INSTALLATION OF MR. T. A. H. FIELD.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13412, 9 May 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

INSTALLATION OF MR. T. A. H. FIELD.

(From "The Colonir,," May. 2.)

Tho installation of tho Mayor-elect (Mr. T. A. 11. Field) took placo in the Municipal Chambers at noon yesterday in tho presence of representative feathering of citizens and Councillors Hampson, Fell, Korshaw, Adams, Mercer, and Saiodgrass. Cr. Hampson, who was voted to the chair, read an apology for absence from Cr. Harley, who also congratulated Mr. Field on being returned as Mayor unopposed. , Having taken tho cwstomary oath, Mr. Field was duly installed as Mayor. Ho thanked the citizens for the honour they had conferred upon him and the confidence- they had shown in him by placing him in the mayoral chair unopposed. Continuing, he said:—When we look back upon the past year we feel a certain amount of disappointment that wo havo not dono all we set out to ( ]o — we i ia vo not kept our expenditure within our estimate as we expected and intended. . On tho other hand, we have done more than we expected—we have repaired tho big dam and kept our expenditure within our income; in 'fact, after repairing and cleaning out the big dam and straightening and repairing the pipe line to tho upper weir, wo havo reduced the overdraft by about £508 (Applause.) The exact figures given me by tho Town Clerk, are as follows, cash in hand and cheques outstanding being accounted for: 31st March, 1911, £21,098 10s 9d; 31st March, 1912,

£20,600 19s, making a reduction of £497 11s 9d in the overdraft. Of course the gas profits have helped us, but it must be remembered that for eleven of the last fifteen years the gar, profits have all been swallowed up, and yet the overdraft has also increased very substantially from year to year. The only

years in which a reduction was made in

the overdraft were 1900 £70. 1908 £3105, 1911 £94, 1912 £497. Seoing that wo havo boon confronted by a possible increase in our overdraft of several thousands in repairing the big dam, to havo accomplished this and in

the saroo year to have reduced tho over

draft by £500, I venture to think is satisfactory to tho Council and the ratepayers. The small cost reflects much

credit on our Engineer, Mr. Littlejohn. Wo only need now to clean out tho upper weir and put a stop in higher up tho stream to prevent gravel getting in again, and Are havo done a very great deal towards the solution of the vexed water question in Nelson. Although we havo not kept our expenditure within our estimates, I think we have done bettor than any other Council for many years. Tho first half of the year we overstepped our estimates by £217 13s sd, tho second half of tho year by £559 2s 3d, making a total of £776 15s Bd. This does not include any amounts estimated but not spent, amounting to £1112 10s. If theso were included we would bo £338 below the total estimates. Wo thought we had done better when the quarterly returns that were presented to the Council by tho Town Clerk warned us theso wore only approximate, and it appears two transfers from the gas account of £200 gas for street lighting and £336 bar for streets were not taken into account. We had hoped to be able to announce a substantial reduction in tho rates this year, but we ar© again faced with some abnormal and non-recurring expenditure that had to be provided for, and in the face of this we could not reduce the rates. Tho items are, Btone- crusher £500, Maitai lands £300, automatic street lighting £300, making a total of £1100 outside the ordinary expenditure. The* automatic street lighting is in. uso in other towns in the Dominion, and judging from their experience this expenditure should be recouped in a few years. The separate bank accounts instituted sine© the beginning of the year show us that the gasworks began tho year with an overdraft of £713, and ended the year with a cre-dit balance of £282, after paying all interest charges and also £780 for repairs to works, including two-new retort benches, besides laying threequarters of a mile of new mains and fixing nine new street lamps, a result that is gratifying to Mr Hookey, our gas •engineer, Mr. Hart, and all concerned. The first half of the year, although we had no city engineer, wo paid our former City Engineer's salary the whole time. Much additional work was thrown on the Town Clerk, .and it says much for that gentleman that everything worked so smoothly during that time. Our foremen, Mr. Kenning, Mr. Price, and Mr. Gibbons did excellent work, the- tip head being improved, the Maitai path made from. Collingwood to Normanby bridgo, Trafalgar street south reconstructed, Hanby Park levelled and sown, and many other permanent works and footpaths made. The gas leaks in Hardy street, which were known for years, were stopped, and Clouston's bridgo ro-mado at a small cost. In the latter half of tho year, under Mr. Littlejohn, the big dam-and pipo line havo been repaired, tho Port road reconstructed from the wharf to tho gasworks, tho College Hill reconstructed. Van Dioman street, Fr.inklyn street, Maitai ford and Nile street east, beside many other works of. a permanent character. For tbecoming year the Coinip.il intends to aim at permanent' work in the streets, so that the streets reconstructed— ( they require much more than repairs owing to drainage)—will not need any expenditure again for many years to come. Some proposals will he put before tbe ratepayers, tho acquiring of Ip.nd adjoining Brook street water ron-awo. ;ind the proposed now baths. Last year tho Council had tbe privilege of assisting and of being assisted by the Beautifying Society in their endeavour to improve the city, ■■md they feel deeply indebted to the Society for much valuable help. In conclusion. T would liko to express my thanks to tbe Councillors for their urifailirm interest and hearty-co-operation in tho work of the Council and their courtesy to, the clinir; and also to tho staff and City Council employees and workmen, who have all done well during tho year, ami bopo wo will do still better in tho year we are just entering. I

hopo tho next orcuiaut of this chair will moot with tho ssuvo courtesy.and co-operation from tho next Council that I havo received. (Applause.)