MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXI, Issue 13429, 5 May 1904, Page 8

MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

CHRISTCHURCH. A STATEMENT BY THE' MAYOR. A HIGH-PRESSURE WATER SUPPLY i SCHEME. The ceremony of installing the Mayor (Mr C. M. Gray) took place in the City Council Chambers last evening. There were pre-sent-at the ceremony:—Councillors W. H. Cooper, B. W. Samuels, H. J. Otley, 11. Pearce, B. P. Manhire, C. W. J. Parsons, J. Forrester, A. Carey, W. J. Neate, H. B. Sorensen, G. Payling, W. G. Atack •nfi H. H. Loughnan, the Hon C. Louisson, and Messrs W. Reece, W. Prudhoe, F. Hobbs and T. Gapes (ex-mayors), Mr J. Young (ex-mayor of Horsham, Victoria), Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., Mr W. G. Russell, Mr J. B. Fisher (city solicitor), Mr H. R. Smith- (town clerk), and Mr A. D. Dobson (city surveyor). Mrs Gray and Miss Gray were also present. After making the declaration, Mr Gray laid that the Hon H: P. Wigram, the late mayor, in his valedictory address, had referred to the position of the Council, but figures in regard to some of the events that had 'taken place during the year had) not been;ready when Mr Wigram was here. The balance on Match 51,1903, was £16,077, and the estimated defied enoy on March 31, 1904,, was £12,680. He was sorry to say that the accounts for the past twelve months did not verify the estimate made a year ago. The position, apparently, had gone back to a considerable extent. The deficiency, instead of being £12,680, was £20,195. ’ It was necessary to explain, however, that the deficiency- was largely accounted for by several item®, and some of them were of a ▼ery exceptional character, and they were not likely to recur. The electoral plant had taken a considerable amount from the general account and- the Council might have to meet the question as to whether the stun involved should not be capitalised and paid out of loan moneys. Besides that, there had been the purchase of the St Albans Recreation Ground and the purchase and erection of the fence for the Sydenham Park, cost of the valuation of the Central and St Albans Ward, cost of the amalgamation and water-supply schemes, additional expenditure on metal, and interest on overdraft, including temporary loans. The cost of the electrical plant to March 31, 1904, was £12,028, and there had been np to that time received £944. The disposal of nightsoil cost nearly £6000,. and it. might be reduced nearly two-thirds if there had been a high-pressure water-supply.. - Passing from a consideration of the sanitary advantages to be obtained from a high-pressure water-supply, be came to the question of how, and to what extent, it would assist in the prevention and extinguishing of fires. In the first place, the installation of a complete highjptressure water-supply in the Central Ward would, he was assured, result in the reduction of the fire insurance premiums to the extent of £ISOO 'a year. That was a consideration that ought certainly to be taken into account when discussing the many advantages of a water supply. But it was in connection with the prevention and extinguishing of fires that a high-pressure .Water-supply would play a most important part. . His lengthy; association with the Sfire Brigade Committee of the Council, extending over fifteen years, enabled him to speak of that which he knew. He was fully aware of the capabilities of the City Brigade. He was aware that it had done good work in the past, and was capable of doing good work in the future; but there Were limitations, even to the City Brigade. The brigade was capable of dealing with any fire if it got there soon enough, and had plenty of water when it did get there. But one of these days, or nights, the brigade might have, the bad luck to be late at a fire^—and brigades were sometimes late at fires —and when it arrived at the fire, it would find there was no water, or insufficient water, to cope with-the fire. What would happen then? Why, thousands of pounds’ worth of property would he deitroyed, and, more serious still, valuable lives might be lost. There came a time , in the history of every town and city when it was visited by a big fire, a fire that would be spoken of for years after as “the great fire,” and when that visitation took place, let them see to it in time, so that its disastrous effects might he minimised as far as possible. Christchurch had been wonderfully fortunate for many years past, but its good luck would not endure for ever. Let them be prepared for the .worst. As the surest way to preserve peace was to be prepared, for war, so, 'he believed, an efficient preparation for dealing with fires to * very large extent, render large fires impossible. The old adage of “ a stitch in time saves nine” was peculiarly apposite in regard to fire prevention. He was, therefore, firmly convinced that a, highpressure water-supply would increase the efficiency of the brigade fully 50 per cent. Mr Dobson, the city surveyor, had supplied information with regard to a rough estimate of the cost of a scheme of high-pres-sur© water supply, which be would explain. It was proposed to obtain the water in the central yard and to utilise the existing wells and to sink additional ones, as might be required. The quantity estimated to be supplied -was for a population of 20,000 at 20 gallons per head, or 400,000 gallons per day. It had been assumed that that quantity might generally be required to ha pumped in twelve hours, which would be equal to the rate of 555 gallons a minute, and during fires it might be necessary to pump 2000 gallons a minute. The machinery it was proposed to obtain, it was estimated, would do that. The pressure would he equalised by pumping into a tower 100 ft high, with a 30,000 gallon tank on the top. Assuming that the wells would 1 give 300 gallons a minute, it would be necessary to supply considerable storage in the receiving reservoir, and 200,000 gallons had been the estimate. The total estimate of the cost of the scheme, exclusive of working and interest charges, was £51,000. The estimated cost of working, the machinery being in charge of the man at the destructor, .was £BSO. There was the turn-cock, £l5O, and 5 per cent interest on £51,000, £2550; or a total of working expenses and interest of £3550. On the other side there was the post of the collection of nightsoil jn the central ward, £5643; the increase in efficiency of the Fir© Brigade, equal to £1000.; reduction in fire insurance premiums, .£1500; and the saving in the cost of street watering for the present area., £300; or a total of £6443. Before leaving the subject he made a special appeal, that there should be no criticism until the matter had been placed before the Council, so that mature deliberations of Councillors might go before a committee and be reported upon. All criticism should be withheld until the Council had Lad an opportunity of stating the case. In conclusion, he said he hoped that the Council would give the matters to which he had referred serious attention. He expressed his gratification at being returned to the position un-

opposed. A great honour had been done to and he hoped that he would be able to show that the honour was deserved. (Applause.) Councillor Payling congratulated the Mayor. Mr Gray, he said, had occupied a seat on the Council for many years, and had always been progressive. The citizens bad recognised that Mr Gray had given good services for eighteen or nineteen years and that ho deserved the honour. (Applause.) Later on those present, at the Mayor’s invitation,, adjourned to the library, where toasts were honoured. Mr Reece presided at the gathering. LYTTELTON. A special meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council was held yesterday evening, for the purpose of installing the Mayorelect for the ensuing year. Tho retiring Mayor Mr W. Radcliffe) presided, and there were present—Councillors S. R. Webb, J. Garrard, W. T. Foster, J. T. Norton and N. C. Schumaehsr. A letter was- read 1 from Councillor R. Brown, resigning his scat on the Council, as his business engagements prevented him from attending the meetings. Tho resignation was accepted with regret, the retiring Mayor and all the Councillors present expressing deep regret at losing the services of Conncillor Brown. The retiring Mayor thanked the members of the Council for the manner in which they had supported him. He was glad that ins place would be taken by Councillor Webb, a gentleman who had before filled the Mayoral chair, had had much experience of municipal matters, and would discharge tho duties of his high position with credit to himself and benefit to the citizens. Mr Webb was then installed in the Mayoral chair by his predecessor. The new Mayor moved—“ That the best thanks of the Council should be presented to ex-Mayor Radcliffe for the great services he had rendered* to the Borough,” and the motion was carried unanimously. Mr Radcliffe, in acknowledging the compliment, paid, a high tribute to tho town clerk, Mr G. A. Lewin, and the members of the Council staff for the admirable manner in which they had discharged their duties, and a. vote of thanks to them was passed unanimously. It, was decided to forward a letter to Mrs Radcliffe, expressing the Council’s appreiation of the manner in which she had performed the duties Of - Mayoress, It was decided to levy a rate of Is 3d in the £ for the ensuing- year.

RANGIORA. Last night Mr James Carmichael was installed Mayor of Rangiora for a third term of office, and Councillors Good, Sansom, Relfh, Bell, Wilson, Keir and Jennings congratulated the Mayor on his re-election, and wished him a pleasant year of office, promising him cordial support. Reference was made to the need of a more up-to-date railway station. Respecting water-supply for the town, the Mayor stated that he had a scheme in preparation which he estimated to cost about £SOOO, and he intended to submit it to the Council shortly. A vote of thanks was passed to the town clerk for his efficient services. SUMNER.. Mr W. Rollitt, who has been elected Mayor of Sumner for the .seventh time, was installed last evening, the borough.clerk, Mr J. Crawford, conducting the ceremony in the presence -of a number of councillors and ratepayers. The members of the Council and the Yen Archdeacon Thorpe congratulated Mr Rollitt on his re-appointment. ASHBURTON. The Mayor of Ashburton formally assumed office last evening, in the presence of a representative assembly. He announced that the overdraft during the year would most likely be reduced by £3OO, and the Council would probably afterwards be able to get along without an eighteen-penny rate. Should the Dunedin expert’s report be favourable the proposal to purchase the local gasworks for £14,000 wofild be submitted to the ratepayers.