The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1009, 15 July 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1879.

The period for nominating candidates for the Mayoralty will close to-morrow, at noon. As yet Sir. Gibbs is the sole occupant of the field. Bat it -would be j premature to predict even at this late ! hour that Mr. Gibbs will get iu unopposed. It ts the fatting »>f humanity to put everything off till the last moment, ami it its not strange that an opponent has not yet been found for Mr. Gibbs, alt | things considered. It is generally under:stood that Mr. Steward undertook, as a return for certain concessions last year, not to stand against 3lr. Gibbs this year. '.Had not such a pledge been given, it is niore than probable that 3lr. Steward would have again sought the votes of the ratepayers. Apart from this circumstance, and the fact that 3lr. Gibbs is to some extent popular, no one seems to feel ait .inclination tt> increase his responsibilities at a tune when responsibilities are at ready so heavy, even with such a tempting bait before htm. Nor is it every man that is fit to- occupy the position. There are so HiattyrittatiticiUi'msnecessary, tiiat tew men have the courage to aspire to it. _ Those who have business tact have their time fully occupied in attending to their own business, for if they have not, they hate not business tact. It may bo _ thought peculiar that the chief civic position of Oatuaru should almost go ahegging, but it is not so. The best men in any community, as a rule, unfortunately hold aloof trom such positions, on account of the uhteh is mixed up with the honor. We should be sorry if tt were proved to-morrow >-hat the town is so municipally dead that Mr. Gibbs, who would appear to stand somewhat in the position of Mr. Reward's nominee, should have a walk-over.