Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 1898. The Mayoral Election.

Manawatu Herald, 1 October 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 1898. The Mayoral Election.

Thb Burgesses have been plaoed in a mo3t awkward predicament by having the services of two gentlemen at command to fill the office of Mayor for the coming twelvemonths. Either gentleman would make a good officer, as they have both served an apprenticeship for the position by being Councillors. The public need more than to have the invidious task of making a selection purely on personal grounds, and we must hear from the lips of the candidates bow and in what manner they believe they could use the energies they possess towards forwarding the interests of the Borough. By some curious chance both candidates might hold identical views so that we j might have to return to the selection of tha individual, but, however push ing two men may be, they are rarely met with who go the same way to work to achieve the same object. Thus we hold that a public meeting with addresses from the candidates is imperative and will no doubt be I admitted to be so by the candidates. No men have a better future before them than the present candidates for the Mayoralty, as their ways will at nny rate start in pleasantness, and their paths should be the paths of t peace. The finances of the Borough are in good order, the overdraft is not a heavy one, and thus the new Mayor has no preliminary worry to thwart carrying out such schemes as he believes would tend to the pro gress of the town. It appears certain that the Wirokino Bridge is an accomplished fact, as far as the money is concerned, for which many thanks are due to our present Mayor and the Member for the district. If called upon it is possible every rate payer could point out something needing to be done, but out of the many we single out two important matters upon which the views of the candidates should be announced. One matter is as to the advisability of raising a loan to metal most of the unmetalled roads in the town ; and the carrying out of the promise made to the Government by the then Mayor to fence and plant the shelter roserve adjoining the Sanatorium at the beach. These are two matters which need an expression of opinion from the ratepayers, and this election would be a guide to the Council if the candidates spoke out on this subject. Whoever may be elected Mayor must accept office with the knowledge that there will be a great deal of extra work to do, as the supervision of the Wirokino Bridge is bound to create a lot ofcorres pondence and social duties. There must be a formal " first-pile " driving ceremony, and both candidates were parties to a letter being sent from the Council to His Excellency the Governor in which it was intimated thai; he would be asked to perform 'his work. Of course should the Governor be good enough to come J he would have to be entertained, and the Mayor would have to. an tho Yankees put it, " spread him nclf " on ouch a glorious opportunity. Then, from what occurred at the interview with Mr Buxton on Thurfl.day, we may hope to see the seaside excursions an accomplished fact, but to Becure their being so a great deal of work must be thrown on the lead ing townsman to devise ways to popularise them, as the town must reap great benefit indirectly from their institution, and therefore the citizens as a body, led by the Mayor, must be ready to put their shouldera to the wheel. The candidates most probably understand, but it is best perhaps to mention, that a Mayor mast efface self in all matters directly affecting his private interests, and he must accept office not only determined to carry out bis duties to the best of his skill and ability, bnt to be ever on the search to suggest and

also to assist in carrying out any thing for the public good. The two candidates at present announced are young aotive men, with a good acquain inoe with public duties and both well able to fill our bill of requii . ments, and therefore it rests with them to assist the burgesses as to wh'jh shall receive the most votes on election day.