THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1881. THE MAYOR ON THE WARPATH.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2386, 25 November 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1881. THE MAYOR ON THE WARPATH.

This time last year we supported Mr. Gapes in his candidature for the office of Mayor. We did so not because he was a shining light, but because, as far as his own lights went, he had previously served the citizens well during a somewhat extended municipal career, whereas his only opponent was a gentleman who had hardly cut his municipal eye-teeth, and about whose consistency we bad mors than serious doubts. But on the occasion of the present election we fail to see that Mr. Gapes has the slightest claim on the suffrages of his fellow-citizens. His opponents are men of a certain degree of weight, and the conduct of Mr. Gapes during his past term of office proves that his friends were over-sanguine in their hopes that he would worthily carry out the onerous duties to be performed by the chief officer of one of the largest municipalities in Now Zealand. On two occasions notably, as we pointed out in our article of Wednesday, Mr. Gapes did not show up satisfactorily. His views on what was required of a chief magistrate of a city on a first visit from a new Governor were primitive to say the least of them, while as to the Town Clerk fiasco Mr. Gapes succeeded in landing tha Council in one of the most complicated and ridiculous situations it is possible toconceive. Notwithstanding, however, his failures during the past year, tha sweets of office are dear to the present Mayor, and he has determined to go in for another lease of power. And the way he has set about to gain the object of bis wishes is singular and somewhat amusing. In the first place, be does not boldly give out to the public Lis intention of standing, but enters the field in & half-hearted manner, rushing on to the stage at the last moment like a “ walking gentleman ” who has been too deeply engaged in discussing a pint of porter in. the wings to notice that the curtain is up. And having entorad the arena in this promiscuous fashion, he evidently is looking about for occasions on which to signalise himself as the popular Mayor ready to sell the coat off his hack for tho good of the citizens individually and collectively. And wo notice that an occasion has already turned up which ho thinks ha may turn to his own advantage, Mr J. W. Treadwell is one of the candidates for Sydenham for tha General Assembly, and he holds peculiar views on all possible subjects. Nobody, as far as. we are aware, has over yet discovered what Mr. Treadwell is driving at. Hahas a knack of bringing enormous masses of figures and tag-ends of historical primersto bear on the subjects which he wishesto illustrate in a manner that drives, the bost-intentionod men to tho verge of lunacy. But there exists-a sort of ideain certain quarters that Mr. Treadwell would, wore ho once admitted into theHouse, be ready to die for his country—always provided that ha had first had aa, opportunity of letting off his charge off figures into the faco of the Speaker, Consequently tho email hoys in thf, gallery look upon Mr. Treadwell as a patriot. Mr. Gapes has apparently conceived tho idea that It world add to his own popularity v.ero he, to a certain extent, to identify himself with Mr. Treadwell Mr, Troadwell is tho happy possessor of a -speech on “Church Property, Finance, Taxation, Public Bank and Localism,” and he appears to bo much hurt that the papora have not fully reported his views on those extensive topics. Tho public at large are possibly indebted to tha papers for their action in this matter, but wo will net press this point. However, Mr. Treadwell, as ha declares that tho papers will not do him justice, is fully determined that his figures and general fixings shall not ha Lid under a bushel, and he has engaged tho Oddfellows* Hall for Monday night next, at tha request, as ho states, of “ many electors resident in the electorates surrounding

Christchurch.” These arc invited to resale themselves on the very choice and succulent repast which he proposes to furnish. Mr. Treadwell, it is to bo noticed, has not invited the electors of Christchurch to come to his feast; it is only the electors in the surrounding electorates whose appetites are sufficiently keen for Mr. Treadwell’s purpose. And who is to take the chair ? Why, who but Mr. James Gapes, Mayor of Christchurch ! We do not blame Mr. Treadwell for procuring the patronage of Mr. Gapes on the occasion. Far from it —it is a very fine stroke of business from bis own point of view. Any “ electors from tho electorates surrounding Christchurch” who may happen to bo present will naturally bo impressed by the presence of the Mayor of Christchurch, and will approach the consideration of the entrees, entremets and solid joints of figures in a chastened spirit highly favorable to the provider of the feast. Bat, nevertheless, the question will arise—Why is tho Mayor of Christchurch presiding? What claims has Mr. Treadwell on the Mayor of Christchurch ? What Ims tho city of Christchurch to do with the lucubrations of Mr. Treadwell to tho “ electors from tho electorates surrounding Christchurch ” ? Is Mr. Treadwell’s address of any interest whatever to tho burgesses of Christchurch ? Is Mr. Treadwell himself so notable a personage that tho chief magistrate of Christchurch should take upon himself the office of introducing him to his audience ? Is the office of Mayor a political office, that Mr. Gapes should undertake to preside at a meeting held for electioneering purposes ? We hold that the fact that Mr. Gapes has consented to preside at Mr. Treadwell’s meeting is a proof positive that he has no conception of what is due to the high office which he now holds. If Mr. Treadwell wished for a chairman, ho might have asked some municipal magnate from i Sydenham or from one of the “electorates surrounding Christchurch.” If one mag- ' nato were not enough, chairs might have !

been provided for several magnates, or one large chair specially constructed to accommodate a number of magnates. But Mr. Treadwell has no more claim on the Mayor of Christchurch than he has on the Emperor of China, and although it is decidedly sharp on his part to have secured Mr. James Gapes, yet the citizens of Christchurch will not feel over pleased to see that their Mayor has consented to be made a tool of by Mr. Treadwell. Mr. James Gapes is no doubt on the war path, and stray votes always count, but we shall be very much surprised if he does not lose considerably more than he gains by the action which we are criticising. Two years ago on the occasion of the visit of Sir George Grey to this city, Mr. Ick, who was then Mayor, was asked to preside at a meeting to be held at the Oddfellows’ Hall. Now Sir G. was in truth a man of mark, ho was a stranger visiting Christchurch, and he was to address the electors of Christchurch, and not those ‘‘ from the electorates surrounding Christchurch.” And yet Mr. Ick would not consent to take the chair. He held that the office of Mayor was not a political office, and that he should not bo justified in presiding at a meeting held for electioneering purposes, Mr. Ick on that occasion rightly conceived his duties as Mayor. Mr. Gapes’ tenure of power has evidently not taught him wisdom. The dignity of the office suffers when in such hands.