The Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1885.

It hab bebn well said that Mr Hulbcrt'a Mayoralties wore a period in which a policy of progress was carried out. The results are before the eyes of the citizens in all. directions. If we turn to the Market reserve we arc no longer annoyed with th« old eyesore. If we walk along the river, • handsome bridges delight the eye, and give Burety by their massive proportions for solid permanence. "When the firebell rings an alarm at sight we feel thatther* is a store of water to be depended upon — not what it might be certainly, but a step in the right direction. Water rates and nightsoil rates are things of the past, ac «• find ont when the rate collector hae thai; annual interview with us. When wolook over the City balance-sheofc we do it in th« comfortable assurance that the i!zS,OOO of loan has been well expended, and we realise pleasantly that we shall not yet ruin ourselves by having to provide a handsome Town Hall with offices, and th» usual accoinpaniinentß of what to all citi«* that do not roll in wealth is decidedly a white elephant. All these things ehorr that Mr Hulbert lias been a progressive Mayor, for they are all much indebted to his originating force and his skilful management. If every publio uum laid down his stewardship in company with as good an account of it a« Mr Hulbert can give of his, it would be well for this Colony. Mr Hulbert retires with the respect of the Council which h« ruled so well, and with the confidence of! his fellow citizens whom he served co faithfully. It is accepted as an axiom that the Municipality is a good school for political life. We all know the axiom is true because of the large number of public men who havo got their training in our local institutions ; from Sir John Hall downwards, the list is long. We should like to see Mr Hulbert try hia fortune ia the political world. His abilities, his perseverance, and his power, of work would give his name a prominent place in that list,