MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5748, 17 December 1896, Page 3

MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

CHEISTCHURCH." The annual meeting of the City Council for the installation of the Mayor for the ensuing year was held at noon to-day. The retiring Mayor, Mr H. J. Beswick, presided, and Councillors Woods, Stapleton, Sandstein, Appleby, Mickle, Gray, Prudhoe, Smith, Stewart, Samuels, Kincaid, Sorensen and Loughnan were present. A number of ex-niayors and other wellknown citizens were in attendance. The retiring Mayor said that it was his pleasing duty to instal the niayor-eleot, Mr W. H. Cooper, who had for the second time been elected chief magistrate of the city. He hoped that Mr Cooper would have as agreeable a time as he himself had had. During the year several important matters had transpired, including the resignation of the city surveyor and the appointment of the present holder of the position. He had noticed that some of the other towns of the colony had larger overdrafts than Christchurch had. The position of Christchurch in this respect was a matter of congratulation. During the past year the Tram\vay Company had approached the Council in reference to a new concession, and the matter I ' was under consideration! The subject of a water supply had been considered, but no. decision had been arrived at. He hoped that some definite action would be taken towards the purchase of a central council yard, -which in the interests of the city was much needed. He wished to thank the members of the Council for the courtesy and assistance they had extended to him during his term of office. \ Mr Cooper then made the usual declaration, and was duly installed. He>thanked Mr Beswick for his kind remarks, and said that it would be his object to do his duty according to his lights, ever conserving the interests of the ratepayers. As several of the gentlemen present had business engagements, he would not detain them further. • « Councillor Stewart thought that the Council should not separate without thanking the retiring Mayor. He wished to assure Mr Beswick that in his action in reference to the unemployed, which had been severely criticised, he had had the support of the members of the Council. 'The matter was becoming a very serious one, and the course the ex-Mayor had taken was decidedly in the interests of the city and the ratepayers. Councillor Stewart moved a vote of thanks to Mr Beswick for his services as Mayor. Councillor Gray seconded the motion. Councillor Mickle said that as the youngest councillor present he wished to testify to the high opinion he held of the retiring Mayor's conduct in the chair at the meeting at which he (Councillor Mickle) had attended. He endorsed Councillor Stewart's remarks in reference to Mr Beswick's action in relation to the unemployed, and said it was not right that Christchurch should become the dumping ground for the unemployed of the country. Manjf people thought that the Government was in some degree responsible for the condition of the unemployed, and that it was only- right that the .Government should do somewhat. for them. He was quite sure that Mr Beswick, though he had been blamed for hisr action, had no yr&nb of . sympathy with the unemployed. He felt sure that Mr Beswick's success as Mayor was a good augury of, the success in his professional career which all wished he might have. . The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Beswick thanked the Council, and said that he had had a very pleasant year of office, except for the difficulty about the xinemployed. In that matter he could say that his conscience was quite clear. He felt deep sympathy for the unfortunate' men who were out of work, but felt that the question was more one for the General Government than for the local bodies. He was pleased, however, that he had the sympathy of the Council in the course he had taken. He hoped that his successor would have a pleasant and successful year of office. The meeting then closed. Those present then met in the library, where the health of the present, retiring and ex-Mayors was duly honoured. TIMARU. The Mayor-elect of Timaru,Mr J. J. Grandi, was installed at noon yesterday, most of the Councillors being present. Before leavinsr the chair, the retiring Mayor, Mr Jacob Hill, made a statement regarding the Borough finances, and congratulated the Council upon having greatly improved the water supply- without trenching on the balance of the loan fund and upon having considerably improved the surface drainage of the borough in spite of a reduced income. The bank overdraft was about <£300 less than it was two years ago. ' _