MAYORAL INSTALLATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16994, 3 May 1917, Page 8

MAYORAL INSTALLATION

ST. KLLDA. ■» Ul installation of Mr C. N. Scurr to tho oflioo of Mayor of the borough of St. Kilda Inst evening created a good deal of interest, as was manifest from the largo plumber of ratepayers who assembled in tho Council Chambers. - \ Mr W. T. M'Farlano (tho retiring Mayor) said he had muoh pleasure in introducing •n culT anc ' in tho new councillors. Much of tire progress of the borough was oloscly identified" with drainage work, and tho new constitution of the Draniago Board meajit that ho was severing his con--nootion with that body, as well as with tho council. It was not many years ago that St. Kilda had no house drainage worthy of mention, and tho streets wero fringed with open ditches, but these disadvantages had begun to disappear. Tho first ditches dealt with had ■ .been those in 330w0n street a.nd Royal crescent, and tho ditch around tho Eorbury raoocourso had been lately piped and partly covered in by an up-to-date footpath. The Bay Viow road ditch was now recciWn" attention, and it was tho last of the open ditches. Tho boon of up-to-date sanitary house drainage was now being enjoyed by practically every resident of tho borough, there being only 18 houses not connected with tile drainage system. In this connection ho desired to recall tho assistance rendered him by Messrs Marlow, Douglas, Small, and Arklo, though tho hist two had not always seen eye to. eyo with him. Tho present members of tl\p board, had dealt fairly with St. Kilda, and £5351 had been expended within recent years on stormwater provision. At the present time there stood to tho credit of tho borough £1648 for that- purpose. He had had tho privilege of being Mayor for six years, and four years ago the borough % had embarked upon a largo public works policy, for which a loan of £25,000 had been sanctioned. Tho idea had been to spend about £5000' annually, and -the money had been allocated for particular works. Up to the present £20,000 had been expended, and the result was seen in well-formed streets and asphalted footffiths. Tho £5000 yet unexpended was to bo principally devoted V- tho centre of the borough, tho of the council being to follow up the Drainage Board and to do no work that might afterwards bo inter- ' - fered with. The reason for the money hot being > immediately expended was' that the board had somo work to do in the ccntre of the borough. There had already been 12-i miles of concrete kerbing and channelling done and 16 miles of asphalt paths laid. The speaker went on to point out the great improvements made with regard to fire • alarm boxes and fire-fighting appliances. In connection with the war. he said that the women of St. Kilda had not been one bit behind their sisters in tho great work that had been going forward to provide comforts for tho .men a.t the front. He made graceful acknowledgment of the support and assistance he had received from members of the late- council and the town clerk (Mr J. B. Dick). ,j Mr Scurr was then formally installed in office, _ and said his past experience in the council had been a very happy one. Ho desired to pay a tribute to the excellent I work done by MrM'Farlane. As Mr M'Fnrlano s successor ho had a high standard set him. Referring to the fact that most of the councillors wore elderly men, he said it might seem out of place to havo a younger man at tho head of affairs, but he hoped that "would not be found' a disadvantage Ho would work solely for the. benefit df the borough, and do his utmost to serve tho ratepayers well. Mr Scurr went on to, pay a tribute to the town olerk (Mr Dick), stating that he did not know of any man in a similar position who possessed higher qualifications for Iho office. s [ All tho councillors then lirieflv congratulated _Mr Scurr uii'on his neoess to office, and to give him their loyal support. The town clerk also offered his tions. N ' At tl>e close of the. installation those a">semoled repaired to the Bungalow Tea, Rooms, where they wero entertained bv Mi- Scurr. J