Mayoral Installation.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12254, 13 May 1903, Page 5

Mayoral Installation.

VALEDICTORY .ADDRESSES PRESENTATION TO MR DOCKRTLL The installation of the Mayor-elect (Mr R. Cock) took place at the Council Chambers at JO o'clock this (Wednesday) morning:. There were present the retiring Mayor (Mr E. Dockrill), the Mayor-elect (Mr R. Cock), Councillors Brooking, Bellringer, Collis, Coimett. Tisch, Edmunds, Alexander, Smith, anjrt Wood. A large number of citizens was also present. Mr Dockrill, after referring to the fact that this was a statutory meet-* vng, said that no minutes would be read arid "the business of the meetingwas simply to inatal the new Mayor into office. Mr Brooking said he wo<u!d like to say a few words before Mr, Dockrill vacated the chair. The members of the old Council, whose term of office had expired, wished before parting to tender Mr Dockrill a slight mark of. their appreciation of his conduct during his pr-esidency of the Council. They desired him to accept an illuminated address. In slpite of the many differences ttiey had had, they recognised that he had ever striven to do his- duty. They thanked him for the courtesy and impartiality ho had always sjiowji. The years of his oeouSpancy of the Mayoral chair had been yeai*s of strenous endeavours for the betterment of l.he boroup-h, and most important years m the li&iciy of the town. Schemes had been formulated, works put in hand, and loan^ l'ai^ed,. all «f which had. had ar important bearing on the fiitoro of the boro.ugh. The Mayov ,und Col -1 cillors had latiirni.ly- ii(.'en subject to criticism. Some complained that they Went too' fast; and v K- otiiers that they went too slow. ' But he thought the works they had carried out and put in hanj would prove as th-i years went on tho wi ? lorn or otherwise of the. Gofuncil in it* vu n i,ijns. •No me could .have pre-si 1-3 1 - at the Council table with mov° singleness of purpose thaii Mr Do.tcvill , K*ri, but V,& r.-. c had come '<v r henj wjm !u'<ui>'i: about and ""another wowld take his? place. It vas tin way of the won'i. He hop'Jrl that ahrcp wlm came aftjr would gtuard the' interests of »\v Plymouth as zealbii«?ly a?; )ia-l the reiiring 'Mayor a.titl Councillors. He could not< close without referring briefly to the dftbt they owed to some who had served- faithfully on the Council;- but who would netver. sit there again. Tn conclusion, Mr Brooking. read the text of the address, as follows :—: — .. Now j Plymouth, 13jth May, 1903. To <His Worship the Mayor, ■Rdwar'd Dockrill, E9q. Dear Sir,— . We, the undersigned. Councillors of the Borough of New Plymouth, desire to express our appreciation of your services as Mayor, for the past five i and half ye&rs 1 . • .YQuriinswerVirig d'e'vpti'on "to the interests of the Borough. and the patience which you have exercised in the discharge of the matiy dittic's which, have " devolved upon y6ti, cTtTI for 1 our heartiest commendation; and have deservedly establish- j ed in '" the minds oi Councillors the j highest rogacd for your integrity. , Jn -your conduct also of the b)usine.>s of the. Council we wish to bear testimony to the fairness of spirit which has ever .characterised, your management. , . To .Mrs Pockrill also we feel a worid of psraise is due for the many sa"* v i fxces she has made. ,and the tactful way in which she has ,al way s _ carried out her duties as Mayoress. We. therefore, sincerely: trust that you both may long be spared to the community to which you have been attadhed- for so many years, and that the town may Continue to -reap 1 the benefit of your" ripened , experionce. We are, yojurs faithfully, W. F. Brooking, G. Tisch, W. A. Collis, Christopher Carter, A. Lealaiid, 'F. vStohr, J. B. Connntt, W. B. Webster, C. E. Bellringor. T. F. Bfllringer, Town i Clerk. Amidst applause Mr Dockrill accepted the address. In his reply Mr Dockrill said he was more than gratified at the action of j the members of the late Council, which j was on his part quite unexpected. li> had to thank them all sineorHy on behalf of Mrs Dockrill and him^lf for the kindly sentiments oxprep^'d towards them, and he could assiin 'those who had got the address up llmt it would always be a cherished innnpnto of his long connection with tho Council. ITc wished to thank the Councillors and also many out/rln tho Council who had rendered him groat assistance in the past. For 11 yrars j he had been a Councillor, and for five Mayor, and during tho whole of that period he could say his relations with the rest were always of a most amicable nature. They had difi'>v! on many things; but it had open from conscientious 1 -*. and lot his ipart he could .-.■> vho had n»\T>r c.llowed these differences to interfere with personal friendship. ITe had always considered it his duty as Mayor to keep the town' to the front, and referred to the way the people had supporie'l him ;u; v ro;;vtH 1o the sendir^ away of troops to South Africa, the Patriotic Fund, Veterans' Home Fund, and other matters. During his term as Mayor the rateable valuation of the • borough hud increased Ji*«.m £265,000 to " £162*.f)00, or well on towards dox/n'o, a'"d thn; was art Indication <t the prosperity c-f the. town Prol.oi.ly no other borough in the colony could show such a proportionate increase. Out of the loan moneys recently raised (£U5,000) only £4T5;} bw\ loan expended, and the balance had been allocated for various works some of which were already imder contract. If such good results had been achieved -with, such a smia.il/ expenditure- it Was fair to expect better results in future. Ttiore was altogether £Gl . 000 to be spent on works, and £29^000 on' repayment °' exi^tinc . l*»ohs> Mr Dbclcriill referred to the prospects that the iron industry; > for? which Mr -E. M. Smiths had /worked so long,, were now very' bright, , and expressed th? hope that Now -Plymouth -would before ■ long become a large city , as a, oonse- ! ouencn of works being established here. ! Mr Dockrill referred to . the overdraft of the borpuqh, which now stood at £1127., but this, year should be reduced fib about;, £300. Tho new .Cpunoil would have the spending of ir.ost of tho \6an.- The old Council had obtained the beat export advice on engineering matters, Contracts for ,tho baths had b£en let; and the abattoirs

\vould also be under way as soon as' ; the Health Department" approved of [plans. Ho had only one complaint to imaUei. ancl that in reference to an I inset recently published, in which there was not an atom of truth. Ho was pleased, however, to say that his opponent for the Mayor chair had assurred him he did not consider the statements contained in the inset were right' ot l fair. In conclusion he thanked" the Town Clerk and officers of the Council • for \ the assistance rendered him on all occasions, and trusted that when his successor vacated tho chair he would be able" to say the same. MessrsCollis and Tisch briefly spoke in appreciation of Mr Dockrill's services. Mr Cock then made the usual declaration, Councillor Brooking witnessing his signature. The newly invested s May r or then shook J hands wiilk Mr Dockrill and took his seat amidst applause. Mr Cock briefly thanked those present for the r attendance, and hoped that when he had to retire" lie would merit the kind things said about the late Mayor. Mr Dockrfll, hV ' was pleased to say, had promised to aseist him as far as possible. Mr Cock referred briefly to loan natters, expressing the idea that if money could not be raised in one way c.nother should be pursued with vigour and determination. The Bdrough valuations should be made by some one outside oi the Council. He considered the Town Clerk had quite enough work without valuing, ancl was not perhaps Mp to the free values in every case. The lighting of the streets was enoth«jr matter that required attention, and iho Gas Company should be awaken?d. He would also like to see the Council do less of its business in committee, so that press and public could tell better what was being done. The provision of municipal buildings was a subject which he would at an early date take into consideration. He hoped the Council would work hand in hand with the Harbour Board for the improvement of the port, and thus make New Plymouth wbat it ought to be — a leading port as well as chief town of the province. Mr Cock resumed his seat amid plauseMessrs Brooking, Tisch, and Bellringer welcomed the new Mayor on behalf of their l'espective wards. It was then decided that tlfe Council should meet for the despatch of business at 7.30 this evening 1 , end the meeting adjourned. ' At the invitation of ihe now A*ayc<r, most of those present af.'jV.ani'.'-l to tho Mayor's parlour, where Councillor Brooking" j) ro P oscc l "t he health of "The Mayor, Mr Cock", which was responded to in bumpers of champagne and "soft stu(V." Mr Cock suitably replied and then proposed the health of Mrs Dockrill, paying- a tribute to the g-ood qualities -she -had— displayed in the position of Mayoress. The toast having been honoured Jtir Ik ekrill replied, assuring those present that Mrs Dockrill would continue to do all sho could to assist in deserving objects, a statement which was received with applause.