Installation of Mayor.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8613, 17 December 1896, Page 4

Installation of Mayor.

The statutory 5 meeting of ..the Borough Council for the installation of Mayor took place in tho Borough Chambers at noon yesterday. Present--His Worship ;the Mayor (Mr Thomas Radford), and Crs Comer, Burch, Whitehead,/Stewart, Poulgrain, Foy, ■ and Wood. i. ■~; j)Befofe vacating the chair, Mi' Radford said he had'prepared no state- ' ment traversing the work of the year, because such a statement had already been presented to the Council. It was brought before them before the elec* tion, because he had been credibly in-, formed that the actions and financial position of the Council would be made -subject to criticism. Some people were in, the habit of whispering too loud, and therefore, in order that the ratepayers might have every chance to judge of the whole position, he had presented a complete statement of the work of the year. ,He thanked Councillors for the harmonious manner in which they had co-operated with him. Or Whitehead moved, and Cr Foy seconded: That Cr Wood take the Chair.—Carried. Cr Wood stated that Mr Radford had occupied the Mayoral Chair for three years, and was now entering upon a fourth term. His last election was no walk-over, and the ratepayers had expressed.; their confidence in him through the ballot box. He congratulated the Mayor on his re-election, and wiflhod the Borough a prosperous year Mr Radford then made the formal declaration, and resumed the Chair, ' amidst the applause of Councillors. In doing so he remarked that if ever he folt a pleasure in being returned by tho ratepayers it was on the present occasion. Twice in his career the town had boon, canvassed against him. Once the Middle Ward was canvassed and two > signatures obtained against him, and again tho whole town was canvassed and only a few signatures were given against him, and some of these were got by false representations. As far as the late contest was concerned ho never' had any doubt as to the issue. He had. gained 40 votes as compared with the .last contest in which he was engagod. With regard to those who canvassed against him, he wasprepared to . got as many signatures in a day as, they would in a week. To some men it camo as natural to lie and to deceive as it was to an ordinary man to draw breath. Ho had worked for the people, and he was gratified that their sontinued confidence had boon shotwn through his re-election by the vote of the people. Cr Stewart said it had been objected that ono man should not have a continuous run on the position, but there was no citizen of any influence , / who seemed to be ambitious enough or , patriotic enough to givo tho necessary j '/time for the good of his follow 'ciWns. However, ;as the election ' 'had; turned tout, lie was sure no ono ' 'if the truth wero told, wowld'agaiu say ' ' the factthat the present "Mayor" was the bettor horse.••• . ; JTJtis concluded tho biiflinoss,