MAYORAL INSTALLATION.

« The ceremony of installing Mr William Recce, the newly-elected Mayor cf Christchurch, into the chair took' place at the office of the City Council at noon to-day f There were present—the Mayor of' Christchurch (chairman), Councillors Gray, Samuels, Andrews, Sandstein, Appleby, Cooper, Green, Morris, Sorensen, Prudhoe, Smith, Clarke and Kmcaid. Messrs J. A. Bird, R. M. Macdonald, J. Gapes, F. Hobbs, J. Connal, J. B. Fisher, H. J. Beswick, G. Humphreys, and others, were present as guests. Apologies for absence were received from exMayors Manning and Hulbert. The Mayor said that when he took office two years ago he had large ideas of works and improvements which would be beneficial to the city, and among these was the project of a Greater Christchurch. Though he had been disappointed with this and other things, there had not been any great cause for regret during the past two years. The want of cash, and the working of inimical interests had been against them. Yet their works had been satisfactorily carried out, aiid their streets would compare favourably with those of any city in New Zealand, or, for the matter of that, south of the bne, and visitors from other places had not been slow with their congratulations. The Beautifying Society, too, had turned their dustheaps into pleasant places, for which the citizens of Christchurch ought to feel greatly indebted. They had also obtained a new Fire Brigade Station, which was an absolutely necessary work. With regard to the larger works which had not yet bean carried out, the various committees had obtained excellent information which would be useful in the future. Though the public was naturally averse to borrowing, and liked to secure the greatest amount of convenience for nothing, large loans would be necessary in the future. The abattoirs would have to be carried out very shortly, and the completcst details had been secured with regard to an electric lighting scheme driven by horse-power ; and a high-pressure water-supply from the Wainiakariri, which, would enable 3000 h.p. of water to be delivered in Christchurch, and it would bo shortly for the citizens to say whether they . would have them or not. The question of water power was also intimately mixed with that of electric lighting. By the aid of the £25,000 loan the Colombo Street Bridge would be replaced by a new one, and the congested traffic of the city relieved by the erection <>f two new bridges. 'Then, again, there was the central yard, by the acquisition of which a saving in work nearly equal to the interest on the money expended would bo effected. Then there was the morgue question, which had been a trouble for years ; and they would shortly 'have a building in which the dead could bo at least decently accommodated. Though not a municipal work, he must refer to the Industrial and Agricultural Hall, which would provide a building wherein three or four thousand people might concrete when any matter of importance came forward- The Jubilee Year was a most suitable time for the opening of such a building, and no more appropriate man than the Mayor elect could have been found to open it. He had now only to thank Councillors for the courtesy and support received, and fiad much pleasure in publicly thanking them. He had also received the greatest assistance from the staff from the Town Clerk downwards, anjl he thought that the citizens might well congratulate themselves upon tlie possession of such a good staff. The complaints of the ratepayers were many, various, and even picturesque ; but it was the right of the Briton to growl, and no Briton had a greater right tp do bo than the man who paid his rates. He had now only, to ask them to extend the courtesy and generosity to Mr Recce which he himself had received, and he was sure that the honourable office _ of Mayor could be conferred u^on no bettor man. (Applause). Mr W. Recce having made the statutory declaration, was duly installed by Mr Louisson, who wished him a happy and prosperous term of office. (Applause.) The Mayor thanked Mr Louisson and the Councillors for the manner In which they had received him, and said that he felt that the office of Mayor of, a city like Christchurch was a most honourable one. We owed much to our early settlers, who had reserved our parks and squares, and had taught us how to plant trees, and in course of time he hoped to see carriage drives through the park. The sanitation of the city was a matter of the highest importance, and he hoped that considerable improvement in this respect might be effected during his term of office. He would like to see the interests of the city in all public services conserved. For a better food and water-sup-ply, and better sanitation, he thought the public would support «he Council m the matter of a lean. The puestion of a Greater Christchurch must come to the front sooner or later, and he hoped, that outside boroughs would consider the matter seriously. He took it that the Councillors were earnest men, and hoped that not only the Jubilee celebrations would ba a succsss, but that Christchurch might be really benefited by the Council's work during his. term of office. (Applause.) As tho oldest Councillor, Councillor Gray welcomed the Mayor, and said that while thers were differences of opinion among Councillors, they all. united in the support of their Mayor. He thought no more suitable Mayor could have been elected than Mr Recce, who had grown up with the prosperity of Canterbury. , The Mayor briefly thanked Councillor Gray and Councillors, and the meeting adjourned. At a subseouent meeting in the Library, tha toasts of "The Queen," "The Maydr" and "The Retiring Mayor" were honoured.