MOUNT EDEN MAYORALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 68, 20 March 1917, Page 7

MOUNT EDEN MAYORALTY.

.—-* % MR. O. NICHOLSON UEGED TO STAND AGAIN. A requisition signed by 1,350 ratepayers of the borough of CUount Eden was presented to the Mayor (Mr. O. Nicholson) at the meeting of the Borough Council last night, urging hlui to seek re-election at the coming poll. Jlr. Ralph Potter, the 6,-S)kesman of a deputation of about 40 rat. payers who attended the 'meeting for the purpose, paid a tribute to Mr. 'Nicholson's services to the district during many years, during which, he said, little less than a transformation had been eifectcd. The present visible and fmanciai condition of the borough was a sufficient reply to the opposition that the Mayor had encountered, but there was yet tuuch work to •be done in the wny of water supply nnd drainage, and the retention of Mr. Nicholson's services as mayor was felt to be an absolute necessity. In reply, Mr. Niel10I&011 said that, despite criticism, he felt sure that tho Council's administration during recent years had satisfied the majority of the ratepayers, and that there had been a good return for every pound that had : ■been spent, lie was quite able to prove that the statements published in the Press by the Council's critics were without justification. He felt that he would be making some sacrifice if he accepted re-nomination in face of the serious illness of his wife, who would be quite, unable to carry out the duties of mayoress for a long time, to come. He proposed, however, to consult her. and he would give a definite answer to the deputation through the Press in a few days. ■Mr. C. Hudson (senior councillor) assured Mr. Nicholson that a majority of the Council would view his retirement with dismay, and gave an undertaking that if he would consent to re-nomina-tion arrangements would be made to transfer the mayoress' duties as far as possible to others until she felt able to assume them again.