MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS.

CHRISTCHURCH. The annual statutory meeting of the Christchurch City Council for the installation of the Mayor for the ensuing year, was hold at noon to-day. The retiring Mayor, Mr W. H. Cooper, presided, and there were present the Mayor-elect (Mr C." Louisson), Councillors Hamilton, Smith, Sandstein, Prudlme, Andrews, Samuels, Stapleton, Morris, Appleby. Gray, Sorensen, Kincaid and Woods. Several citizens, including Messrs C. P. Hulbert, and T. Gapes (ex-mayors), and Mr E. W. Roper (president of the Chamber of Commerce) were present as visitors. The retiring Mayor said that he would like to heartily thank the Councillors for tho way they had stood by him. He had always found them ready to help him in every way. He would also like to thank the citizens for having placed him at the head of the poll on t <vo occasions. He must also thank the officers, from Mr Haskins down to the messengers. Since he had taken office a year ago the overdraft had gone up ,£2OOO. The rates were .£IOOO in arrears, which would account for half of this. The purchase of Lane's mill, the additional cost of the maintenance of the Fire Brigade and fire prevention, of the preparation of the new by-laws and the Sydenham law expenses, made up an amount which would account for the balance, thus showing that the position was really about the same as last year. Mr Louisson then made and signed the usual declaration and was invested with the chain of office by the retiring mayor, who expressed the hope that his year of office might be one of pleasure to himself and benefit to the citizens. The newly-installed Mayor thanked the retiring Mayor for his graceful remarks, and expressed his thanks to ■ the citizens for his election. He looked upon it as a particular compliment that he had been elected unopposed. He would do his utmost to forward the interests of the city, and, with the help of the councillors, ho would do his best to uphold the honour of the office and to perform its duties. As to tho financial position, an overdraft of -2000 ought not to be much to a city like Christchurch. Christchurch was in the unfortunate position of being the only city ih New Zealand which had no endowments to bring in a revenue worth speaking of. That fact precluded any extraordinary expenditure, and .any special work had to be done out of loan. Nevertheless theChristchurch loans and rates were very moderate. Deducting the drainage rate, which was really not a city rate, but a provincial rate, the Christchurch rates were not very heavy. As to future works, no doubt an efficient water supply was much needed, but as long as the city had its present artesian supply, it would never get a high-pressure supply, for the ratepayers were fairly satisfied with it, and would not vote for a comprehensive scheme. He was glad to see, therefore., that a scheme for a moderate supply for sanitation purposes was proposed. He thought it would be absolutely necessary for the Council to get power from the Legislature to make bylaws to prevent the present appalling waste of . the artesian water. At present the people of Chiistchurch were flying in the face of Providence in the manner in which the water was allowed to run to waste. He would ask the Council to consider the subject later on. • As to lighting the city, it was time the Council took seriously into consideration the question of lighting the city with electricity. Christchurch was almost the only city ,cf . the same size and importance in the world which was not lighted by electricity. He did not anticipate any opposition from the Gas Company, for it had been proved in other ' cities that the adoption of electricity did not affect the receipts of the gas companies injuriously. Christchurch was greatly indebted to the recently-formed Society for beautifying the city. Through its operations, ft was now a pleasure to look upon several places which formerly were eyesores. He would suggest— if the work were not too large for the Society, and one which the Council should take vp — that the Society should attend to the beautifying of the Belts. He specially urged the planting of the South Town Belt. He would like the Council to take up the question. The river needed improvement, and he hoped that the Councillors would all attend and help the Floral Fete, to be held next day, to raise funds for its improvement. The condition of the streets of the city was not what it ought to be. (Councillor Appleby : They are better than they were.) The manner in which the traffic in the streets was conducted was a disgrace. Pedestrians were practically at the mercy of drivers, horsemen and cyclists! A great deal of the, bad manner in which the traffic was carried on was due to the fact that so many of the trade vehicles were driven by children who ought to be at school. He wondered that the Labour Unions had not taken 'up this question of child drivers. The by-laws for the regulation of traffic werecertainly|not well. administered. As to cycling traffic, he was a cyclist himself, and thought that the limit of speedeight miles an hour— fixed by the present by-law, was too high -five or sik miles would be quite sufficient. Even the eight-mile limit was not adhered to by some scorchers. Everything should be done to conserve the legitimate interests of the cyclists, but they should not be permitted to kill people without license. He requested the help of the Councillors ih carrying out the duties of his office, and trusted that their mutual relations would be amicable and profitable. He was especially pleased to see present one or two old members who had been in office when he was formerly Mayor, and he hoped they would live long and prosper. Councillor Gray, as one of the oldest Councillors, welcomed Mr Louisson as Mayor. He said that he was glad to see that, in the new Mayor, he would have a strong supporter in regard to the conservation of the artesian supply and - the proposal for a supply of water for fire prevention and sanitation. Several of the matters touched on by Mr Louisson in his address were those on which there might be a difference of opinion, but the present was not the time to discuss them. Councillor Sandstein moved 'a vote of thanks to the retiring mayor, and remarked that Mr Cooper had filled the chair with very great credit. Councillor Prudhoe seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The meeting then closed. After the formal proceedings, thos^ present assembled, at the invitation of the Mayor, in the Council Library, where the health of the retiring Mayor was proposed by the present occupant of the chair, and drunk in champagne. Several other toasts were drunk, viz. — " The ex-Mayors," proposed by the Mayor and replied to by Messrs C. P. Hulbert, W, Prudhoe and T. Gapes; "The Councillors," proposed by the retiring Mayor, and responded to by Councillors Prudhoe and Samuels; "The Officers," proposed by the Mayor and replied to, in the absence of the Town Clerk, by Messrs Murray. Archer and

Fisher (city solicitor); "The Mayor," proposed by Councillor Appleby; "The Visitors," proposed by the Mayor and responded to by Messrs E. W. Eoper, Cr. Humphreys and W. W. Collins ; and " The Press." LINWOOD. A meeting of the Linwood Borough Council was held at noon to-day, for the purpose of installing Councillor Horsley as Mayor for the ensuing year ; present— The retiring Mayor (in the chair) and Councillors. Ayers, Joseph Taylor, Jamieson, Board, Brunt, Pierce and Cleworth. The retirino- Mayor thanked the Councillors for their goodwill and the unselfish manner in which they had worked together during the two years, he had been in office. Councillor Horsley then took the chair and signed tho declaration of office. In his remarks he stated that as the council was aware he was not in favour of Linwood borrowing. He was accustomed to go about the different boroughs around Christchurch and he said that without doubt the Linwood streets were in as good a condition as any of them. If the sta?

tistics of New Zealand were taken, it would be found that Linwood was one of the healthiest districts. To meet the demands that n_at be made in connection with kerbing and channelling he would increase the rates to the limit, which would bring the Council in -6330. If ,£250 were used for channelling, together with the same amount contributed by the ratepayers, about a mile and a quarter could be undertaken "each year. The remaining _80 could be used for flushing and other purposes. In connection with asphalting, he would like to see a trial made of tar and sand, similar to the work done in Cathedral Square. This method' is being extensively adopted in Auckland and Napier, and is spoken very highly of. In . Auckland the Gas Company offers the tar at 4d per gallon, and in Christchurch it is offered at half that rate, and Mr R. C.. Bishop has kindly offered to let the Counoil have it at ld and lend the appliances and the services of a practical man,, that the Council might make a trial. He suggested that the Council should take this opportunity and lay down an asphalt path on the south side of Worcester Street from the Council Office to the East Belt. He hoped that the Council would not lose sight of a recreation ground for Linwood, for if one was not obtained soon there would not be a- chance of obtaining land at all. In conclusion he hoped that the kindly feelings thathave ' existed amongst Councillors during thepast would continue in the future. After a few remarks by the Councillors the meeting, terminated.