BLUFF NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 23512, 19 May 1938, Page 2

BLUFF NEWS

MAYOR AND COUNCIL INSTALLED CEREMONY IN MUNICIPAL CHAMBERS The installation of Mr John Cameron as Mayor of Bluff took place in the ■ council chambers at noon yesterday. The retiring Mayor (Mr J. H. Doyle) was chairman at the beginning of the ceremony and all . the members of the newly-elected council were present. The town clerk (Mr H. A. Ferguson) announced the results of the elections and Mr Cameron figned the declaration. Mr Doyle then vacated the chair and placed the robes of office on the new Mayor, stating that Mr Cameron would occupy his position with honour and dignity. Mr Cameron said he felt certain that he and the new council would work as a team in the interests of the people of Bluff. He praised the excellent work done by Mr Doyle during his term of office, expressing admiration of his ardent determination and practical ability. Mr Cameron then took the chair and the following councillors, in turn, were sworn in:—the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., and Messrs A. E. Budd, C. G. Pilcher, L. G. Newman, J. Ballantyne, W. P. Butler, G. T. Randall, G. Muir and O. F. Metzger. < Mr Cameron explained that though there was no statutory obligation to appoint a Deputy-Mayor it was customary to appoint the cojmcillor at the top of the poll at the election. The councillor at the head of the poll in this case was Cr Budd. On the motion of Cr Doyle Mr Budd was appointed Deputy-Mayor. Mr Budd returned thanks for the appointment. COMMITTEES APPOINTED The following committees were then appointed, the selection being made by the Mayor:— Finance.—Crs Doyle, Budd, Muir, Butler and Metzger. Electric Light.—Crs Doyle, Newman, Ballantyne, Budd and Randall. Public Works, Building and Quarry.— Crs Doyle, Pilcher, Budd (chairman), , Ballantyne and Newman. Fire Brigade.—Crs Metzger (chairman), Butler and Pilcher. Cemetery and Reserves.—Crs Muir (chairman), Randall and Ballantyne. The Mayor is a member of all committees ex officio and is chairman of the two first-mentioned committees. Before withdrawing Mr J. H. Doyle congratulated the Mayor on his appointment and Mr Budd on his reelection as Deputy-Mayor. He also congratulated the members of the council on their election as representatives of the people and said it gave him pleasure to see practically all the old councillors who sought re-election back at the council table. It showed that the people had confidence in them and appreciated the progress that had been made. Mr Doyle paid a tribute to the ■work that Mr A. C. McKillop, a member of the previous council and a councillor in the borough for 13 years, had done for the town. He spoke appreciatively of the assistance and cooperation given him during his term .of office by members of other local bodies and institutions and by the town clerk (Mr H. A. Ferguson) and his staff. Mr Cameron briefly outlined his policy which, he said, would be based on service to the whole of the .people in the borough, commensurate with the revenue at the disposal of the council. As with private enterprise, a borough could progress only as far as its finances would allow. . It was "decided that the'Mayor and council should make an inspection of the town during the week-end. THE MAYORAL ROLL SEVENTEEN HOLD OFFICE SINCE 1879 x > Mr John Cameron is the seventeenth Mayor to hold office in Bluff. The first _ Mayor was Mr G. W. Nichol, who assumed office in 1879. The complete Mayoral roll is as follows:— 1879-80 George Willis Nichol. 1881 Timothy James Warren. 1882-86 Sir Joseph Ward. 1887 James Smith. 1888-92 Samuel Nichol. 1893-94 William Lowrie Gray. 1895-97 Samuel Nichol. 1898 ' Sir Joseph Ward. 1899-1904 John Henderson Reed. 1905-06 Guy Anson Whealler. 1907-08 Richard A. Cruickshank. 1909,-11 Ernest Arnott NichoL 1912-14 William Hinchey. 1915-24 J. S. A. McDougall. 1925-26 William Hinchey. 1927-30 James Torrance. 1931-34 Thomas Francis Doyle. 1935-37 Alfred Edward Waite. 1937-38 (part term) Joseph Henry Doyle. 1938 John Cameron.