GOLD CHAIN OF OFFICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 10

GOLD CHAIN OF OFFICE.

ONEHUNGA MAYOR DECORATED.

MEMENTO OF BOROUGH JUBILEE.

An interesting echo of the borough jubilee celebration of last Wednesday was heard at the first meeting of the new council last night, when the first link in the gold chain of office, which was promised by Mr. W. Morton at the re-union last week, was presented to the Mayor by the town clerk, Mr. H. A. Yockney. Investing Mr. Coldicutt with the insignia of office, Mr. Yockney explained that although Mr. Morton had promised only one link he had since decided to permanently commemorate the jubilee by attaching it to a silk collar of office, with an appropriate pendant of gold.

The donor was in attendance, and added that as a resident of Onehimga for 47 years, he would like to do honour to the district and its new Mayor at such an important milestone in the history of the borough. He was really starting the chain with three links and the pendant, and he had no doubt it would gradually grow.

Messrs. Speight, Carlton. Moor, Stoupe and E. Morton congratulated the Mayor on having such a handsome sign of office, and thanked Mr. Morton for initiating such a splendid memento of the jubilee, Mr. Speight adding that the office of Mayor of the borough was worthy of this dignity.

Mr. Coldicutt expressed his keen appreciation of Mr. Morton's thoughtful kindness in presenting such a fine collar and chain. It was inscribed with a Maori motto: "Kei ahau ta mini," which might be interpreted: "I hold th* key of the position.' . He faneied that the ex-Mayors etf the borough were all keenly interested in its welfare, and they might be inclined to add a gold link each, in addition to which it would increase in size when his successors were appointed. He accepted the chain as a sign of office, but was sure that lie could already depend on the loyal eupport of the council.