THE MUNICIPALITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8555, 8 May 1913, Page 6

THE MUNICIPALITY.

MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

COUNCILLORS SWORN IN,

Mr Henry Davis was installed in the Mayoral Chair once more last night and eight of the new members of the Borough Council also made their declarations and - were sworn in. Those members of the Council present were: Councillors H. A. Lloyd, P. L. Orr, G. H. Buchanan, John Davison, Peter Stewart, J. T.M. Priest, F. Z. D. Ferriman, and G. D. H. Hefford. The absent •■' member was Cr. J; B. Christian.; There were no ex-mayors or burgesses present. ' • 'j The Mayor said ho had forgottepj, when calling a. meeting of the cojrir mittee for entertaining the buffed jackets, that it was imperative tHat the; Mayor, be installed on the fipst Wednesday in May. The preparations for the installation had been very' hasty, andy^he statement he intended to make would not be presented till flic first meeting of the Council on Mon<|a'y night next. He expressed his pleasure at seeing Cr Stewart back at ■thetable, .and said;.he hoped they wojrfd ; all get to work in a businesslike w#y early in the year, and :>vdrk together., for the good of the borough. He trusted that they would all be on friendly • terms, and that his rulings would not at any time be found irksome. He him-: self was amenable to the same rules as the councillors, and for whatever he did he would always be pleased to give an explanation. Cr John, Davison (Deputy-Fa.yor), who installed the Mayor, said that this was the eleventh time Mr Davis had been elected unopposed to the office of Mayor, and he felt it not only a-plea-sure, but an honour, to (natal him in the mayoral chair. His return for the eleventh time unopposed was proof that the burgesses were welL satisfied with the way in which he had filled the office of Chief Magistrate. The speaker believed that Mr Davis would carry, out his duties in the same conscientious manner a« in the past, and in handing over the keys he felt that he could' not entrust -them to more honourable or trustworthy hands. , Cr Davison then handed over the keys, and Mr Davis made the usual declaration.

The Mayor then said that the be-1 nignity of Cr Davison led him to say J very kindly things. Mr Davis promised to give the sanie attention to. his duties in the future as in the past, but had another been found who was willing to take the office he would have stood down without much pressing.; Ho hoped he would get on well with the Council, and a mayor who could riot get on well with his Council could do very little good. He urged tho Coun-^ cil, after the election of committees, tdi apply themselves in a proper spirit to their duties, and show that prudence in dealing with "the borough finances which tho responsibilitos of their, positions demanded.

The proceedings then terminated