-aby Councilloia.would b» relieved to \ soma, extent of tbfl, preseat great prea-BU-Q-of Committee, wock^ He was fully aliwa- io the oi-Scultiea of his pesi-. tJco^ and to the, fact, that he hap\ to. face a £50^0,, overdraft. He did. apt feel proud now, aa he had dqna. nothing yet, but hoped that he would hay^ I reason to feel proud., and that the citizens {wonld have reason to be satisfied wi-h,.hinj lat the closaw off his term of offipe. (Applause.) He would atrive to 3r,eep hi. I election pledges,, and! hoped that ajjji- filing aroueedjduring the election wauld be forgotten*. (Apnjauas.) The ratiring. Mayor moved a, votn of thanks to.the eiafijof the Council, for the mannea in whiijh it bad d2&cb.B*g&d its dutiea during the past year. Coi-ncillpr^homsonsecondedithoj motion, whioX, was carried unanimously. Tie proceedings then Cipaed..

Bis. Worship entertaised tho Councillors aad'sevwral ex- Mayors *nd ea-Councillora, and a number of la&es in the library, j where, wine, fruit and light refreshments were served. . The toasts of the Queen, the past Mayors* the Mayor and. Mrs George, the ladies, and tho Press were drunk ia champagne. At the invitation. o£. the Mayor and, Mrs : George, the putty went in a couple of drags for a drive to New Brighton.