The Daily News TUESDAY, MARCH 17. THE RETIRING MAYOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 74, 17 March 1908, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MARCH 17. THE RETIRING MAYOR.

'Hie present Mayor, Mr. J£. Dockriil, I has decided not to coin c«t tUc Mayoralty «l the forthcoming election, for much lliitse candidates liave now unuouuced lUeiusrlve* --Mcs->r» \V. A. o>llis, (i. liat-li, uud I'. L. ljeUnjigei'. "I 'ic candidate-; will no doubi take an early opportunity "I placing their views uu municipal ui.tl\ci lordlier with 110-ir claims iur preferment, bclcic lite electors, and judgment on their icspccUV'. 1 merits may be withheld lui' a lew days. 1 la' present is an opportune lime, however, to lake leave of llie retiring .Mayor, who has almost cmiiji'.clrvl two I x far-." occupancy ol the chief civic oilice. Air. JJut-Jcrill previously was Mayor tor live and a haii years, and lias spciu nearly eighteen yeai- un llie Council. In many respects liie ullice lias, during llie pasl two years, lieen auythiug lull ,i sinecure. The cleaning-tip work in connection with llie electric liyiu, w;i' 'r t and drainage loans--notably llie failure of the waterworks tunnel and the septic | tank—lias required a large amount ol attention, while ditlieultics put ill the way oi raising further money J'or extension of the public utility services have had to he overcome; Likewise, at ail earlier period, the reorganisation oi the engineer's and other oflices. These, we are persuaded, were carried out lo the satisfaction of tile great of th e ratepayers. The ratepayers have also the satisfaction of knowing Unit 11«! .Mayor leaves oilier with the iinaii' es Sin a thoroughly sound condition, every account being in credit, and Hie various works making reasonably rapid progress. While much remains yet to be done, none can deny thai the streets are in an eminently better condition than they were two years ago. For this latter improvement the chairman of the Works Committee lias, naturally, been in a large measure responsible, but a, head of the Council the Mayor's share of such work cannot be discounted. While ilr. Dockrill lias, no doubt, his share of the failings of all mortals, and would be the kit to claim Mayoral pe.-. feet-ion, his honesty ol purpose and the public-spiritedness of his eivie aelious stand unquestioned. One of the main reasons, we understand, influencing -Mr. Dockrill in deciding not- to again contest the ollice is his desire to relieve the Mayoress of the onerous work that has of late years fallen to her lot. There are lew, indeed, who fail to appreciate Jlrs. Doekl'ill's worth as amoving spirit in the community, whose active assistance in any matter for the good of the town has never been sought in vain. While, as Mayoress, the ea!ls upon her time have undoubtedly been ivery large, we doubt whether in relinquishing her honorary office, she will be allowed to entirely retire into the seclusion she might wish. At any rate, for the good of the town, we hope not.