THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1901.
Thuely, to be Mayor of any town is no sinecure, but when, in addition to the manifold.duties expected to be performed by that official, is added torrents of abuse and barefaced misrepresentation, the position becomes less and less enviable. Such is the position of Dr. Barclay, who has for the past two years occupied the position of Chief Citizen of Waimate Borough. During his term of office there occurred many important events, among these being the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the visit of the Governor, the despatch of the troops to South Africa, the death of the Queen, the proclamation of the Prince of Wales as King Edward the Seventh, and the arrival of the Imperial troops. To successfully carry out the functions rendered necessary by these events, and in many minor events of local importance, a capable man was needed at the head of affairs—one who would thoroughly understand the proper course to pursue and who would see that the town as a whole received all that was her due. Such a _one was found in our present Mayor, and in no
instance was he found wanting in his duties to the citizens who elected him as their head. During his term of office, also, the town has steadily risen in prosperity, the system of rating on unimproved values has replaced the old and unfair system of rating on improvements, and, generally speaking, everything has had a forward tendencj r . That all this has been due to the Mayor we do not say, but certain it is that without proper guidance and a capable controller of affairs public or private no progress will ever bo, made. But in spite of bis ffhany services and his unremitting labour in the cause of the borough, we find envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness *have lately been poured out against him and his work by a section of the community. The reason is not far to seek. la Dr. Barclay’s term of office the position has acquired a dignity never before possessed, and envious eyes are being cast on it. Whether our present Mayor will offer himself for re-election
we are not in a position to say. Many men in his place would not again accept an olUce entailing much labour at fiddler’s pay, but it is to be hoped that the majority ol the ratepayers will show him that they again desire his return. It would be a thousand pities if a most energetic and capable man left an office he fills so well because of the unwarranted persecution of an unscrupulous minority,besides being likely to prevent any but office-seekers pure and simple from accepting the position.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDA19010305.2.7
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 119, 5 March 1901, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
452THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1901. Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 119, 5 March 1901, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.