MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 9 May 1901, Page 4

MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

Mr C. N. Macintosh was installed as Mayor at a special meeting of the Borough Council for the purpose at noon yesterday. There were present the retiring Mayor, Mr Hole, Councillors Mills, Bedmayne, Bothwell, Eadcliffe, Shepherd, Satterthwaite, Priest, and Coe. The Mayor-elect signed the necessary declaration, and took the chair, and the Councillors also made their declarations.

The retiring Mayor made a .statement jagarding the chief works carried out during his term of office, and the improvements effected, in streets, sanitary works, water supply, etc., and mentioned a number of questions that had been under inquiry and discussion, and' still remain for decision or completion, and made some suggestions to the new Mayor and Council for the Suture. He referred to the great Imperial events of the last eighteen and the part Timaru had taken in connection with these, and altogether made an interesting statement.

Councillors "Milla and Shepherd moyed—"That the best thanks of this Connca be tendered to our late. Mayor, Mr Hole, for his many and varied excellent services to the Borough, and his kind and courteous conduct to all Councillors and burgesses during his occupancy of the chair, and express a wish for his future prosperity."—Carried unanimously*

A SOCIAL GATHERING. In the evening a social gathering was held in the Council Chambers, present and past Councillors and past Mayors being the guests of Mr Hole, retiring Mayor. Among those present in a company of about 30 were Messrs J. Jackson (exMayor), Mr A. Hart (Customs), J. A. Hutton (Post Office), Perry (Borough solicitor), the Council's officers, Major Wright, Messrs H. B. Kirk, G. P. Wood, W. D. Campbell and A. Oborn. Apologies were received or made for the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Captain Sutter, Messrs G. Cliff, J. S. Keith and J. J. Grandi( ex-Mayors); Dr Hogg and Mr T. Thomson (ex-Councillors), Dr Eeid (Health Officer), Councillors Boothroyd, Sealeyand Hawkey, Mr Howell, Mr Wray, Mr J. S. Bennett. '

Mr J. Hole presided, and after the toast of "The King," proposed "The Past Mayors of Timaru," and eulogised them for the work they had done, making special reference to the carrying out of the waterworks, which he believed were one of the most successful in New Zealand. These had been much improved since.he joined the Council, so that they -were carrying double the quantity of water they, did before. He believed that; with further i improvements, in seven or eight years the water"would pay all the rates. There was not'much rate now available for the borough after paying the harbour and hospital levies. He hoped the new Mayor would do all he could-to advance : the town, as the chief town" of one of the best spots in New Zealand deserved.*- And if ail put their shoulders to. the wheel it must advance. He believed the hew Mayor meant to keep the wheel moving, .and if they would give him a free hand he would make things hum, and he hoped-that "the new Council-would give him all the help they could." The toast was coupled with the name of Mr John Jackson. " Mr Jackson went round the room, and turned a fine series of handsomely-framed photographs of past Mayors, naming each of them and the periods they, had occupied.the Mayoral chair:—Mr S. Hewlings, 1868-70; Captain Cain, 1870-73; Mr G. Cliff, .18.73-75. 1876-79; Captain Sutter, 1875-76, 1879-81; Mr J. Jackson, 1882-86; Mr Moss Jonas, 188688; Mr D. M. Ross, 1888-91; Mr A. Sherratt, 1891-93; Mr J. Hill, 1893-96; Mr J. J. Grandi, 1896-98; Mr J. S. Keith, 1898-99; Mr'J. Hole, 1899-1901. Added to those of the Mayors was that of the Town Clerk, Mr E. H. Lough, 1868-. Each photograph was greeted with applause, but especially the last. Mr Jackson expressed his great pleasure at being invited to be present, and to perform the duty of unveiling the portraits of past Mayors. He was a Councillor in Mr Hewliugs' time, from 1869, and sat continuously for 21 years. (Applause.) The late Mayor had referred to the early difficulties, especially in connection with the water-works. One not present, Mr Gibson, Captain Sutter, and without egotism he might add himself, had great difficulty in connection with those works. People nowadays talked of the foolishness of the Council of those days, floating a loan at 7 per cent. But they did not know the circumstances. They had sat at that table with their cheques returned, and all the plant to be paid for. Some of the Councillors ran away for fear. Those who did not had, some of them, to put down their own names for as much as £12,000. The time was coming when the money would be got at a cheaper I

rate. He was proud of having been con- j n«cted -with, the commencement of that [ ■work, from which the present and all future generations would reap the benefit. He hoped that future Mayors -would be able to compare with the late Mayor in energy, public spirit, tact and suavity of manner. He observed that many of those whose faces he had just turned forward had passed away, and that time would come for all of them, but in. the meantime while they remained let them enjoy themselves. (Laughter and hear, hear.) Mr Jackson rose again to inform the company that the municipalitv was indebted to the late Mayor, Mr Hole, for the gift of the series of fine photographs. (Great applause.) u _,, Councillor Shepherd proposed The Newly-Elected Mayor,", whom he had known from a boy, and had always respected. He was sure Timaru had in him a very capable Mayor, and he was sure it was his intention to try and help on the town as well as the late Mayor had done. He had no doubt at all that ne would be an excellent Xvlayor. - In responding, Mayor Macintosh said some of the remarks that fell from exMayor Jackson had struck him as very appropriate, as showing the necessity for pushing on. The late Mayor that afternoon advised the Councillors not to let him (the speaker) go too fast, and then he went on. to mention a number of things that must be attended to. They must have a stone-crusher and other things, and even a bicycle track along the streets. (Hear, hear) He was convinced that if they ■were to hold their own as a municipality they must progress; they must not let things drift. There need be no fear of ieMayor and Council going too fast, as the burgesses had the last word. Ihe Mavor and Council could only point the j wav—that was their duty in regard to re- , forms and improvements—but the decision j rested with the'burgesses. He had not j the suavity of manner of the lata Mayor; , was rather blunt; but he would endeavour to treat every Councillor fairly, squarely : and impartially. There was much to do in the next two years, and he asked tor the hearty, energetic support of every member of the Council. The late Mayor had been summoned to attend 150 meetings during the last 18 months and had idtended 148 of them. (Applause.) He would endeavour to walk in the footsteps of the late Mayor, but he had set a hard pace to follow. Councillor Mills proposed The Borough Solicitors," and Mr Perry,, in responding, said he had known all the Mayors. His brother, the late Mr Arthur Perry, was the first solicitor to the Council, and his firm had been the Council's advisers ever SUI!Ce - , ~ m , T. I_l- - Priest proposed The Public Officers," coupled with the names of Messrs Hart and Hutton. Mr Hart gave a few reminiscences of the old days, and eulogised ex-Mayor Sutter for his carrying out of the Water-works, the greatest i work the Timaru Borough Council had accomplished. Mr Hutton drew attention to the happy inspiration of Mr Hole to make Timaru a present of the portraits of the past Mayors; it was an excellent idea. He added a few remarks upon the progress of the Post and Telegraph Department—the most democratic institution in, the colony, where the best services were at the disposal of any youngster who rapped on the counter.

Mr W. D. Campbell proposed " The Volunteers," and Major Wright and Captain Buckingham responded. Councillor Guinness proposed, and Mr T. D. Young and the Mayor responded for, "The Harbour Board," the speakers insisting upon ' the supreme value of the harbour to the welfare of the town and district, and referring to the great advance made in the size of the vessels using the harbour, and the improvements made and being made for their reception. Mr Campbell proposed " The Army and Navy," and in doing so gave some interesting reminiscences of the war in South Africa. And in regard to the Navy, he pointed out that but for the existence of the Navy the transport of the Army to South Africa, without armed convoys, would have been impossible.— Councillor Mills responded for the' Navy, and Major Wright for the Army. The latter remarked that the war in South Africa had been quite a new kind of war, as it was fought on horseback, and with smokeless powder. The several speakers on military matters eulogised the Volunteers as not inferior to the Regulars as a fighting Jorce. "Trade and Commerce," proposed by Mr G. P. Wood, was responded to by Mr H. B. Kirk. The latter referred to the advance of Timaru up the list of exporting ports, and hoped to see it in an equal position in regard to imports. He instanced a case in his owri experience of the defective arrangements at present. He imported a machine by the Maori. It was discharged at* Wellington; the Maori had since been to Timaru, and was now on her way Home, and the machine had not yet reached Timaru. 1 Other toasts were, "The Council's Banker," "The Borough Council and other Local Bodies," "The Fire Brigade," "The Council's Staff."

In proposing the toast of " The Council's Staff," ex-Councillor Young said that the date under.>l;he Town Clerk's portrait was 1868 to (blank), and long might the ' place for the second, date remain blank. (Great applause.) The Mayor proposed "The Eetiring Mayor and Councillors," eulogising the retiring Mayor for the energy and self-sacri-fice Mr Hole had displayed as Mayor, and he regretted that some of the most active and progressive members of the late Council had not allowed themselves to be returned to the Council, especially mentioning ex-Councillor Young.—Mr Hole thanked the Mayor for permitting him to have the honour of receiving the troops on their return from South Africa. He thanked the Mayor and all past Councillors for good feeling that had always prevailed among them, and also the staff lor their attention to duty. He thanked Mr Ferrier for kindness in connection with photographs that were displayed. Also the " Press" for the attention they had given to municipal matters, and the ratepayers for the support they had given; to, him and the. Council. A number"'of songs' were sung during the evening.

" The Press " concluded the toast list, and "Auld Lang Syne" wound up the symposium as the town clock struck twelve. '■"■'. Per Press Association. NAPIER, May 8. The installation of Mr J. C. McVay, the newly-elected Mayor, took place to■<tey> and was largely attended. Congratulatory addresses were delivered by Mr . Swan, the retiring Mayor, and all the Councillors.. Subsequently Mr Swan was presented by the Corporation staff with two valuable pieces of plate.