THE MAYORALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

THE HON. E. MITCHELSON DECLINES NOMINATION. A PATHETIC NOTE. His Worship the Mayor of Auckland i<the Hon. E. Mitchelson) met the members of the City Council this afternoon at their request in connection with the Mayoralty. There were present: Dr. Sharman, and Messrs. Bagnall, Hutchinson, Grey, Knight and Brown. Apologies were received from Mr. MeLeod and Mr. '■3. Court, who each stated their hope that the Mayor would accept nomination once more. ■ Several Councillors having spoken expressing a strong , nope that the Mayor should reconsider his decision, Mr. Mitchelson said he must first thank the Councillors for their kindness, and added that he could not see hLs way clear to do bo. If anything, however, would have induced him to change his mind it Avas the note he had received from Sir John Logan Campbell: 'Dear Mr. Mitchelson, —I called to see you this morning to say 'won't you unveil me' when the time comeß, and be the then Mayor. It will ■be a great disappointment to Lady Campbell and mc if the old friend who opened Cornwall Park, and told the people they must do this thing, is not to the fore to meet the people again and say we have done it and I thank you.— (Signed) J.Jb.C." Mr Mitchelson went on to say that ■he would much have liked to have held the position for that occasion, hut he could depend on it that the duty would be as capably fulfilled. Ho also said that if he could haveoelt sure the same Council could have been' returned at the next elections he might have held the office, but in the uncertainty of the ballot he could not risk it. He appealed to them, to choose a Mayor out of their own members, for they were all familiar and iv sympathy with the "works now in progress and contemplated. The policy of "shunt" which iad kept Auckland back was not possible now that the works had been started, and he hoped they would all be pushed through to a satisfactory conclusion". The Councillors regretted the decision, and Dr. Sharman said he hoped it •was not absolutely final.