MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 941, 9 May 1901, Page 2

MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

HAMILTON. A statutory meeting of the Hamilton j Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers last evening for the purpose of installing Mr R. W. Dyer, the newly elected Mayor, into his office as Chief Magistrate of the Borongh. There were present Crs. J. R. E. Hatrick, G. W. Sare R. Parr, T. Slade, W. Dey. A. Coyle, E. J. Davey and J. S. Bond. Mr Dyer was introduced by Crs. Bond and. Davey and the swearing in ceremony followed. The out-going mayor Mr Edgecumbe, said it gave him great pleasure to inatal Mr Dyer in the chair as Mayor. He desired to thank the late councillors for the patient and generous way they had accepted his ruling during his term of office, and trusted that tho same courtesy would tie extended to his successor who he fait quite sure would conduct the business of the council faithfully and well. Iu vacating the civic chair it was sometimes usual d) refer to the past, but in tho present instance he did not think that any good end could be attained by doing so. It migho not, however, be out of place to make a slight forecast, and refer to some of the more important things that would come up for consideration before the new Council. The chief thing that would demand their attention at an early date would be the work of devising some means for the repair or re-crcction of the Hamilton Traffic Bridge. That brought up the question of a .loan, Then there would be the water supply, and the sanitary arrangements in connection with the Borough. This would entail a considerable outlay and necessetato a borrowing policy on the part of the Council. While on tho question of borrowing he would like to touch on the subject of thu Claudelauds property, of which a good deal hail been Heard of late. He had always held that this should beloug to the Borough, and he threw it out as a suggestion, that although it was now under olfer to the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the Council might very fairly consider whether it would be a desirable position for the inhabitants to take up, to secure, tbis property for the Borough. In view of the holding cf shows, etc. there, the matter was of vital importance to the towu and the whole of the inhabitants, and he hoped it would be considered by the Couucil in the way he suggested when the policy of borrowing came to be entered upon. He again thanked the old members for the courtesy extended to him in his position as Mayor, and concluded by bespeaking the same kindliness and consideration for Mr Dyer. (Applause). In reply, Mr Dyer warmly thanked the outgoing Mayor for his kind remarks, which ho fully appreciated, In assuming the position of Mayor, he fully realised the responsibilities which rested upon him. He always thought that a Mayor should act impartially, without any feeling to any party whatever, and simply work for the good and interest of all parties concerned. As to the work of the future, the retiring Mayor had already made some remarks upon what he considered important quetions, and he, to a very great extent, agreed With them. The question of the Claudelands Racecourse had not been mentioned before and had simply been thrown out as a suggestion. Apart from that there were, he considered, three important works —viz., the erection of trucking yards, the traffij bridge and the water supply. These were all outside the ordinary run of Council matters in the way of roads and bridges. Tha most pressing work of all was the securing of efficient trucking yards for the sales. They might have them at once if they cared to pay for them, but that arrangement would hardly prove satisfactory. The yards were a most important factor in connection with the town, and this question should be dealt with first while the others could come up in due course. In discharging his duties he would do everything in his power to expedite the discharge of business and uphold tho dignity of the Couucil. He looked to Councillors for assistance, and felt convinced he would not look in vain. His first official duty would be to move a vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor. During the whole of the time Mr Edgecumbe had occupied the chair he had sat under him as a councillor, and he could tes'ify to hif courtesy aud strict impartiality in the conduct of the busioets of the Council under all circumstances. He desired that not only should a vote of thanks be tendered to Mr Edgecumbe, but that it should be placed on record. He then moved : " That this Council desires to record its thanks to the retiring Mayor, Geo. Edgecumbe, Esq., for his uniform courtesy and consideration to tho members of the Council, and for his strict impartiality in the chair." Cr. Bond, in seconding the motion, said that it was perhaps very fitting that he should do so. He heartily endorsed all the sentiments therein expressed, as Mr Edgecumbe had at all times extended every courtesy to members, whether they were opposed to him or not. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Edgecumbe said that no greater compliment could be paid to anyone vacating the Mayoral chair than that paid to him. We were all more or less mortal ; but he had always endeavoured to do the fair thing, and this had evidently been recognised by the Jouncil. He concluded by thanking tho councillors for their vote of thanks, and also for placing the resolution on the books of Borough. Mr John Kuox, as one of the oldest inhabitants and one who had attended 24 installations in the borough, then congratulated the Mayor upon his election. Mr Dyer said that the congratulations, coming as they did from one of the founders of Hamilton and an ex-Mayor, were doubly valuable. The Mayor then declared the meeting closed, and invited those present to adjourn to the Commercial Hotel, where the toasts of "The Mayor," and " The Prosperity of Hamilton," the latter coupled with the name of Mr John Knox, were drunk with enthusiasm and duly responded to. CAMBRIDGE. A meeting of the Cambridge Borough Couucil was held at noon yesterday for the purpose of re-instilling His Worship the Mayor, W. F. Buckland, Esq., in she civic ehair. There were present : Councillors Arnold, Boyce, Davies, Escott and Ferguson. Crs. Richardson, Wells and ClarK were absent from the town or they would doubtless have been at the meeting. His "Worship thanked the burgesses for having elected him for the third term, and said he did not seek the office ; iudeed it was at the earnest solicitation of some of the leading ratepayers that he consented to be nominated. They had worked together very happily during the past yenr, and ne trusted they would do so during the forthcoming one. One of the reasons he had consented to accept the office for a further term was because ho bad instituted the water works scheme, and he felt it incumbent upon himself to see it safely through. When that was accomplished he should feel that he had done his share of the Borough work. He was one who liked to spend his evenings at home, and he warned them that on no consideration would he accept office another year, so they must be prepared with a successor next April. They nuist endeavour to keep the town up to date in all respects, and after the water was laid on they should formulate a comprehensive scheme for lighting the town, and some of the streets should have lumps erected in them at an even earlier date. He had every faith in Cambridge, for it had a pood back country already opened up, and there were thousands of acres of good laud at Mauugatautari aud iu the

Upper Thames Valley yet to be settled. It was now becoming well known as a health resort, and he expected it to increase steadily, and he firmly believed that in the future it would be the leading town of the Waikato. His Worship then made the statutory declaration, and resumed the civic chair. Cr. Boyce congratulated the Mayor on commencing his third term of office, and trusted it would prove a pleasant one. Each Councillor present followed in a similar strain, Cr. Escott saying how gratified the ratepayers were that Mr Buckland had determined to eee the waterworks scheme through ; Cr. Davies bore testimony to the courteous •manner in which the Mayor had treated the Council and his readiness to work at all times ; and Cr. Ferguson reminded His Worship they had a most important matter they must not forget, namely the bridge over the Waikato, and as the town increased he hoped they would find another place for their sale yards. Mr Buckland thanked the Councillors for their kindly expressionE, and the meeting then terminated.