The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published Every Tuesday, Thursday, AND Saturday Morning. Tuesday, April 29, 1890. THE MAYORALTY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 447, 29 April 1890, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published Every Tuesday, Thursday, AND Saturday Morning.

Tuesday, April 29, 1890. THE MAYORALTY.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’at at be thy country's, Thy God's, and truth’s.

The honor of being Chief Magistrate of the Borough is one which must always be highly esteemed. On Saturday Mr J. Townley was elected without opposition, in place of Mr C. A. DeLautour, who has gone on a voyage to the Old Country. It was through no apathy on the part of the ratepayers that Mr Townley was elected without a contest being required ; it was really a high personal compliment, a graceful tribute to one who has long devoted his time and abilities in furthering the public interest. Were the circumstances different some complaint might be made in regard to the new vacancies which have been created, but in the case of Mr Towniey, no ratepayer can feel other than highly pleased. Many times in the past it has been discussed by leading citizens whether he should not be asked to allow himself to be nominated for the Mayoralty, but the same objection had to be met, that he had already taken so much upon himself that if he were elected to the more dignified position it would mean rendering vacant the seats which he already occupied as a member of the Harbor Board and of the Borough Council. It was, so to speak, a case of punishing the willing horse, and it could hardly in fairness be longer persisted in. While congratulating Mr Townley on the well-deserved honor conferred on him, it will be as well now to point out that great care should be exercised in filling the vacancies on the Council and Harbor Board. The latter has now under consideration matters the outcome of which must have a great bearing on the future of the district. Any person elected to the vacancy must be prepared to apply himself to important duties for which an easygoing man would be quite unfitted. A party feeling which was once permitted to exist has now been swept away by a position in the improvement of which every ratepayer is deeply interested. Unity of action for the desired end is assured, but it is as to which is the better course to take that the wisdom of our public men must be exercised. In regard to the Council there is not so much reason for concern, but the Borough’s finances are in a state which requires very judicious management. There is just a *’ pinch ” to get over, and that successfully negotiated the Borough will then be in a financial position which can be equalled by few Boroughs in New Zealand. All that is required to bring about this desirable condition of things is careful management. In this respect the Council has been acting admirably, and we hope that whoever the new Councillor may be he will be prepared to devote himself to that slow, but certain, policy which is so necessary.

After the above was in type, the following communication was handed to us, and we have much pleasure in giving it publication in addition to what had already been written:—

On Saturday last at noon citizens were glad to find there was but one nomination for the Mayoralty, and Mr John Townley was therefore declared duly elected. Everyone knew that it was only Mr Townley’s due, and those,who under the circumstances might have been put in nomination had the good taste to decline the honor in opposition to Mr Townley, He is entitled to the ■heartiest congratulations; not one of our public local men ha ve served so long, nor so faithfully, nor so well, and he now receives hut a very tardy acknowledgment of his services. It is not, however, that his comrades have been forgetful of him. and hie hitherto unrewarded toil. Vary often Mr Townley has been urged to stand, but has always declined, and even now bis seconder had almost to compel him to allow the honor to be “thrust upon him.” And may there not also be offered the most respectful congratulations to our amiable and benevolent Lady Mayoress, whole exceeding goodness of heart, and well-known charitable disposition, will ensure many friends to rejoice at the occasion given them to congratulate her.