MATAURA MAYORALTY.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1033, 15 May 1902, Page 2

MATAURA MAYORALTY.

VALEDICTORY SPEECH BY THE RETIRING MAYOR. At the close of the business of the Mataura Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening, the retiring Mayor (Mr T. Mac Gibbon) gave a resume of the work accomplished by the Council during his term of office, extending over some three and a-half years. He thought it was a fitting time to convene the Council together prior to giving up office, whioh he would have to do the following day, and he would like to make a few remurks in the wny of a review upon the business accomplished during the past three and a-half year'. Pleasant conditions had always exist'd in tbe Council, and he was much indebted for the goodness of its members in granting leave ot absence to him when on his trip home. On that occasion the Council would not accept his resignation, and as deputy-Mayor Mr Allison had discharged the duties in an excellent manner. The speaker was very sorry that Mr Allison was unable to attend :hat evening. The M-.vor referred to the progress of the town at some length. Its population at the last census (eighteen months ago) was slightly over 1000 ; now there was every reason to b lieva that it was considerably over that number. His term of oQice bad been full of stirring I events, most prominent of these being the South African war, which evoked a strong outburst of patriotic feeling, which they, in common with the rest of the i-olony, shared, contributing both men and money towards the defence of the Empire. Another important event during his term was the dredging boom, which in this district appealed at tbe time likely to come to a premature end, owing to the claims for compensation made by landowners. He might take credit for having suggested to the Mines Department, through a resolution of the Council, that a sludge channel thiuugh the swamp at the back of the town would be by tar the must | inexpensive method of coping with the difficulty. The idea caught on ; the Mines Department sent down its officers, inspected the proposed route, and Mr Gordon formuia'ed an undertaking for all parties concerned to sigi;, whereby tho landowners waived thoir i claims and the dredgeowners agrted to pay one-half the cost, the Government paying the other half, and the Borough Council, on behalf of all parties, undertaking the work. This matter appeared likely to be slopped almost at completion by tha obstin.icy of certain parties, who declined to sign the agreement until their legal expenses were paid. This led to some delay, but finally the difficulty was got over, the expenses being paid by the dredging companies. All the gentlemen concerned had signed the undertaking, and now nothing remained but the authority oi' the Government to execute the work. Mr Mac Gibbon referred to the death of Queen Victoria, which had occurred at the beginning of last year. The next event of great interest was the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to the Australasian colonies. As their Mayor he had been an invited guest to the reception in Dunedin, and in the evening he had been personally introduced to Royalty. Another very important matter was the arrangement made with the County

Council rc the cost of maintaining the Mataura suspension bridge. This would have swamped the Borough had they been obliged to cope with it. Through the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act of 1900 it has bec/mie necessary for neighboring bodies to arrange as to mutual share of the cost of the maintenance and construction of such works. He had been sent to wait on the County Council and urge the settlement of this matter. The terms arranged were two-thirds of the cost to be paid by the County Council and one-third by the Borough Council, owing to the fact that the heaviest part of the traffic on the bridge was County traffic. To this the County demurred and finally made a proposal that the cost of maintenance should be equally shared, the County Council supplying the necessary engineering skill. This was not the least important of the events or matters dealt with during his term. There were financial matters which he would explain. When hi 3 predecessor took ollice in December, 1597, he had an overdraft of £BO. When he (the speaker) had the honor of taking the Mayoral chair about a year afterwards he found the overdraft swelled to about £382, and liabilities for contracts then near completio.i of over £2OB, which, together with some smaller amounts, made a total liability of rather over £OOO, or equal to a year's revenue. This was rather a ticklish position to be placed in. On entering into ollice it required economy and energy to make both ends meet. The first step was to raise a loan of £IOOO, which had, he thought, all been judiciously expended, the principal works being the bridge approaches, boundary road, Kana street, Lower Karia street, Bridge street, Bridge street sewer, Kiver street, and lastly re-gravelling nearly all the streets throughout the town. On the expiry of his term he would leave his successor with a credit balance of £llO, uncollected rates and rents amounting to £3Ol 14s, making a total of £4lll4s,with contrncts(including]tbe lighting) and other liabilities amounting to £350, leaving a balance of £Ol lis to credit and all the revenue for the year of which they had just entered at the disposal of the new Mayor. The valuation of the town in 18!)S was £38!l0, and on surrendering his ollice it was just under £OOOO, an increase of £llOO. The Borough was now in a very good position, and he trusted the work that had been done was being appreciated. The new Mayor was to bo congratulated, the financial position of the Borough being as good as it possibly could be, and they had got value for all the money expended. During his term of ollice he had got on most pleasantly with the Councillors, all of whom had worked most harmoniously. They were all aware that his term of ollice had been protracted for live months last year owing to the annual election being altered. He had no doubt that during the time he had been with them they had all worked for the benefit of the district as well as the advancement of the town. Still there were some sore points, but where was there a borough without them ? Some works of a most necessary nature required to be done, but the money was not as yet available for the purpose. There was the matter of drainage, which he thought should be fixed up. A drainage map would require to be got before they commenced serious operations in that direction. They should, he considered, take steps to get a sum of money, say £2OOO or £3OOO, and do the work thoroughly. If they went in for a sum sufficient to meet the requirements of all the worst portions of the town the ratepayers would not vote for it. The money need not be raised all at one time, however. He hoped his successor would have a prosperous time. During bis term he had tried to do everything economically. There was £GI in the bank, and the whole of the year's revenue to come in. So Mr Cameron, he might say, would get a considerable handicap, and, he thought, ought to be able to show a clean sheet nt the end of bis term. His thanks were due to Mr MacGregor, the town clerk, for his. careful labors, and to everybody else connected with the Borough.— (Applause).

Councillor Lowden moved —"That the Council's high appeciatiun of the eflicient manne, - in which Mr Mac Gibbon had discharged his duties during hits term of office be placed on record." Mr Mac Gibbon, the speaker said, bad always been courteous to the members of the Council, and he had risen to the occasion in many things which had required energy and despatch. Councillor Cameron (Mayor • elect) had great pleasure in seconding the motion. It was many years since he had become acquainted with Mr Mac Gibbon, and he had seconded his first nomination at his first election to a local body. It was scarcely possible to be a long time in a body without committing some mistakes. Mr Mac Gibbon had escaped with very few, and these were not on this occasion to be referred to. He trusted that during his term of oilice the Council and he would work well together. As far a3 he was concerned be had no other objeot in view but the good of the Borough. The Council decided everything; good or bad work depended, not on tbe Mayor, but on the Council, and a good Council would get on well. To the best of his knowledge and ability, he would do what was best, and he had no doubt the Council -would help him. They were working not for one particular objeot, but for tbe whole township, and very little money would make a good township of Mataura. There were some works needed which would require a good sum of money. It was a pleasure to be present to second the remarks of Mr Lowden.—(Applause.) Councillor Sleeman remarked on the good feeling that bad existed throughout while Mr Mac Gibbon wa9 at the head of the Council. There had been no wrangles (such as there had been in other places) and the business of the Borough had been carried out with despatch. They must have a leader in the Council, and a good one too. He considered

that Mataura was a model Borough. Every Borough mad* small mistakes, but Mataura io this respect was lucky compared with some of the other Boroughs. He hoped things would be the same in the future as in the past. The motion was put and carried amid applause. The Mayor thanked Councillors for the motion. He could not claim to be out of the common run, and he made mistakes. He liked to see his efforts appreciated, and liked to earn the respect and esteem of his fellowß. He felt very grateful to them for this expression of their approval.—(Applause). Thereafter the Mayor entertained the Councillors, Town Clerk, and friends to dinner at Perrott's Hotel. The Rev. J. M. Davidson, Messrs McNab, M.H.K., H. Walton (Mataura Falls Paper Mill), J. Hamilton (Frozen Meat Company), Penney and Winning were also present. The host presided. After an excellent spread had been done full justice to, the usual loyal toasts were honored. In responding to the toast of " Tho Army, Navy, and Volunteers," Captain McNab said there was no lack of military organisations in Mataura: first there was 'the ritle club, then a military boy's brigade, and last, but not least, there was a branch of tbe Murihiku Mounted Rifles.

The Mayor proposed the toast of the " Contingents." He referred to the number (6000 or 7000) of men who had left the colony for South Africa. He considered that the 10th, which was now on its way, would prove equally as'good as tbe others on the field of battle It was a glorious fact that the colonies had sent their men without stint aud given their money without hesitation. The King desired to celebrate his coronation in a time of peace, and at present there was a fair probability of this coming about. The colonials were doing their duty to their King and country, and he wished them a safe return.—(Applause.) The Rev. Mr Davidson, in responding, said he had the opinion in the war that was now drawing to a close that but for tbe colonials the British would have been beaten by the Boers. He always had a liking for soldiers; a regiment of soldiers had constituted his tirst congregation, aud it had been the finest a man could wish to have. The young colonials had proved themselves men of the right stamp, and they had performed a noble piece of work in the war. lie believed that tho best means for maintaining peace was a good strong lighting element - (Applause.) Councillor Cameron also responded. He considered that the contingents all round deserved to be recognised, and the New Zealanders had made a name for themselves all the world over. They had had no training, bad adapted themselves with case and facility to the work, and could take care of themselves quite as well as the Boers. Apparently the war was at last coming to an end. The speaker had a high regard for tho Highlanders, and this was not because he was a Highlander himself, for the bravery of the Highland regiments wus well known the world over. Now, however, the Highlanders would have to look to their laurels for the colonials were also in the field.— (Laughter and applauso.) Mr Lowden proposed the toast of " Our Worthy Host." Mr Mac Gibbon had told them that he was going to meet them that night as Mayor. In cricketing terms, he (the speaker) might say that Mr Mac Gibbon had " carried his bat." During his terra of office Mataura bad made rapid strides, and many good and useful woiks had been completed, the last of which had been the lighting of the town by electricity. But for the freezing works, of course, they would not have had the light. Some of the metropolitan towns in the colony had not such a good light. When Mr Mac Gibbon had taken oflice three and ahalf years ago things did not look any too bright. Then there had been a heavy overdraft, but Mr Mac Gibbon had managed the finances so well that the Borough was as well oil in its way as any. A loan cf £IOOO had been secured, and with this many good works had been accomplished. As a public man they were much indebted to their host. In regard to the sludge channel, three or four months ago, when the question was as dead as a door nail, Mr Mac Gibbon had communicnted with the Minister of Mines, saying that a sludge charm 1 was wanted. The member for the district took the matter up, and tbe question was now practically settled. Mr Mac Gibbon bad been a member of the Education Board and County Council, and was also a School Commissioner. He was going to bid us good-bye as Mayor, but he (the speaker) hoped he would come back as Councillor.—(Applause.) Mr Mac Gibbon was greeted with applause. He said a little approbation was pleasing, and he liked lo hear an expression of approval. The little he had done, he was pleased to see had been appreciated. He had always endeavored to carry out the duties involving in such an office. Thirty-two years ago he had started on a public career as a member for the Lyndhurst Road Board. On that occasion Mr Cameron had seconded his nomination. Six months afterwards (the chairman having resigned) he was unanimously elected to that position, which he held for about ten years consecutively. Ho had had his term as chairman of the Southland County Council, and ho had also been a member and chairman of the Tuturau ltoad Board. With regard to some of the other bodies he took his share of tbe work with very great pleasure. For eleven years he had been a member of tho Education Hoard, and during that time he had taken a lively interest in the education of the young, doing all he could to further education in Southland. 1 For fix or seven years he had been a member of the Charitable Aid Board. He had endeavored to take a little interest in most of the public affairs, and he would have liked to have seen an atbenieum in Mataura. An attempt had been made to secure Ihe latter but without success, although one failure was no reason why they should not get it, and he trusted that they would yet succeed. He thanked them for the kindly way in which they had received the toast of his health.—(Applause). Tho Mayor proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand." The member for Malaura, Mr McNab, was a most energetic gentleman ; he was always about looking into what was needful for his constituency, and exerted himself indefatigably on their behalf. He was opposed to Mr McNab in politics, but nevertheless he could admire one who was opposed to him, and he (the speaker) liked an open opponent.

Mr McNab Baid Parliamentary life hnd its advantages and its disadvantages. While lie had been in the House he fiad always endeavored to treat his political supporters and opponents alike, trying to draw no distinction. He hoped that if any of them were in Wellington during session time they would make themselves intimate with the House and its members. (Applause). The Mayor proposed the toast of " The Local ludustries," of which he said there were a good many in Mataura, and these, in the future would make their town an important and flourishing place. Messrs Walton, Hamilton, and Winning responded. The Mayor proposed "The Mayor Elect." He had known Mr Cameron for many years, and he »as eminently qualified for the position. Mr Cameron was intimately acquainted with the water question, and it was probable that they would try and get a drop or two of water for their own use. A vast amount of water was running to waste in the falls, and Mr Cameron was entitled to the credit for having introduced this matter. Mr Cameron said the Borough should have a first claim on the wat«r, It would be beneficial to all concerned if the balance of the water was utilised'to the best advantage. If this could be brought about it would eventuate in the welfare of the Borough. Ho had heard it said that he was bitterly opposed to the proposed sludge channel, but this was not so ;he had no objection to it. He was one of the first to sign the paper forgoing all claims for compensation and damages. He wculd do the best he could for the town during the short time he would be in oflico, and hoped he would be successful in bis intentions.—(Applause). Other toasts honored were " Local Bodies " (responded to by Messrs Lowden and Taylor), "The Clergy" (responded to by Kev. Mr Davidson), " Commercial Interests" (responded to by Messrs Penny, Sleeman, and Gait) and "The Ladies." The gathering broke up shortly before one o'clock with the singing of " Auld Lartg Syne."