THE MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 103, 5 May 1904, Page 3

THE MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

LAST NIGHT'S CEREMONY.

The ceremony of installing the Mayor (Mr W. H. Macey) for the new term of office was held last night in the Council Chambers. There were present Councillors Penny, James, Priddle, Shaw, Ching, and White. In an address, Mr Maoey briefly reviewed tha municipal history or t!ie concluding term of office. One of the chief features of last year, he said, was the adoption of a sob erne for tJio filling-in o? CoMo's Hollow and LoefcUp Creek, The Cleghorn memorial was handed over to the Council; the rating on unimproved ?alue* was introduced ; tho project of creating a Blenheim Harb-r Bo^rd plaoeu on a practical footing, and he had do oonbt but that next year a Bill would be introduced into Parliament to bring the proposal into effect. Many con ferences of local bodies were held with a view to regulating heavy haulage traffic tm a common basis ; but, unfortunately, through the opposition of one or two local bodies at the last moment to the imposition of a £40 license fee, the endeavor had to be abandoned. He took it that it would be necessary for the Council to consider the necessity of framing regulations for the protection of the Borough, and, presumably, the question of a. license would come up. The original proposal was that a £40 fee be applied to the whole of the district, but under present conditions it seemed that several local bodies would impose separate fees. The Health Department paid a good deal of attention to Blenheim during the year, and one result was a list of notices to the owners of delapidated and insanitary buildings. Dr. Valentine, District Health Officer at Wellington, visited Blenheim a few weeks ago, and arrangements were made for the appointment of a Sanitary Inspector for the Marlborongh district. Mr Johnson had been so appointed, and took up his duties last Monday. Referring them to financial matters, His Worship said that prior to 1903 there was heavy expenditure, theLiteraiy Institute alone costing the Council nearly £700. Consequently, when the Council of last year came into office there was a considerable overdraft. This showed in the balance sheet as £1012, but there were outstanding liabilities amounting to £561, so that the actual indebtedness was £2214. By strict economy and business methods in the collection of outstanding debts, this was materially reduced, and the. overdraft at 31st March last appeared as only £431. He explained, however, that £300 was borrowed from the Government for the erection of the abattoirs, and, making allowance for this item, the actual debt was £731. He thought that the Councils-financial work had been very successful; it had exceeded anticipations. Going into the main details of the Gas Works finances, the Mayor said that the year started with a debit of £658, and was wound up with a credit balance of £360. He warmly praised the energy of Mr Dcs Forges (Gas Works clerk) and Mr Sinclair (Town Clerk) in collecting arrears owing to the Works. He could with confidence congratulate the Council on the financial position as at March 31st last compared with what it was twelve months previously. # He spoke of the harmonious manner in which the members of the Council had conducted the affairs of the Council, and thanked them for the consideration they had given hios, and for the compliment they accorded him in asking him to take the chair for another term. He praised the ability, courtesy, and energy displayed by the Town Clerk (Mr Sinclair), and to his success in collecting what was due to the Council ; and he added a word of thanks to the press for its attention to the Council's proceedings. Councillors in individual addresses expressed their satisfaction and conveyed their congratulations and good wishes to Mr Macey on his resumption of the Chair, and in doing so took the opportunity of referring to various municipal matters of moment. Cr Ohing said that while they must continue to observe economy they must not lose sight of the fact that the btreets were getting into a bad condition, and the question of re-metalling would have to be considered very shortly. Cr Penny said that, though the financial picture painted by the Mayor was a rosy one, they could hardly expect things to continue looking so well. Last year they had the advantage of the collection of monies which were not legally recoverable; and it must be remembered that works, such as the re-metalling of the streets, were looming ahead. Cr Penny congratulated Mr Macey on his return as being in accordance with the wish of the very great majority of burgesses. Cj Priddle said that, though economy had been observed, he did not think anyone could say the general scheme of street maintenance had been unduly neglected. One subject that would have to be taken into early consideration was the question of restoring to the Gasworks Account the £4000 capital written off it and placed on the General Account.

Or. James urged that better use should be made of the stone-crushing machine for the re metalling of the streets. /

Cr. Shaw addressed himself principally to sanitary matters. The time had arrived when the night-soil question should be taken in hand. A system for the removal of rubbish from street-doors and back-doors was wanted. He also advocated a policy of extending the gas mains. The Borough bridges wanted painting. Cr. Shaw welcomed Or. White to the Council Chamber.

Or. White said he had listened to the Mayor's address with pleasure and profit. Speaking on various subjects, he suggested the use of Opawa instead of Taylor metal on the dust troubled Maxwell road. He agreed with Or. Shaw as to the wisdom of extending the gas mains. He expressed the opinion that the Council should take more practical interest in the work o! flood relief. The over-flowing of flood water over Thompson's bank on to the Old Renwiek Road called for their attention, sod he also recalled the Borough Engineer's reference to the danger of the Waihopai and Wairau Rivers coming down the Opawa.

The Mayor, in responding, acknowledged the good work done by the various Committees last year. With one exception, the members of the Committees showed the utmost willingness, and worked very hard. He especially thanked Or Penny (chairman of the Finance Committee). He agreed that it would be necessary to consider the question of re-metalling the streets; and added that it would be necessary to strengthen one or two of the bridges to protect them against the heavy haulage traffic. The matter of extending the gas mains was not a sew one. The trouble was that the Council had not the capital with which to lay down extra mains. In the past intermittent extensions had been made out of ordinary income or overdraft. With regard to the £4000 capital transferred from the Gas Account, he had always considered that the General Fund should be relieved of that burden whenever the Gas Works was placed on its own footing.

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