GREY LYNN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 114, 15 May 1902, Page 2

GREY LYNN.

At the special meeting of the Grey Lynn Council last evening the Mayor, Mr. E. T. Warnock, before retiring from office prior to making the customary formal declaration for the second term, said: As the signing of the minute-book is usually considered to be the last official act of the Mayor before vacating the Mayoral chair, and as the burgesses of this borough have been good enough to re-elect me to the honourable position of Mayor of Grey Lynn for another term, I think it a good opportunity for me to say a few words on the progress and public works of the borough during the past year, and also glance briefly at our prospects for the coming year. Early in our year of office you will recollect that a very successful poll of the ratepayers was taken to carry out important drainage anct water extensions in the borough. After considerable delay we were successful in obtaining the necessary funds from the Government to commence operations. Under the skilful management of Mr. H. Metcalfe (engineer) and Mr. Henry (contractor) public drainage in Surrey Hills and a portion of the Eichmond Ward are being constructed, costing close on £GOOO, and private connections costing about £1000. These important works will soon be completed, and the sanitation of this portion of our borough will be equal to the best in the colony. As you are aware, a contract was let some months ago to Messrs. Briscoe and MacNeit for the supply of waterpipes for the Eichmond Ward. These pipes are expected daily, and this much-needed work, costing about £2000, will be an accomplished fact within the nqxt few weeks. Some months ago we let a contract for the remov.il of nightsoil by the closedpan system, commencing on June Ist next, the Council dealingdirect with the contractors. This system, we hope, will be more efficient and effect a consider-, able saving to the householders. The removal of hottse refuse by the Council continues to g-ive'satisfaction. We have done a considerable amount of tarring and sanding during the year. having spread 8500 gallons of tar and GOOO bushels of sand. During th" year there have been erected in the borough (principally in Surrey Hills) 79 new houses. .These, added to th increase of last year, has increased our population by nearly 1000 since tne last census was taken. This, I consider, very satisfactory. The reports issued by the Health Depart ment and our sanitary officer ha' been very satisfactory as regards the health of the Grey Lynn residents. The one distressing case with which wt had to deal lately in no way re:S3pted on our sanitation. I desire to tthank you all for your kindness and courtesy to me during the past year. I „an assure you that it has been a pleasure to me to.be associated with su'ih a united Council, all working towcuher ior the .welfare of this Council. I feel that you have done a great deal during the past year toward elevating the standard of sanitation and giving this borough, a foremost place among the suburban districts of Auckland. I also wish to thank Dr. Mdkgili and the Health Department generally for their valuable advice and assistance during the year. I would further wish to place on record the pleasure it has been to me 'o be associated with Mr Symonds, the esteemed town clerk of this borough. I have had many opportunities for observing his courteous and able manner in conducting the business of this office. His clear grasp of the position and the way he conducted iat loan and other correspondence proves him to be the right man in the right place, and I congratulate tlie ratepayers on having secured his services. I thank Mr Fenton and the officials of the Council for their ready courtesy and assistance on all occasions; and, lastly but not least, T have to thank the press for many acts of kindness and for their faithful and full reports of our proceedings dining the year. Cr. J. Farrell took the chair while Mr. E. T. Warnock made the formal declaration of office. Cr. Farrell, in congratulating the Mayor, said it was evident the ratepayers had every confidence in Mr. Warnock, whose energy and ability showed his fittingness for a second term of office. In drainage matters the Mayor was very energetic, and his watchfulness had saved

a good deal of the ratepayers' money. The , initiation of the drainage scheme was entirely due to their Mayor.

Cr. Brmsden also spoke on similar lines, and referred especially to the amount of time Mr. Warnock devoted to bor uiffh affairs.

Cr. White congratulated the Mayor upon his assumption of office for a second term. The Jfavov had now become an-expert in drainage, and had he not accepted office it would have been a loss to Grey Lynn. The Mayor. sagacity had secured J or the Borough a foreshore that would be of great value in years to come.

All the Councillors in turn congratulated Mr. Warnock upon having a secoud term as Mayor.

The Mayor acknowledged the kindly expressions of the Councillors, and said he had just tried to do his duty. If a man did his best he could do no more, lie mentioned that he had now been elected twenty-six times for the Eoad Board, and afterwards the borough. He did not believe there was a more unanimous or better working Counc'l than that of Grey Lynn. As the tramways would be breaking ground on the North Eoad next year, the Council would have to face the question of maintaining boundary roads. Pegarding finances, he might state of the No. 1 loan of £2500, ail but -CS'iO had been paid off, it being decreased by £200 durin_r the past year. The £1400 loan still remained r.t 4 per cent., and there was the recent Government loan for drainage works and water extension.