The Oamaru mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1005, 9 July 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1879.

There is not so much excitement over the impending Mayoral election as there was at this time last year. The affair, in fact, promises to pass off as tamely as the greatest sticklers for peace and quietness coitld desire. There is a reason for this. The state of business demands that the strictest attention should he given to it, and, however anxious men may be to attain to the position, for public and other reasons, they rmtst first look home. It i 3 said that Mr. Steward, who has occupied the position for three years. Trill not again seek reelection,and that 3lr. Gtbbswill be a candidate. We can understand Mr. Steward s disinclination to again come forward. One year's tenure of such an office, under ordinary circumstances, is usually suflicient for any ordinary man, and Mr. Steward is an extraordinary man, or he would not have required three years to satisfy him under extraordinary circumstances. We have before borne testimony to his untiring zeal and indefatigable disposition. He is not like Mr. Ballance, for he was not terrified into retirement by opposing difficulties. At the time of last election there was not a rosy prospect for the occupant of the Mayoral chair, yet he was undaunted. We think that even now he would allow himself to be nominated for reelection If all things were favorable outside of Municipal matters. Nothing but absolute necessity for withdrawing would keep him out of the field, for he is j)(tr excellence a lover of public life and a conscientious worker as a public servant. That he is sometimes wrong in his judgment no one who has watched his career will deny, but he usually errs on the side of trvinsj to do too much. Mr. Steward is, however, we believe, not a candidate, and our principal object in referring to him now is to bear dispassionate testimony to his many good points on the eve of his retirement, Mr. Ctbbs, it is said, will essay to occupy his shoes. The ratepayers might do worse than make a selection of this gentleman. But their object should be to obtain the best man offering, all things considered, for such a position. The dutie3 of our mayor are now multifarious. Oamaru is forger and more important than it was several years ago, and is increasing in importance daily. The Mayoral position has thus become surrounded by functions of an onerous nature. It is not sufficient that a man possess the necessary intelligence. He must have the capacity for using it, in order to enable him to creditably fill the Mayoral position. More than that, a knowledge of liow to adapt himself to circumstances, and how to control bv giving and taking, and gain respect by his demeanour, arc indispensable. e do not know whether Mr. Gibbs can lay claim to these qualifications or not. We merely say that they are necessary. It would be a matter for regret were the ratepayers to select a man for such a position who would feel awkward in the performance of some of the nicer duties of his office, who could not win the regard

of the Council, or could not exercise sufficient control, from want of a proper appreciation of tact or expediency, to ensure the proper conduct of Municipal business. The ratepayers would doubtless be glad to hear an expression of opinion from Mr. Gibbs as to the important municipal matters with which the Council has to deal.