MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 106, 3 May 1912, Page 6

MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

P,[R:KF:\-.HT.:vn ilr. W. Wallace, who was recently elected Mayor for the borough of Birkenhead, was duly installed las»t evening at the monthly meeting of the Council. The retiring Mayor (Mr. J. G. Kay), in vacating the chair, referred to the work done during his term of office, and congratulated the Council on the fact that the district was making progress. There i were, he stated, now 445 houses in the i borough, and the population was 1800. j The borough overdraft had been rei duced from £509 to £.'!:;;). Of the different loan accounts, there v us the No. 4 loan, of which £400 was to go towards work uncompleted ne.ar the wharf. Tim I question Oi broken metal to nte.et the I requirements of the district would have Ito be met, as no provision had i<een i made for a regular supply. Councillor Wallace, after making the usual declaration, besought the hearty i co-operation of the members to assist ; him in order that the various works I might be carried out. The overdraft had I been reduced" to £330. .but he would live ;to see it increased for the sake of the ' roads and footpaths, which, he ranI tended, were a disgrace. The amount ofi money allocated out of the No. 4 loan | was inadequate to complete the work iat the wharf, which was started six J years ago. With regard to the site at 1 'Lake Takapuna, which the Council had I taken under the Public Works Act, and I ' for which a claim for over £5000 had! I been made, he said this was a matter I the Council should fight step by step, '■ and he. hoped that, the Council would succeed in reducing the amount considerably. In order to obtain a regular j supply of metal, the time had arrived i when the 'borough should acquire a site of its own, and instal a plant for the j purpose of brcakine the metal to the regulation size. The sanitary arrangement was a matter that required immediate attention, and a more rigid supervision of shops should 'he undertaken in relation to food supplies in the ■borough. The street lighting was unsatisfactory; the Council were paving j £100 per annum for lamps that were i only alieht half the time. TWe was need for a more rapid means of transi; ] !to and from the wharf. With the object j Jof providing occupation for vonnjT men in the evenins*. he =ne:re*ted that the ! Council Chamber-; should lie fitted up a? Ia- rendinc-room. and : ! library started, j •Mr. Wallace, in conclusion, paid a tribute to the long period of service rendered to the borough by Mr. Kay, who. in responding, referred i" appreciative terms -to th" kindness and murtcev of the Town Clerk (Mr. A. L. WhiteV whose present remuneration, he considered. tea* not sufficient for the arduous duties entailed.