THE CITY MAYORALTY.

Evening Star, Issue 6726, 7 October 1885, Page 1

THE CITY MAYORALTY.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib,—There seems to be a great number of Mayoral-mongers about, the latest accession to the list being your correspondent "W. Aitchem." Who this gentleman may be I do not know, for, although I am a very old resident, I have never heard of him, and upon looking over the municipal roll I cannot And his name; so that bis statement that he would vote for any particular person is about as impudent as his criticism of the various gentlemen he names.

It strikes me very forcibly that if the citizens desire any other candidate for the Mayoralty other than those whom they know are standing, they will make that desire known by largely signing a requisition to the man of their choice. In the absence of. such, I think we may'fairly asaume the public are quite willing that the contest for the Mayoral chair should be between Messrs Spedding aad Barnes. I quite agree with your correspondent that the latter gentleman is quite unfit for the; position. There never was a time in the history of (he City when it was more inoperative that a man of commercial and financial ability should guide the civio ohariot than the present. The revenues, of the City are large, but great as they are they barely suffice to make both ends meet ;. and if the citizens are not careful in their selection of Mayor, to see that he k possessed of the qualification to which I have* referred, we shall inevitably be saddled witfc an increase of the City rates. A man whocan barely read or write is not the man we want, and I feel perfectly confident that your correspondent need have so fear that that if the contest remains between MessraSpedding and Barnes, the latter would be elected, If this is bo, why need he in#traduce the name of Mr Robin, who, hekindly informs us, is not without a " flaw" (what a lot your correspondent seems to know!) What this flaw may. be Ido noa know; but assuming its existence, I would? ask Mr W. Aitchem, if he is a friend of Mr Robin, is he not seeking to do him aninjury by wishing to thrust him forward in; a contest which would, in all probability r publicly expose the flaw he refers to, and which, possibly, few if any, are now cognisant of. There is no man in the Council I think more fit than Mr Spedding for the position, and that seems to be the opinion of the councillors themselves, or otherwise those amongst them who are as fit would have announced themselves before now.—l am, eta, Ratkpaykb, Dunedin, October 7.

« TO THK BDITO%, Sir,—For impudence, commend ma to your comapondeafc W. Aitch.em,'who is afraid, if the contest is left to Messrs Spedding and. Karnes, the latter will get in. I tremble for the intelligence of the citizens when such assertions as are levelled against any councillor should debar him from aspiring to and gaining even the highest municipal position that the citizens can bestow upon him. Your correspondent need not say much about Mr Barnes. "We all know honest John Barneß." Yea, sir; and I trust that we all respect him for that very rare virtue. I, for one, shall give Mr Barnes my vote, and by might and main shall endeavor to procure for him the votes of all honest men. No doubt, Mr Thomas Dick, Mr J. & Thomson, and Mr Robin have all a perfect right to contest the Mayoralty. They are citiaens and ratepayers, and have all served the citizens in one position or another. But Mr Barnes has for many years served the Eublic faithfully and well, and because he .as the misfortune to be styled " honest" is

to-be prevented from aspiring to a position that only an honest man ought to fill. Away with such false sentiments, say I. They have ruled among us too long.—l am, etc., Belt. Ward. Dunedin, October 7. TO THE EDITOR. }) Sib,—Your correspondent" W. Aitchem must really have a great deal of assurance and personal opinion of himself by trying to influence the ratepayers of Dunedin how to -Vote at the above election. His opinion is ' that he would not vote for Barnes but rather support Spedding; but still he would prefer Cr Robin or some other councillor or citizen to come forward. In all his long letter to you it appears, in my judgment, that Mr Aitchem assumes a position to which he is not entitled at all. He is not a burgess of - the City, {and I can safely state that his uame is not on the ratepayers' roll; consequently, he has no vote, and his opinion is not worth anything. Who, possibly, can he be, that he takes upon himself to direct the citizens for whom they shall vote ? Very ' likely he is one of those individuals who generally turn up at election times, and who has not received any promise of employment - from either of the two candidates at present before the public—l am, etc., 7 Ratepayer. Dunedin, October 6.