THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1063, 23 November 1877, Page 3

THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

To the Editor of the tilobe.

Sib, —As Mr Gapes's friends are so industriously putting before the working men statements of his ill-usage by the late Council, I think it is only right that the truth should be told. In the articles appearing in your paper upon the subject you have handled it very delicately, and thus, to a certain extent, the' statements made by Mr Gapes's canvassers have received credence. I intend, sir, with your permission, to put before the ratepayers another view of the question, which perhapa may not be palatable to our worthy Mayor. In the first place, as to the illtreatment of Mr Gapes by the late Council, which is being made so much of, so far from being ill-treated, the Mayor has every cause to be grateful for the consideration, patience, and courtesy which he has always received from the Council. The want of tact, good taste, and ability to preside over a public body, which is so conspicuous on every public occasion, and more particularly in the Council, has been borne with, and every assistance given to make municipal matters look fair to the outside public. Sir, it is a wellknown fact that the main reason for the selection of Mr Hobbs as municipal delegate to Wellington, was that the Council did not consider that tho Mayor would be such a representative as should come from a city of sucli importance. Hence tho antagonism of his Worship to the delegate, and that celebrated correspondence, which scarcely I Hunt redounded to the credit of our chief magistrate. I spealc plainly, sir, because attemptare being made to give a false colour to facts. Do tho ratepayers think that it is wise to re elect a gentleman of whom it can be said th;>l it would never do to sond him as representative of the city to Wellington :' Is tin's to h' tho choice to fill the important pflice " Mavor. Sir, we want a gentleman for whou on public occasions there ig no need to bluaL on account of ludicrous blunders or utter

' want of good taste. We hare had twelve months' municipal government by the Town. Clerk and committees, and it is quite time now that we had a Mayor -who has sufficient ability and confidence in himself to take a higher position than that of a cipher. I say that during the last year Mr Haskins has virtually been Mayor, and if the citizens reelect Mr Grapes he will be so again. Is this, I ask, a proper state of things for a city like Christchurch ? One of the Councillors said recently that Christchurch was the pattern municipality of New Zealand, but if the Mayor-cum-Town Clerk rule of last year is to be perpetuated we shall soon lose all claim to the title. Let my fellow-ratepayers put aside all the ingenious mists which are being raised by the astute legal gentleman who is pulling the strings for his Worship, and vote for the beet man. If they do that I do not think they will have cause to regret it. Yours, &c, BURGESS.