WEST HARBOR

Evening Star, Issue 14532, 7 December 1910, Page 5

WEST HARBOR

AXD THE MEMBER FOR CHALMERS. The member for Chalmers (Mr E. H. Clark) was entertained at Ravensbourne last night by the Mayor (Mr H. E. Moller), tnd presented with an illuminated eddrcss. West ILirbor has been progressing of late as a bororgh, and seme of the progress ha 3 been attributed to Mr Clark's assiduity as an M.P. The gathering was for councillors and for employees of the Council only In proposing Mr Clark's health, the Mayor said that he could not claim to having assisted him in securing the position of member for Chalmers, but it spoke very well for Mr Clark that, although three-fifths of those in the room had supported the late Mr E. 11. Allen, the manner in which Mr Clark had represented the district had secured for him so many friends, and nowhere in the electorate had he stauncher friends than in West Harbor. —(Hear, hear.) West Harbor Council had been termed " a noisy crowd " because of their agitating. He could only say that as public men it was their duty to agitate, and get what they could for the district, as they had been to a certain extent neglected long enough. They used to be content with a grant from the Government of about a couple of hundred pounds a year, but now they wanted .voie. —(Laughter.) Some progress lai leen made during the last lew years, however—£soo and a grant for the long-A-isneu-for post office. Indeed, the borough .vas advancing so fast th~t outsiders were beginning to think that it was advancing a little too quickly.—(Laughter.) Still, there was a lot more to be done, ?nd His Worship here, recited a list of local requirements, which included in alteration in the railway time-table and tne eoic-dy erection of the fist office. Addressing Mr Clark, His Worship conclude!: "At the end of your term net only myself but the whole of the councillors around this table will do what they >-r.n to se.i.l \mi back to Parliament with a majority down here that you wi'l be proud of."—(Applause.) Mr Clark was then presented with an address conveying the Council's appreciation of his efforts in Parliament to advance the interests of the borough. His " untiring seal and indefatigable energy m securing . • • valuable improvements in the main approach to our municipality " were specially referred to; and the Council looked forward with pride to the erection of the post office, with which Mr Clark's name would be indelibly associated. The address concluded : "We believe that in these expressions the majority of your constituent! arc in hearty -accord, and we earnestly hop.s that we shall long have the privilege of your faithful and valuable services in your present capacity, and trust that yon and Mrs Clark will be long spared to enjoy a happy and prosperous life amongst us." In ieturning thanks for the gift and appreciation of the expressions of goodwill, Mr Clark said that he felt almost an intruder on West Harbor's generosity. What he had done to further the interests of West Harbor he had considered it his duty to do. He was sure that West Harbor was going to be one of the most thriving suburba of Dunedin, with which he predicted it would amalgamate in a few years. In connection with the train service he hat interviewed thi Hon. Mr Millar until he was fairly sick of it. —(The Mayor: I can believe it.) Nothing definite was promised, but it could be under- ■ jtood that when an alteration was made it would be a satisfactory one. He hoped that at the end of his term he would merit the confidence West Harbor had placed in him. —(Applause.)