PRESENTATION TO THE MAYOR AND MRS LOUISSON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CII, Issue 11948, 20 July 1899, Page 6

PRESENTATION TO THE MAYOR AND MRS LOUISSON.

The Art Gallery was crowded last, night by a gathering representative of all classes .oh the occasion of a Conversazione^tendered , by the’citizen's, of Chrisfccjhurcli -iMHiMMayoi’ and Mrs Louisson. Thu room had- been .tastefully decorated for the occasion, and file proceedings opened with a musical programme. The following items were contributed ; —Piano solo by Miss Lingard, song, “ Mia Piccerella, by Mrs Burns, instrumental quartette by Mrs H. li. Loughnan, Miss Ella'Julius and Messrs H. H. Loughnan.and Lucas. Part-song, “The Cuckoo Sings in the. billow Tree,' by Mrs Burns, Miss Graham and Messrs Appleby and Millar. Song, “The Storm Fiend,’’ by -Mr A. Millar, and part song, “ Sweet and Low,” by Mrs Burns,- Miss Eraham, and Messrs Appleby and Millar. .. After refreshments had ..been served, Mr . R.;c.- Bishop.; mayor of.'K'e'w,,Brighton,..said . that .-there were” few . important' Occasions I'hireugh life that had not some ting© of regret -or disappointment. Theirs was the absence' through indisposition: Of Sir. John' : Hail, who-as: a public leader,- and as the first chairman of - the City Council, was Js'6ir- ; sidefed the most'.appropriate as well, as the most fitted to have presided at this function.; The other veterans of Canterbury's history, the Hons W.'Rolleston andvC. : ;C. -Bpwep, were' both detained at Wellington by. their. 'parliamentary dirties, ahH so was Mr G.; Lewis, the senior member for the city. ; He(Mr Bishop) had. also received a number of apologies from other prominent citizens, whose business or public duties prevented them fronvbeing present, but all joined in expressions of sympathy with the movement, which had culminated in the gathering that evening-. The pleasant duty had now devolved upon him to become the mouthpiece of that representative assemblage of Christchurch citizens met to do honour to those to whom honor was due. The meeting was convincing testimony to the cordial regard in which ,their guests, his Worship the Mayor and Mrs Louisson, were held amongst thorn,-nob only personally but also as the official custodians, for the past two years, of the civic honour, their civic interests and their civic responsibilities. The MayOr, who brought to the office a worthy conception of its importance, and a deep sense of its obligations, would always be a faithful servant to the community which honoured him with its confidence. Such a Mayor they had in Mr Louisson, and they were thenrthat night to tell him how they appreciated 'Ms long and faithful services. He was no stranger to the position, as this was tlie fourth time he had filled the office of CMef Magistrate of the city. Christchurchwas-still but a young community, but true to the traditions of the race, the pioneer fathers, when setting forth on their work of -colonisation, brought in their stout hearts the desire to live under similar conditions of civil liberty to those they were leaving behind, and it was : not long before they; saw. their, little communities gradually developing into cities with all the rights and privileges pertaining to the ancient form of civic government. The title of Mayor was not only very old but had always been one of honour and respect. In England it was first conferred by charter, during the eleventh- century, and they were told that the office was coveted with eagerness when the attainment of it was the ambition of the most eminent and wealthy citizens. Christchurch might well be proud of'the roll of her chief magistrates, when they numbered on it such names as those of Sir John Hall, John Ollivier, John Anderson, E. B. Bishop and many others who, in their day, worthily upheld the dignity of the office. , Mr Louisson had already had his name- inscribed on that roll of honour more than, once, and he (Mr Bishop) sincerely hoped that it had not been inscribed there for -the last time. ' There were signs of great development of municipal control, both in Great Britain and in these colonies, and it was of the first importance that their chief .magistrates should be chosen from . amongst those who could properly estimate the true- -value of their, position in directing . the administration of the city’s affairs. This Mr Louisson had never failed to do, and it was the abject of that: meeting to express bo Mm, in the name of the 'citizens :of Christchurch, their appreciation of the manner, m which he had discharged the . duties of the-high trust reposed in him. His initiation of the, scheme of municipal comprehension, as suggested, to embrace the city and .the surrounding boroughs, had it been'carried out, would have. given to Christchurch, a more important status amongst the-cities of the colony, and the idea was worthy of .the office. During his term of office many of them had enjoyed, the public hospitality of his Worship and Mrs Louisson, bub there were also many others who had reason to thank his private generosity for thoughtful acts of benevolence. The citizens of Christchurch, in an illuminated address, bearing some hundreds of names, had endeavoured to express the estimation in which Mr and Mrs Louisson were held, and on their behalf Ire (Mr Bishop) had now the pleasing duty to ask his Worship’s acceptance of an ; offering of plate, which- was intended as a slight token of their high appreciation of his services, and they expressed the hope'that he would be Tong spared in health and happiness to enjoy the confidence and esteem of which these gifts were but the expression. It would be at once ungracious and ungrateful not to tender Mrs Louisson also their thanks for the amiable manner in which she had so ably assisted the Mayor in the discharge of -many of his 'duties. There were many unwritten obligations which bad full significance for the Mayoress, and it was in the discharge of these unwritten laws that Mrs Louisson had so worthily seconded the efforts of her husband. The pitizens fully appreciated the admirable manner in which she had responded to the: requirements of her position, and on their, behalf he had to ask her to accept a souvenir as some relight mark of their goodwill towards her, and to, reiterate the hope that both she and Mr Louisson might, long be spared to enjoy the blessings of perfect happiness and continued prosperity. Mr Bishop then handed a copy of the address, together with a silver tea and coffee service and salver to Mr Louisson, and a handsome diamond pendant to Mrs Louisson.

The Mayor said that it needed more selfpossession than he possessed to reply suitably to the sentiments just expressed, and to convey some idea of the feelings of himself and Mrs Louisson. It was one of the few occasions on which he felt a difficulty in expressing Ids feelings, for few citizens had such honour done to them. When he looked around on that splendid gathering he hardly knew how to-express his appreciation*, and hoped that he would be excused for any shortcomings in speech. It was now twenty years and more since he -had first and-he would •te'-a' very ■dull individual if he had not gained'some .experience'during that period, and-that-ex-perience, such as it was, had been unr©.servedly placed at the-disposal-of the citizens. To give an idear-of’the for municipal .duties, he would merely say that -City 'Councillors■'attended oman-average from eight to ten meetings a week. Coun-cillors-had also to steer clear of tho-inter-ests of others, and it was impossible to effect even improvements without encroaching on some interests. Bub he did claim for the City Councillors that they did> their best, within their knowledge, for the interests of the citizens. (Applause.) -During his municipal services- he had noticed great improvements, and though they ought not to boast too much, they could hardly avoid listening to the favourable criticisms of visitors from all ‘parts of the world. .He once had, and still possessed, the idea of a “ Greater Christchurch,” '' and thought that .such a change would work to the gpod of all. If all the boroughs were-included in tie city, they could carry out those great works of water supply, electric.light-: -inrs etc., and when these were caried out, Christchurch would lie one of the .finest: cities in New .Zealand- ‘ He hoped'yet toy see-Christchurch with 50*000. or 60,000 mi-; habitants, or even double,, that number.} (Applause.) He was nob. one of those, ascotia individuals who-considered '-this.

world one of penance, and pain, bub thought rather that the Great Giver of all good things had given us this beautiful •world-in-.-order to enjoy ourselves- in modeinstead of making grimage, in bare feet oVer jShihgle. '(Applause.) It had pteashrahle for himself and Mrs Louisson to meet the citizens in a social way, and Me might ;say that - they had considered themselves amply repaid for any little trouble they bad taken in this direction. The invitation- he had received was enough in r itself to be a sufficient reward for any man who bad carried out his duty, and he would treasure and be proud of the beautiful address, and hoped it would long remain in his family. (Applause.) He could not help : thinking that his small efforts had been greatly overrated—(Cries of “No 1 , no !”) —but it was at least an inspiriting thing to follow the steps’ of one like the late Mr John Anderson, who, thirty years ago, had filled the Mayoral chair- better than- hb'(Mr Louisson), could ever 'fill it, and* whose sons, now grown up, had fairly won-the. respect of the citizens, and he hoped,that some of them would yet fill The Mayhral chair. (AffbanseV’T Be 'did ■; hope, that some citizen—a" Motive of tbe place—would appropriately come forward 'as' Mayor for the “Jubilee Year.” (Applause.) With respect to the Industrial Hall, 1 he was sure that Christchurch: did' not at the present time possess a building worthy of the growth and expansion of the ,city ; : and he hoped that; all citizens and agriculturists would join in erecting; a, suit* able structure, of which lie hoped to have the " pleasure of laying the foundation stone.' (Applause.) Once more, on behalf of'Mrs Louisson- and himself, he wished' to thank .them, and to assure them that their presence there was more valued by Mrs Louisson and himself than* their' valuable gifts. He would’ thank’ them yet again, not so much for their presents, though these would be highly* valued, as for their appreciation of his: very poo** efforts on behalf of the city. (Loud and continued applause.) The proceedings then terminated.