VALEDICTORY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4345, 1 May 1901, Page 7

VALEDICTORY.

THE MAYOR MEETS H3S ELECTION COMMITTEE.

CONGRATL RATIONS ALL ROUND.

At tlie invitation of tho Mayor, his Vorship’s Election Committee held a aceting at GodhoFa rooms last night,

,nd spent an enjoyable evening fco;ethcr Mr William Allan presided. In tho •ourso of a speech, ho said Mr Aitken’s ommittco could bo congratulated on ho fact that their combined efforts uid resulted in a victory unprecedented n tho municipal annals of the colony. Mr John Duthio also congratulated he ladies and gentlemen present on he result of the Mayoral election. He aid tho best man had won, and won inndsomoly. In regard to the tramray scheme, no doubt the Council rould no reduce the time-table and give ncu facilities fts to assure the greatest food for tho greatest number. Ho congratulated the citizens on their election of a Mayor and of Councillors rho would no doubt do their best ■ s ■hrewd business man to improve r •; <nly the water supply, but all servic ;> rliich came under their control.

Mr John Hutcheson, M.H.R., expresed himself very well pleased wji-.- ». io ■osuit of tlio Mayoral election. Their ilayor had been tlirough fire, famine, dnguo and,war during the past year—le had had a hot time—and it was tho ritizons more than Mr Aitken who were ; o bo congratulated on tho result of ■he election just fought. Mr A. R. Atkinson, M.H.R., said ho felt more than over proud of his con■tituouts for tho discernment they had hewn in connection with tho recent dayoral election.

Mr J, P, Luke said before ho knew Ai' Aitken properly he had imagined rim slow. Now he had quite made up iii» mind that they had a Mayor who ras quite a* fast a a Wellington citizens .ould keep up with.

Air Aitken, in responding, wished to •nko tho firs': opportunity of explainng that ho had meant no discourtesy to ho Duko and Duchess of Cornwall in ■h'. hasty remarks which fell from his ip a on election night. It was o tiroioma interrupter, whoso reiterated ajlertlon that ho had been returned for iho purpose of meeting tho Duke, who md drawn from him (Mr Aitken) tho remarks which ho hod made. That ho Air Aitken) was ns loyal r. subject ns tho •Umpire contained had been shown by icetls, not words, during tho past year. He was nut afraid of hard work, but ho void I, like to bo more profitably einiloy! *> municipally during the coming to a? Jian last, lie congratulated tho :itirons on thw now Council they had rhesen, and eulogised tho sendees of his old colleagues, who had done good service for the ratepayers, despite trndu!o.”S.

During tho evening a beautiful bouquet of flowers from an anonymous loner was presented to Airs Thomas in icknowledgment of tho active part she and taken in the past and former cleo:ions.