SYDENHAM.

f "The Installation of Mayor for the ensuing [year was held at noon yesterday. There rwere present—the retiring Mayor (Mr J. _?orrester), and Crs. Langdown, Jacques, __ii_ett, White, Booth and GledhilL The Mayor-Elect, Cr. W. Langdown, mgned the usual declaration, and ' Tie Ri3_*ir_ng Mayor, before vacating . •tthe chair, thanked the Council. for , the •courtesy shown, and assistance given him in carrying out the duties of his office. He had. spent many pleasant evenings among them, and though they had differed occasionally, the Interests of *' the ratepayers had been -duly considered in every discussion. The rate- : payers could congratulate themselves on ; the manner in which the, various works in ; the borough had progressed.l'/'Boring the - last two years the sum of £13,500 haelbeen ; spent in concrete channelling and asphalt, and the work had been carried out below ' the estimated cost. These works were a ■ great improvement to the .whole-.--, of the borough. In concluding, he < said the ratepayers were to be congratu- , lated cm having chosen for Mayor a man of such wide business expe- • rience as Councillor Langdown. He had : no doubt he would carry out his duties to' 1 the satisfaction of the ratepayers. He had , great pleasure in handing Cr. Langdown the key of the safe. The newly elected MAYOiisaid he could hardly reply to the flattering remarks of the previous speaker. He would endeavor * to carry out his duties to the satisfaction *■ of the ratepayers. H any matters came before the Council whicb necessi- f tated his exercising his casting vote he •would endeavor to act with fairness and * Laving dne regard to the interests of .the J ratepayers. He would ask for the for- ; bearance of Councillors in anything he , might be deficient in. He would propose— * "That the thanks of the ratepayers be •passed to the late Mayor for the impartial * manner in which he hod carried out his duties cruiing his term of office." i Cr. Booth seconded the motion, and Said he thought Councillors would all be unanimous in showing their, ap- ° preciation of the late Mayor's services, and JJ he believed they would only be expressing a fchej feelings of the ratepayers. 2 Gr. White, in speaking to the motion, said Mr Forrester had given universal Eisfaction to the ratepayers. He hoped , Forrester would come forward for the J ■ant seat on the Council. IF

The Mayor concurred with Cr. White In his remarks, and said they could hardly get a better man. The proposition was carried nem. con. $Ir Forrester returned thanks, and expressed his intention of standing for the ■vacant seat.

Ant ordinary meeting of the Council was then held, at which there were present the Mayor and Crs Jacques, Muffett, White, Booth, and Gledhill. A letter was lead tram Mr H. W. Bates, stating he had instructed an architect to attend to his bi_tiding, the parapet of which was com|rt— toed of as overhanging the footpath. Xhe letter was received, and the Works Coinmittee were empowered to communicate further on the subject. The Wai•makariri River Board wrote asking -whether tiie Town Clerk was willing to act as retni-ning officer for the next election of members of the Board, and whether the CounciTs office would be; •granted for a polling booth. The requests were granted. Mr Herd interviewed the Council, and requested that totara posts should be used in fencing the roadway in .front of his section in Jerrold street, and stating that that was the understanding when he gave the land to widen tbe street. It was decided on the motion of Crs. Booth and White—"That the contractor be paid for the cost of putting in totara pasts, in consideration of the extra piece of land given by Mr Herd." After passing the wages sheet and •sundry accounts, the Council decided that the office be closed on Monday and Tuesday next, and Monday, January 2nd, the ■works of tbe Council to be stopped cm those days, A special meeting of the Council was then held, and on the motion of Cr. White, seconded by Cr. Gledhill, the Council resolved to make a special order deed-ring the following streets public streets from January Ist 28S8:—Stuart Mill street, Hyde Garden street, Dewsbury's lane, Templar street, Southey street, Longfellow street and Gibbon street; and to hold a special meeting at 8 p.m., on January 21st, for the purpose of conffi-nnng the resolution making the order. The Council then adjourned till January 9th. --