INSTALLATION OF MAYOR.

The annual general meeting of the Borough Council, for the purpose of installing the newly-elected Mayor, and other business, took place at noon to-day. There were present Messrs W. H. Watt, M.H.R., (retiring Mayor), Gilbert Carson (Mayor elect), Crs Chadwick, Spurdle, Jones, Willis, Murray, Brooking (Town Clerk), Gilmour (Foreman of Works). The proceedings were also witnessed by a considerable number of prominent citizens, who occupied the seats allotted to the public.

Mr W. H. Watt then, as retiring Mayor, delivered the following valedictory address :

On retiring from the Mayoralty on the present occasion it may not be considered out of place if I review the progress the the Borough has made during the ten years that have elapsed since its formation, and during which I have occupied the position of Mayor for five and a half years. Those of you who can remember the progress made under the Town Board must be gratified on comparing the present state of the town with what it was when that body resigned its functions and merged into the Borongh Council. The large borrowing powers granted us by special Acts of Parliament, and those allowed by the Municipal Corporations Act have enabled this Council from time to time to materially advance and promote the various improvements so much required at the commencement of the Borough Council. And while I am free to admit that some mistakes and errors have been made still they have been of so trifling a nature as not to have embarrassed the ratepayers by any serious misappropriation of their funds. In no department under your control has greater progress been made than in that of public works, and a statement of what has been done during the past year will suffice to shew how very satisfactorily this department ia managed under the present Foreman, Mr Gilmour, who fills the situation with credit to himself and benefit to the Borough, so much so that I consider that as long as his services are at your command those of an engineer will not be necessary. The following is a detailed statement of what has been done during th c past year : 233 chains|orne?rly three miles of tile drains have been laid thus completing the resolution of the Council passed in Feb. last. 100 chains new streets have been formed and gravelled, 59 chains formed and clayed, 185 repaired and metalled where necessary, 47 chains of new foot paths have been made, and 88 repaired, the whole being now in excellent condition. 20 chains of watennains have been laid down, and now that the whole of the shipment has arrived the present pressing demands of the inhabitants will shortly be carried out. Additional manholes have been made to the main drains, Virginia Lake enclosed by a brick-wall and fence, and a gate erected. Victoria park has been ploughed, levelled, and sown down with grass, and trees have been planted in some of the principal streets. Youare awarethatfor some time past the collection of the rates has not been so satisfactory as the public interest required, but I am happy to say that the recent change by the appointment of Mr Purnell specially for that purpose has proved quite a s .ccess, and is likely to prove highly beneficial to the Corporation. Since he entered on this duty in September last, no less than £2345 14s has been collected, including a large amount of what has been outstanding, and leaving still uncollected a balance of some £3500 which is being rapidly reduced by his energy and attention. I think >ou will agree with me that it must be highly satisfactory to those who take sufficient interest in the affairs of the Borough, and have watched the expenditure, which has been carried out with the strictest economy, and which a comparison of the work done with the amount expended will prove. I feel quite assured that it is not too much to say that the ratepayers may congratulate themselves and rest assurred that the finances of the Borough are perfectly sound, and will compare favorably with any other in the colony. In conclusion I have to thank you gentlemen for the support ) ou have given me during my term of office, and the readiness you have evinced on every occasion to carry out what was really essential for the interests of the Borough. 1 also take this opportunity of thanking the offioers, who have at all times afforded me whatever assistance I required in carrying out my duties, and I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficiency with which they till their several offices, and would recommend that as soon as the resources of the Borough will admit their salaries should be further increased.

The Town Clerk then read the declaration of the Returning Officer, that Mr Carson was duly elected as Mayor. Mr Carson accordingly signed the usual declaration on taking office. Mr Watt congratulated him on his election, and thought that he had every reason to be satisfied with the efficient state of things existing in the Borough, The retiring Mayor having shaken hands with Mr Carson, retired from the Mayoral chair on the dais, which was taken by the latter gentleman. His Worship the Mayor (Mr Carson) said that he did not intend on that occasion to occupy the Council with any lengthened remarks upon Bcrough affairs. He was happy to know, as stated by Mr Watt, that they were in a satisfactory oondition, thanks to the gentlemen who in succession had occupied both the Mayoral chair and the seats at the Council table. Both Mayors and Councillors had been devoted earnestly and thoroughly to the work of the Council, with which work the ratepayers had been satisfied. There had been only one weakness— that referred to by Mr Watt— which was the collection of the rates. This difficulty, however, was being remedied by the appointment of a rate collector, whose duty was to attend to that particular department. In course of time the rates would be duly recovered. If there had been any slackness, it had arisen from the desire of the Council not to bear too hardly on the ratepayers during a time of severe depression. It had been thought better not to act too hastily in the collection of rates. There was, however, another difficulty which it would take time to overcome — rates were collected long after the time they were actually struck and authorised for collection. - Something had been 3aid during election time as to the overburdened state of the Borough, and the heavy ratea which it was desirable to reduce." He could state that there had been neither an increase nor decrease in the rates during the 5 years he had been in the Council. The rates were practically the general rate of Is, which was necessary everywhere to carry on works at all, and a special and water rate for the purpose of paying interest on money borrowed, which rate would be necessary as long as they had borrowed money. The amount realised from that was sufficient not only to pay the interest on the £30,000 ordinary loan, but also on the £10,000 additional, and he hoped that as water extension went on the rate would realise still more. At the present time they were collecting, in one instalment, the general rate, which was due in March last. In many Boroughs that rate was due in April and collected in May or June, but in Wanganui they allowed it to be collected 6 months after it was due. So also with the 2d instalment of the special and water rate, which was due in March last, but was not authorised to be collected till September. It had been awkward for the Council to allow so mouh time to go by, but it had been done to ease the ratepayers. It accounted for the large amount of rates apparently outstanding. He could not see that there was any possibility or likelihood of alteration being made in the rating. The Council could not very well take off the general rate, though probably the valuation would be less this year than last, in which case the amount paid by the ratepayers would be less. One little alteration had been suggested in the Council with regard to the water rate, which he hoped would take effect by and bye. 7 % wa3 high for small holdings, and he hoped it would be reduced to an equable 5 per cent all round, but this could not be done at once. The L4OOO unexpended of the LIO.OOO loan was kept in hand, as the the Council did not know what might transpire with regard to the Virginia Lake difficulty, a matter which it was not necessary

for him to go into at the present time. If judgment were given against the Borough for the higher amount they would have to consider their ways and means. There were no great works in hand, or likely to be undertaken, and he trusted the Council would be able to give diligent attention to small works. He hoped shortly to be able, with the Foreman of Works, to go round the town and its outlying parts and carefully inspect what was required to be done. Should he take upon himself to authorise the carrying out of any little matters, he hoped the Council would not call him in question. There was 'not much likelihood of his trespassing too much in that particular, but it was a pity that time should he delayed and wasted over matters of trifling importance. He was happy to say that the Council had hitherto worked well together, without cliquism or party spirit. They had had their occasional little flings at each other, but they had passed away with the matters which gave rise to them. He believed that they would go on amicably for the future, and warmly thanked the Jouncillors for the manner in which they had returned him. (Cheers.) After every Cr present had warmly congratulated the newly elected Mayor, the meeting terminated.