THE NEW MAYORS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1429, 2 May 1912, Page 6

THE NEW MAYORS.

CITY CEREMONY. i ' ; A NOTE OF GOOD FEELING. ! ACTJN'Ci-MAVOR TITANKED. ! Mr. 1). M'Laren was installed as Mayor ' of Wellington last evening. Tho gallery . of the. Municipal Chamber was fiiied to overturning Ijj citizens desirous of -,vit- ' nessing tho ceremony, and a number of seals mi Ilio floor of tho chamber wore also occupied. Councillor J. Smith (Act-ing-Mayor) presided when the proceedings opened, tho .Mayor-elect and Mayoress occupying adjoining seals. Mr. M'J.aren and the (own clerk {Mr. J. K. ralmer) wiiro their ollicial ' robes Councillor Smith said that it gave him very great pleasure to instal Councillor M'j.areu in ilie honourable and important oliicc! of Mayor. Whatever ditferences they might have had in the past were all over iiiui gone. Councillor .u'Lnren, had carried out tho duties of n councillor ably and welt for some, years past, and was therefore entitled to bo elected to tho position which he was now called upon 10 iil I. Jlo was sura I hat Councillor in.nrt'ii, as Mayor of this city, would be cotineous and linn both to councillor;; and to the citizens of Wellington, and would study tlio interests of the city and of citizens lie hoped that councillor.-; would give Mr. M'Loren tho host .support possible in whatever measures'he might bring forward. Every past Mayor had secure:! the willing co-operation of members of tho council, and every Mayor had likewise had tlio support of the officers of tho council to enable him to carry out tho duties of his office, lie was sure that the present Mayor could rely upon the same support. (Applause.) Councillor Smith now vacated tho chair, and asked the Mayor to take his place. Mr. M'Laren did so, and signed the customary declaration. Councillor Fletcher, on his own bohalf and that of his colleagues, congratulated the Mayor-elect on his election. Ho was quite sure that Mr. M'Larcn possessed the ability, tact, and judgment, necessary in one ivlio occupied the high oflke of Mayor. Ho was certain that councillors would co-operate in every possible way with tho Mayor and assist him to carryout lias duties. Differences of the past would bo sunk and all would work to advance tho interests of the city. Councillor Fletcher wished the Mayor a. happy and prosperous year of office. Ha also congratulated the Mayoress. Councillor Fuller, in congratulating (ho Mayor and Mayoress, said that Mr. M'Laren was first of the race of Labour Mayors. J£e was certain that ho would not bo the Inst of that race. Ho wished tho Mayor all good luck. j Councillor Shirtcliffe endorsed all that I had been said by Councillor I'loteher in regard to tho Mayor's past work on the council. Mr. M'Laren had done such excellent work in tho past that he was fully entitled to the higli office to w.hich he had been elected. Ho was confident that tho Mayor would work in tho interests of tho city as a whole, and not show any partiality to any particular class. Councillor Stiirtclill'e also tendered his congratulations to the Mayoress. • Councillor Barber also tendered his hearty congratulations to tho Mayor and Mayoress. Councillor Trevor was neit to offer his felicitations. The Mayor and himself, he said, might be divided in politics, "but he I would give Mr. M'Laren his loyal support in tho council, and was confident that at the end of their year of offico the Mayor and Mayoress would look back upon it with satisfaction. Councillor Hindmarsh 6aid that Mr. M'Laren's election was a great lesson to ■ the public. Had it been said two or three years ago that a working man. would be j Mayor of Wellington in a few years'time the statement v:ould have been laughed at. As a pioneer, Mr. M'Lareu would have to be careful. Mr.. J. E. Fitzgerald also offered his congratulations. Ho hoped that the day was far distant when any Mayor would introduce politics into tho municipal oiiambcr. In his campaign the Mayor had set a worthy ciauiple. Councillors Frost and Cohen, in their turn, ottered hearty congratulations. THE MAYOR'S SPEECH, THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. NO CAUSE FOR ALAKM. The Mayor said ho would be saying what was not correct if ho stated that he was entering the office of Mayor without some trepidation. Ho acknowledged from tho bottom of his heart tho very kind remarka that had been made about him by the councillors. lie thanked councillors also for tlieir kindly references to Mrs. M'Laren, but he said that Mrs. M'Laren nover had been, and did not wish to be, a public woman. The day had surely passed when fear need be entertained about a Labour man entering a high public office, und he instanced Mr. Andrew Fisher as one who had held office with, honour end distinction. It was a proof that tho democracy of our colony was ono that was true in character, that whatever a man's station his fpllow-citizens had a right to choose, him for any office they might deem it right for him to fill. With regard to the election, the ono thing that he regretted was that owing to the exigencies of public wnrfari) hn found himself in opposition to ft brother councillor whom he respected most deeply and sincerely. In making that statement he inado it not as a compliment, but as an expression of his true feelings. Ho recognised and appreciated tho kindness shown by Councillor Smith as an old councillor who had served 27 years in the ■•■p'.iblic- life of this community, in assisting him on entering upon his most difficult duties. Ho felt certain that those who had been associated with him in Labour organisations of ono kind and another in the city had too sincere a regard for tlio collecfivist principle which lay at the root of their own movement to try to induce him into any path of action which would endanger the city's interest. He did not propose to deal at iwpth with the (ouiicil'.i policy, hut there v/cie j some things in regard to which a .h:iij;o could be made. He would endeavour to giro cfiiial justice to every member <f the council, and to afford every mtinber the fullest liberty without license. Ho hoped tp have the assistance of tho council in this. City's ."ffairs Prospering He was jfit'->Led that o ir lify's affairs were on the wnole in a veiy uiitu! condition. Tolling mtc- couv'leration what the state of trade had biiou-ffic droi) nf two or three years in axpirts could be taken aa an indication of the lowering of trade in the city and 'li*li:tt —the works and services :.f had been'well sustained, this position, the council ooui'.i, and voulti, endeavour to carry on those v.-o •(,-•; with, duo regard to economv I? r U.e purpose of assisting coun"i.'!-)r3 in th.-ir work, ir would be well if the Librvv Committee got together a councillors' library. Civic affairs had reached such a state (h.-.t mere rule of thumb methods had got cut of date. He dedre;! dumw his term of office to endeavour to i;et sonii. general plan established for tho. carrying out of tho development works of the city. Before tho council were certain plans for beautifying, for street-widening, and there were also demands—excessive demands— for extensions to tramways, and all these things were being done by separate moves. lie thought it would lie well In-have a central body to deal with the city's works on brondor lines. Our trading services— (i department of civic affairs that was growing larger in all municipalities— were nourishing. Tho lighting and power departments wero in a very good position, and although there had been some criticism with regard to tramways, particularly referring to the depreciation fund, it must be remembered that the service had been in existence for a very short period. They could not know what tho requirements cf tho service would be far some years yet. Councillors must keep in. mind that the net surplus available on tin's year's balance-sheet showed that the utmost care was necessary in the financing of the undertaking, and citizens should also bear this in mind, and not a=k for impossible things. He was satisfied that the council could still carry on this service with advantage to the people : of Wellington as n whole. He again thanked councillors for tlw honour they had done him, .lie reccg-ni-cd thai; lie. nm-t go slowly al (he starl. • perhaps to go all I he !a-ler at Ilio end. ! and hi: -urc thai ill i'iulr-;ivrinriiig to i carw out lii- d'i'.ics »f b .i .inglo ■•}•<) in ; tli« well-being o-f the city he would hare

j iho support of tho council, and the coniidence. of tho people, of Wellington. (Aplilaua,.) Tribute to Councillor Smith. AVhcn tiio council resume*! for ordinary business, tlio Mayor moved tho following resolution:— "Tlmt this council nf tiio city of AYcMiiigton tenders to Councilor "John SmHli its yen- .sincere thanks, 01pressivo (if its appreciation of tho ion/, , nii<l aWo service lie has rendered to our city; also its special appreciation of Hio'manner in which Councillor Smith held the oiiico of ActiliK-AFayor, »i)(l fulfilled Hit , responsible dulivi attached thereto." Councillor .Shirlelifle, in seconding (ho motion, said tlmt it whs uniieeossnry fnr liim to enlarge upon <ho great work that Councillor Smith had (iono for tho city of Wellington during tho post quarter of a century. -All ivem under a debt of gratitudV to Councillor Smith for tho ma n hit in which hi' h<id carried out tho duties cf Acting-Mayor. Councillor Fletcher heartily supported the motion, ami suggested that tiio motion should lx» ollicinlly transmitted to Uoiincillor Smith. The motion was carried, unanimously, with applause. Councillor Smith said that ho was very much obliged to tho council for its vote, of confidence in his past administration. He had not expected anything of tho sort, and felt that tho council had done him amplo justice in passing this vote to him i'c , his* past services. A tribute paid to Councillor Smith by the Reserves Committco was also endorsed by the council:— "That this committee places on record its exceedingly high appreciation of the groat services rendered to the citv by Councillor Smith as chairman of the Reserves Committee in tho carrying out of tho work of the committee in connection with the city reserves, and that this resolution bo reported to tho council." MIRAMAR. NEW MAYOR OPTIMISTIC. ' The new Mayor of Miramar, Mr. Hector Norman M'Lcod, was duly installed in office at noon yesterday. The retiring Mayor (Mr. John Brodio) congratulated his successor on having been elected, and also Messrs. H. A. Smith and A. Grigg on having been elected as councillors. He feit sure that all three, having a good knowledge of the borough's affairs, would prove of service, on the council. - lie concluded by thanking tho councillors for tho support they had given him for the two years ho had held the Mayoral office.

Several members of the council expressed appreciation of Mr. Brodio's services to tlio borough, and felicitated the new Mayor and councillors on (heir election. Mr. M'Lcod then addressed the council in his new position. He hoped that tho lwppy relationships which had existed between councillors and past occupants of tho office of Mayor would he continued in his term. The district, he said, had a splendid equipment, of services. There were problems in tho control of trams, especially as to time-table, fares, and lack of space at rush times, Imfc ho hoped that the City Council might at length meet the Miramar Council in a conciliatory spirit. Ho gave it as his opinion that Miramar was a most desirable place of residence, but in order to make, it more so a continuance of the tree-plant-ing policy was necessary, and the co-oper-ation of al! interested should bo invoked to assist in this. Miramar, he said, would always be opposed to the proposal to tear up the Te Aro Tailway. On the contrary, this artery of commerce must be extended to Miramar at no distant dale. Th? population on the other side of Mount Victoria required consideration in this matter, and the industrial development that tho future held for Miramar also required tlio railway. Miramar offered considerable facilities for the establishment of industrios—a large wharf with deeper water naturally than at the eily wharves, with traffic rails which could be carried riglit into (lie yards of factories requiring Iliem, and cheap land. Those ho thought strong inducements for the early establislnnr-nt of business concerns. He considered that the connection of the borough with shipping should be sufficient ground for raising the question of representation on tho Harbour Board. ONSLOW BOROUGH, A WATER-SUPPLY PROPOSAL. Tho re-elected Mayor of Ons'.ow (Mr. Frank Holdswortli) was installed yesterday at noon. Besides tho Mayor, there wero present: Councillors G. W. Darvali, R. AV. Dingvvall, C. Aplin, jun., AV. 11. j Bowdcn, E. S. Stafford, and F. Bates. Apologies for absence were received from j Councillors B. Lynneberg, J. C. Gardner, and C. M'Arthur. The customary declaration was read by tho town clerk and signed by tho Mayor. Councillor Stafford slid Hint he could voice his own personal satisfaction, and, also, he thought, the satisfaction of the council, at Mr. Holdsworth'a re-election. During the past year the council had done good work, and its administration had been careful and economical. Ho hoped that during tho year a water and drainage scheme would 1» considered. He congratulated Mr. Holdswortli on his return as Mayor. Congratulations were also ofjored to the Mayor by Councillors Aplin, Bowden, Bates, Dingivall, and Darvali. Mr. Holdsworth, in responding, said that he was very plcnsed to find himself re-elected as Mayor. Referring hriolly to tho lato election, he remarked that, considering tho time and trouble that the council and Mayor gave to the affairs of the. borough, tho electors might reasonably take u little more interest in thoso affairs. He agreed with Councillor Stafford that the promotion of a water and drainage scheme called for immediate attention. Nearly every new ratepayer known to him, who had came into the borough, had askod when they were going to got the water. A few eager people like that brought in a lot of laggards. He considered that before the council went on with extensivo works in its own catchment area, it should approach tii© Citv Council and ascertain the price at which it would supply Onslow with water from AVainni. Water could be pumncd to a storage-reservoir on Tn Kainga. 'this basils would l>o higher than tho reservoir, which otherwise would have to be constructed in the catchinent area, and very little lower than the small storage basin which it had been proposed to construct on To Kainga to supply tho higher levels. Concluding. Mr, Holdsworth stated that his duties had been very much lightened by the way in vhich councillors had worked during the past vear, and ho hoped that tho same relations would continue. The. council, ho considered, could congratulate itself upon its choice of an engineer, and,the town clerk had also done good work. There were no outstanding rates.

The Standing of the past year were unanimously re-elected.

EASTBOURNE. The formal installation of the reelected Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. H, W. Shortt) took place at noon yesterday. Councillor AV. .7. Organ offered the felicitations of the council to his Worship on his re-election, and Teferred to Mr. Shortt's past services as Mnj-or nf the borough. The speaker also congratulated Councillor Russell on his election to tho council. Other speakers followed with congratulatory speeches, and expressed tho hopo that the borpuph water scheme would lie completed during tho Mayor's term of office. Mr. Shortt responded to the good wishes of the speakers, and also welcomed Councillor Russell back to the council. His Worship's remarks on (lie subject of tho ferry service arc reported elsewhere. Councillor Russell, replying to the congratulations tendered him un his election, remarked that tho council shouUl divert its attention in tho future to the popularising of thejreach and tho provision of a band-stand, and also to Hie matter of co-operation with the residents of the various bays in the harbour, with regard to the transport and other kindred questions. PETONE. '■THE MAYOR'S PROGRAMME. The formal installation of Mr. J. TF. M'Ewau, re-elected Mayor of Petone, took place- last evening, immediately prior to rho "biHnoss meeting of the council. Ifcspoiidinir iJ llio i'oiiKMtnlatioin ot various snooker?. .Mr. M'i>nn said that tho policy which he had had submitted in tliu Ijoro'isli "Im'iiix Mil" eiertinii slinuld. (u> tliouffl.' , -, b'.i carried nut. Willi lupinl tc iiM! wui<« iciiomo, ho uruDoscu to

move for an estimate) liy (he llorniigh Kngineor of (ho cost of providing it septic tank for tlio eastern drainage system, which might he duplicated when required. At Iliu Kiiim fiim; h<. would propose, that I lie debit balance, in tlio raslew loiiii bo added In the estimate of tho Koivngo *vlioiin>. loss the credit, which would Imvo to ha itlliAVf.il lor plant and materia! left over from Ih« completion ol tho scheme. Ho intended at. Ihn next; meeting to bring down :i drainage sclh'iiio to cost approximately .fciO.Mflll; also fur it ivalerworlcs loan of -£2(100 to repay In tho district fui-.il ai:coiini .U ir.llll for fund purchased for waterworks nml paid fur out (it the general iireiiuut. Their municipal buildings he, i.'Oiitinucd, would not bo complHo without a. cluck, and he proposed to n>l; Ilium In borrow .KUDO to purchase, <iu<y-lh« niiiiiiiil on,l. would be .CIO. Willi regard to Iho iv-plan-ndf, ins thought that it was, linn- this work was dune. Tho eiigiiwer'h estimate, of tlio work wiis .Cl.'i p.'i , chain of seawall, and ho pmpo.-cd !o move Hint (he engineer procoL'd uilh the, ruction of livo cliiiins of sc-n-wull. lie. also hml in view an experimental shipment 'if "VI lons of coal for Ihe gasworks, direct frmn Wesiport to I'clom, Wharf. Tin. b»! could bo lauded at 7s. («•!■ ton freight charge.-i, plus llui varliign from Iho ivluirl to tli<i gasworks Ki'lViiiiig to Ilio pipn bridgn approaches, Mr. M'Kwan siiitl Hint it win prop<,;-wl (<i rail fnr tender". In .-lose i,n .May 11, in aecordiiiicii ivilh Ilio plans mid sp<ein<a.lions iilroady prcpim-d. In Iho iii<-iiiilinie full information 11.4 to l'n« financial niilf! of Ilio iindi-rlaking would In: laid b"f'oi» tho council. In regard i<> tin. i;nsworK certain charges would In. reduced from 7s. (Id. to (is. 8(1. per HIM) fw.t. I J n ronii'-clioii with lb<> (liivcriimonf. lands in Ilio liorou;;li, it \v;n propo-wl (n nrrnngo. for a, deputation from tin. council and eiliwni In interview I lie Minisl'T i for Lands with regard to tho mtiiig of theso rale-cxcMiptcd lands. " Tho mailer of tho troin service, he-aid, would also form tlio hiil.jee.f. of i-pic:-w>. tutions by n dcj>iila.fion to ilio Minist/T for Kailways If<. had Im-.cii informed thai some, improvement was conldiiip/ntftd, nml ii depiitniiou might ncculenilo iii«.(.l':m. "There was a now train to-nighl/--l.'J minutes out," niterjiickd Comioiilnr Lodder. Concluding, ilio Mayor said that. l)i<> estimate would Iks tabled on May 27. LOWER lIUTT. When installed last night for hisfwirUi term of oflicc as Mayor- of Lower Ilult. Mr. K. P. "Bunny sa'id" that he hoped that thu coming year would sco th» completion of the Eeweragn scheme and tho installation of more reliable pumping machinery for the borough water supply. Attention would have to be given to street and footpat Ii improvement, and (is there were '10 miles of "streets in the borough, this would be ii matter requiring earnest consideration. The engineer would shortly be bringing down a. report on the subject. -Mr, Bunny stated that hi regarded his election as significant of the. ratepayers' continued confidence not only in himself but in the council as a whole. Considering the handicap of falling revenue and largo undertakings to which they had been committed by previous conditions, he thought that it would bo admitted they had done their host under the circumstances. Several councillors spoke congratulating Mr. Bunny upon his re-election. Councillor ltoots asked the Mayor if he would call a public meeting to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Minister for Kailways asking for improved railway communication. Hβ iliought that Lower Hint should co-operate with tho rest of the valley for that purpose. The council resolved that a public meeting be called for next Friday for tho purpose indicated.