Dundas - Mayor Johnston. - The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950) - 13 Feb 1897 (original) (raw)

Loading article contents, please wait...

Sat 13 Feb 1897 - The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950)
Page 13 - Dundas

A special meeting of the Dundas Council was

held on Wednesday evening to elect the Mayor

for the ensuing year. Aldermen F. C. Cox

(retiring Mayor), Johnston, Rhodes, Eyles,

Spurway and Franks, were present.

Retiring Mayor. Cox moved, 'That Alderman

Johnston be elected Mayor.' Aldermam

Johnston had shown a fair amount of tact, and

given every possible attention to his duties.

He was a young man, but when a young and

capable man desired to take office, it was the

duty of the aldermen to put him in the position

and assist him all they could.

Alderman Eyles seconded. Alderman Johnston

would make a good Mayor — not better

than Alderman Cox,— but still a good one.

Alderman Franks supported the nomination,

and had no doubt that Alderman Johnston

Alderman Rhodes also supported the motion,

which was carried unanimously.

Mayor Johnston, upon taking the clnir, said

he was very pleased indeed to receive the

unanimous vote of the aldermen. He would

endeavour to carry out the duties of Mayor to

the best of his ability, but he did not expect to

come up to Alderman Cox's standard of ability.

He was in the very difficult position of having to

follow ex-Mayors Fullford and Cox, two good

men. He had always tried to do his very best,

though perhaps he had made mistakes. He

intended to represent the whole municipality,

not merely West Ward, and if at any time he

failed in his duty, he would be thankful to the

aldermen if they drew his attention to it.

Their financial position was good, they were

free from debt and had a little money in the

bank, and he had a clean sheet to start with.

He only hoped that when his term of office as

Mayor was finished, he would be able to present

the same satisfactory state of affairs as

ex-Mayor Cox had done. He would have the

advantage of having in Mr. Saunders a Council

Clerk who was thoroughly up in his duties.

Mayor Johnston moved that the thanks of

the Council be aocorded to ex-Mayor Cox for

his valuable services during the past four years.

He bad given the benefit of his large

experience, and had carried out his duties in a

Alderman Rhodes seconded the motion,

Alderman Eyles supported it, and it was

Alderman Cox: thanked them very much for

the kindly feeling expressed towards him, and

specially as their vote of thanks was to be on

the records of the Council. He came in there

about 6 years ago with the experience of about

16 years as an alderman in Parramatta. He

had always carried out his duties fairly to all

and strictly in accordance with law. He

might have acted harshly at times, but he

would be the last to run any alderman into a

law-suit. While he had been in office he had

endeavoured to make the aldermen keep their

place, and he would do it again. He had

worked in the interests of both wards, and

he had flattered himself that he had tried to do

his duties manfully and honestly.