MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 4121, 23 December 1887, Page 3

MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

At noon on Wednesday, the Borough Councillors held a formal meeting which a number of influential representative citizens attended by invitation, for the purpose of installing Mr Jonas as the re-elected Mayor of Timaru. There were present His Worship tbo Mayor, Councillors D. Owers, J. Bruce, Bush, J. Burford, A. Sherrott, T. C. Plante, Penrose, and Messrs Chisholm, Balfour, Beswick, Cook, White, Ziesler, Perry, Moody, Cooper and Captain Woollcombe. R.N. The Mayor having taken the chair the Town Clerk read the following statement of the affairs of the council : — The balance of overdraft nt March 31, 1887 was £637 12s 5d ; the estimated overdraft on March 31st, 1888 is £447, 9a 3d ; this shows that £180 3s has been paid off. The works done aro as follows : — Town Belt, £472 16a Od ; High street, £110 j Bank gully eewor, £160; asphalt kiln, £100; Grey road, £42 5a lOd ; broken metal, £472 16j 8d; shingling tho streeto, £47 18a 4d : Jubilee fountain, £25. The worka dono include 1402 i superficial yards of asphalt o footpaths, and kerbing and channelling 27i chains. The rates at the aamo time have been reduced 2£d on all dwelling-houses and cottage property. Hia Worship briefly congratulated tho council on the satisfactory state of things just disclosed. Councillor Planto moved, and Councillor Sherratt seconded, " That a very hearty voto of thanks be offered to His Worship the Mayor for his post services to tho Borough, and congratulations on hia ro-eleotion to the offlco." In speaking to the motion Councillor Planto warmly eulogised tho Mayor, and common fed His Worship's public spirit and attention to the nceda of tho Uorovgh. CouncillorShorratt,in seconding the molion, fully endoried what the mover had said, and tho motion waa carried mm. con. Councillor Plante then took tho chair while His Worship signed tho usual declaration, after whioh ho (the Mayor) ro-a«aumcd tho chair and m a few suitable words thanked them for hia re-election. At the same time he expressed the hopo that the office wou'd bo a rolling one. Ho hoped they would soon havo improved foot-paths and Bewerage,which would make Timaru one of tbp healthiest jpots on earth. As ho had been elected ho would (till do the beet bjo could for tljo borough. (Applause.) Hia Worship then asked those present to join him m partaking of champagne. This was forthwith provided by Mr D. McGulnneu of tho Club Hotel, and the toast list was gone through. "The Queen," proposed by tho chairman. Mr W. 0. Beswick proposed " Beprcsontatire* of Local Bodies." Tho toast was coupiei with the nances of Messrs Moody (Levels R*o»ii Board) and Balfour (Goroldino County Council) Wh ol v/b.om responded briofly. Mr Moody proposed tho hoalth of " The Mu.ypr." Ho eulogised his Worship's administration jn towa. Sirica ho had taken oflico thorp hjid jl visible and material improvement m ovory direction. ' Tlio loubl was honourod with enthusiasm. Tho Mayor retpuudod. Ho was obliged ( to

: | the company for their kind reception of the toust.and to Mr Moody for the termß m which he had proposed it. At the same time he waa of opinion that whon a man undertook a job and carried it through successfully he was not a bit more entitled to credit than if he had failed m it. He (the Mayor) had done his best, but he was not going to take credit to himself alone for all that had been done. Had it not been for the officers by whom he was assisted he could not have done it. Ho could assure them that affairs at the Towa Hull were most efficiently managed. The auditor, Mr Roberts, had on his recent visit highly praised the book-keeping; and had said that no municipal books m the colony were better kept. (Applause ) Well, with officers like Mr Lough and hia subordinates the work of a Mayor waa very light. The town clerk had had" experlonceand that was of the greatest service to the Mayor. With the counoil hia relations had been most harmonious. Whether thoy agreed or disagreed there wob always good feeling between them. In fact so pleasant were matters that he believed the time would soon arrive when the aristocracy of Timaru would aspire to civio office. In spite of hard times, losses on wool and grain, &c. Timaru was second to no town m the colony m prosperity. Iron was rising at Home, and wool and grain would soon follow, and we should hare a good time again. (Applause.) Mr J. Bruce proposed "The Borough Solicitor." He thought they should ho glad to have an adviser who could keep them all m order as Mr Perry did by hia advice very often. His Worship said if Mr Perry's advice was good they should accord him musical honours for bad advice was a very bad thing. Mr Arthur Perry m responding onid it gave him unqualified pleasure to meet them. He had been the borough aolicitor now for Borne 22 years. The office had not at all times been a bed of roses, but he had done hia best. Hiß duties had been much lightened by the ability of Mr Lough, their excellent town clork. He (Mr Perry) had a son " coming on" m his profession and he hoped he might succeed him (tho speaker). (Applause.) The Mayor proposed " Our Banker." The bank had always helpod the borough on the most favourable terms, and it was only fair to acknowledge Mr Chisholm's frequent kindnesa m his managerial capacity. Drunk with musical honours. Mr Chisholm said his work had always been light because the members of the council bad looked after their business. He could not too strongly emphasise his eulogy of the Mayor, who had been mast efficient m the discharge of his duties. As for Mr Jonas remarking that the office "ought to be a rolling one" he for one did not believe m that theory. He was of opinion that when they had a good man they ought to Btick to him, and he hoped Mr Jonas would occupy that chair for ttn years to come. They wanted "go" m the place instead of dead and alive policy. Before, there used to bo grumbling, now good work was being done. The {public were not blind to this ; they all perceived Mr Jonas' force of character and generosity. (Applause) Captain Woollcombe R.N., proposed tho health of the Councillors. They had, by the Mayor's own showing greatly aided him. (His Worship : hear, hear.) '.I hoy had seen by the reports of meetings that though there were difforences among them, there was no ill feeling. He would couplo the toast with the namo of Councillor Plante. His Worship suggested that precedence should bs given to senior councillors and Captain Woollcombe left the toast open to be responded to according to seniority. Councillor Bush, as a senior councillor, regretted not having the gift of the gab. (Laughter.) He congratulated tho Mayor on his election. The council had, he felt, worked well, practically and theoretically. He hoped tho works would go on and the expensea go down, and he hoped they would show next year by a good balance ehect that they had not overrun the constable. He would aak Councillor Bruce to add something, for that gentleman possessed that gift of tho gab which be lacked. (Laughter and applause.) Councillor Bruce apologised for hia ba«hful* ness. Ho and all of them were glad to sit again under Mr Jonaa though they did not aiwaya agree on every point. The Mayor hud Oiled hia office well and he hoped more would bo done to relieve the town of tho ftclid stinking stuff that was m the side channels. They must hove drainago or they would have disease. Mr Jonas was an enereetic Mayor and the Councillors were so sensible of that that they would back him up m everything reasonable. Anything unreasonable ho felt sure tho Mayor would nevor propose. He concluded by remarking that for the money thoy expended m keeping down street weeds, they could pay off tho interest on the money needed for making side channels. (Applause) Councillor Plante also responded. Ho regretted the apathy Bhown by the ratepayers at municipal elections. Recently on an election day nobody was proEosed and the Mayor had to hunt up someody to stand when the election was repeated. He was about to introduce a by-law to compel asphalting and side channelling to be done. The streets were now m a disgraceful state. He rejoiced to see the Mayor re-elected, and hoped he would be there yet another year, though that would be three years hard labour. In Dunedin, Christchurch, and even m poor little burdened Oamaru, they paid their Mayors. We m Timaru ought to pay our Mayor. (Applause.) The Mayor said he thought tho sickness was outside the ; boroogh he was surprised the suburbs did not seek to be included within tho borough. It was not that the borough needed outside help but the suburbs, if they were included, oven though they paid higher rates would receive greater advantages. Mr Chisholm thought the Borough Council should invite and persuade tho suburbs to come m with them. He would bo glad to see a move made m that direction. Mr Moody said tho Levels Road Board would gladly see the suburbs included. For higher rates they would got greater advantages. Mr Chisholm proposed " the Government Officials." Heeulogised Messrs Cook (C.P.M.) Cooper (H.M.0.) and White (Crown Prosecutor) and the toaßt was drunk with musical honours. Mr Cook responded brielly. Mr Cooper followed, adding that they wero all shaking m their shoes just now,not knowing how Boon they might havo to work for a bare pittance, (Laughter.) Mr White m replying said lie fattened on crime — (Laughter)— and times were very bad as compared with tho good old times when at every Supremo Court 25 or 30 prisoners wero waiting to bo attended to. (Laughter). He mourned over the degeneracy of tho times — (roaewed laughter) — becauso crime was a barometer. When there was plenty of it there was plenty of money. • The Mayor propoaod " The borough officials," and said the borough waa being worked ohoaply aa well as efficiently. (Applause.) Mr Lough responded, observing that the office did its utmost to economise the ratepayers' money. Mr Dale, (foreman of works) m responding eulogised the Mayor's activity and acknowledged the aid|he (tho speaker) hnd received from him. Drainage was not likoly to be carried out yet, but the streets might bo channelled, and lie would like to see tho streets asphalted if only lialf tho width of the footway. Mr Perry proposed "Tho Press," which was duly honoured, and tho proceedings terminated. For remainder of Neips tee Fourth Page. ...