Installation of Mayor

Southland Times, Issue 19551, 4 May 1905, Page 4

Installation of Mayor

THE FORMAL CEREMONY;

At tho Borough Council Chambers yesterday the formal installation of Mr W. B. Scandrett into the office of Mayor took place. There were present Councillors R. Cleave, W. A. Ott, J. Allan, W. Stead, W. Martin, and A. Bain, and Messrs J. A. Mitchell, W. Maeolister, and C. S. Longuet.

The Mayor road the declaration in which ho undertook to " faithfully and impartially, and in accordance with his best skill and judgment, execute the powers and authorities vested in him as Mayor.

Tho declaration having been signed, his Worship made a brief statement as to the progress of the town and borough. He said t “ I would like to engage your attention shortly to one or two matters of interest in connection with the corporation. Tho business is growing into important dimensions owing to the increase of population. Perhaps the most important matter that is dealt with concerns the health of the people. The Abattoirs have served tho citizens well in this respect. There is no reason to suppose that cattle and sheep are less healthy now ..than they were ten years ago. Yet out of 2977 cattle slaughtered for food 23 were wholly condemned and 22 partially; Of the 28 condemned 20 were affected with tuberculosis. 15,305 sheep were passed into the Abattoirs, 32 wholly condemned and 13 partially condemned. Where a part of a bullock or sheep only is condemned it may be due to bruises just affecting a portion of the carcase. There has been an increasing number of pigs brought to the Abattoirs which is a satisfactory feature of this business. The water supply of the citizens is an important element in good health. During the year over 75 million gallons of water were pumped. Roughly one ton of coal pumps one million gallons of water. The total number of consumers of water has reached 1248, 131 now services having been connected with buildings during the year. The new reservoir will hold 300,000 gallons, whilst the total storage capacity is half a 'million gallons available for fire purposes, besides the 66,000 gallons in the tank above the tower. Tho Harbour Department shows an increase of business. Tho steamers made 115 trips to the jetty during the year and brought or carried away 11,120 tons of merchandise. The revenue also shows an improvement, though small. The Gas Works have had a successful year, 102 new services have been put into houses and shops, 82 stoves and six bath heaters sold or hired, 9200 feet of service pipes were used. 2750 tons of coal carbonised, and nearly 24 million feet of gas made, whilst the net profits for the year after paying interest has reached £lO4O. The works when the new purifiers are completed will be fit to supply nearly double the population. The street' works for the year show that the corporation do a good deal of work without special public attention being called to what is being done. There were over 40 chains of permanent pipe drains laid, 2000 yards of metal spread on the streets and 800yds of gravel on footpaths and roads, 90 chains of new asphalt laid and 70 crossings repaired. In the new Puni Creek drain some six chains of the most difficult portion of this drain has been laid, necessitating careful work in consequence of the unevenness of the bottom. The Reserves have received considerable outlay, and improvements have been made in the garden blocks, especially the Bowling Green block. About 2000 trees have been planted on the reserve on the west of tho Gas Works, and tho Water Works block has been imnroved. Altogether tinpublic get good value for the Council's outlay’ in this department. The Town Hall, which has occupied t Inattention of the Council a good deal, is progressing satisfactorily. An idea of the work done may be formed from the fact that 1100yds. of concrete have been used end 700,000 bricks already laid. The buildings cover the best part of threequarters of an acre. If fine weather continues the architect thinks the roof of

the front portion of the building will be fixed in the course of two or three weeks and the whole roofed by the spring. The steel frame for the main roof is on its way out, special steel having to be imported. Token as a whole the corporation officials and men give good service, and the work of the town proceeds with as much smoothness as may be expected in the conduct of large undertakings.” In conclusion his Worship said that he was. delighted with the privilege of being elected to preside over the Council for mother year, and nothing should be sparing on his port to work harmoniously with the Council and conduce the business to the satisfaction of the ratepayers. MAYORAL BANWET. In the evening the Mayor entertained about fifty representative gentlemen at a social in Raeside’s Caledonian Restuarant. Altholugh speeches predominated, the majority of these were in happy vein, and as these were interspersed with a number of songs, a very enjoyable time was spent. The speakers took the opportunity . of congratulating Mr Scandrett on his third election to the mayoral chair, all testifying to his conspicuous ability and fitness for the position of chief citizen. Some very interesting reminiscences of Invercargill in the early sixties were related, the disadvantages tor street locomotion in those days being compared with the paved footpaths and conveniences of the present time. The following toast list was honoured “His Majesty lhe King," proposed by the Mayor; "Army, Navy and Volunteers,’’ proposed by Mr T. M. Macdonald, responded to by Mr J. S. Goldie; "Parliament of N.Z.,” proposed, by Mr Riddell, S.M., responded to by Hon. 11. Feldwickl, M.L.0., and Mr J. A. Hanan, M.H.R. ; " Prosperity of Invercargill and success to the Municipal Council,’’- proposed by Mr J. A. Mitchell, response by Councillors Froggatt and Lillicrap; “ The local and public bodies of .Southland,” proposed by Mr J. W. Mitchell, response by Messrs A. Bain and .1. Cowie ; " Agricultural, pastoral and commercial interests of Southland,”- proposed by Mr W. Macalister, response by Councillor Allan and Mr J. Kingsland, eenr. ; "Past Mayors,"- proposed by Councillor Ott, response by Messrs T. Pratt, C. S. Longuet, and D. MacFarlane ; " The Mayor and Mayoress," proposed by Mr J. A. Hanan'; " The corporation stall ” and " Press ” were also honoured. During the evening songs were contributed by Miss Fyfe, Hon. H. Feldwick and Messrs D. S. Thomson, E. It. Wilson, W. A. Ott, J. S. Goldie and D. D. McFarlane, Mr J. Kampthorne acting as accompanist. NORTH INVERCARGILL. The statutory meeting was attended by Mr J. H. Kissell (the Mayor), Counciltors Flaus, Godward, O’Callaghan, Ramsay, Fraser and Knuckey. The Mayor briefly expressed his thanks for being placed for another term in the position . of chief citizen. Councillor Flaus moved, j Councillor Godward seconded, and the 1 Council unanimously decided that a cor- j dial vote of thanks to Mr Kissell bo re- j corded in the minutes for his services to , the corporation. The mover said briefly : j “Mr Kissell is the .right man in the ( right place.” ; The Mayor acknowledged this further , testimony to their confidence in him, and ; trusted that the Council would world to- ] gather /or the welfare of the borough.

Councillor Ashton congratulated Mr Mitchell on his ro-eloction; ho, for one, would do his very best to assist him to carry out tho business and look after tho interests of tho borough.—The other councillors hca.rtily endorsed the senti- | meats expressed by Councillor Ashton, and thereafter tho mooting adjourned. CAMPBELLTOWN. At tho statutory meeting for tho installation of Mayor, there were present Dr. Torrance (acting-Moyor),, Councillors Roberts, Nichol, McKenzie, Cruickshank, Parry, Parsons and Valentine. Tho act-ing-Mayor expressed his thanks to the Council for tho courtesy and friendly feeling he had experienced during his term as councillor and during his occupancy of the chair. Ho then installed the Mayor, Mr G. A. Whealler, and wished him and tho Council a pleasant term of office. The Mayor acknowledged the compliment and said ho would endeavour to discharge the duties of his office with fairness, impartiality and justice. On the motion of Councillor Nichol seconded by Councillor Roberts, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Tornance for his services as councillor • and as acting-Mayor. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 3. At the installation of Mr Myers us Mayor, the retiring Mayor (Hon. K. Mitchelson) and the incoming Mayor delivered addresses. Both urged the importance of the immediate prosecution of drainage and water extension schemes. WELLINGTON, May 3. At the installation the retiring Mayor (Mr Aitken) stated that during his term of office since 1900 the revenue of the city had increased from £92,054 to £173,946. A slight loss was shown on the tramways for nine months’ running, but during a portion of that time only part of the line was in use and at the end of the year it was t expected that there would be a small surplus on the tramways.; GISBORNE, May 3. Mr John Townley was installed Mayor of Gisborne for the seventeenth term today. He has been a member of the council continuously since 1877.