OUR RETIRING MAYOR.

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 141, 12 December 1890, Page 3

OUR RETIRING MAYOR.

Mr. 0. J. Johnston relinquishes office as Mayor of Wellington In the course of a few 6ny», and yesterday's sitting of the City Cflunoll was the last which it foil to his lot to 1 preside of ed Sentor-Cottnoillor Smith roite at the oonolalion of the ordinal? bttsiness to express the Soasure of the Councillors at having bad r. Johnston as their head for the last twolve months. They were only lorry that h« had not aooopted office for another term, Hd noli hud fie presided over the Council's deliberation^. In parting with him, they hoped that at sotfle f nfcttro time ho would see his way to again aooept office. For the prosent, they wishod to thank hift* for his kindness and goodwill during his te*m of office, and to oxpress the hopo that he wtmld live long to be an ornament and an honour to Wellington. Councillor Smith oonoluded with s> eulogy upon young Now Zealandors, of whioh Mr. Johnston was one, for their aptitude for oithor Parliamentary or municipal work. (Applause.) Tbn Mayor thanked Councillor Smith for hia kindly remarks. It was indeed very gratifying to him to know that what be had done had been done to their satisfaction, aft? fttf berloved also to that of the oitizans gtiiieiUWy. (AppUnao.) So far as the Councillor's tfele conaerned, ho had to thank them vory mnoh for th'oir ooneideration and courtesy, and it wne dtfe to that faot that thoy had passed a very pleasant yoir, and also to the foot that in thelt deliberation! they had oxeroised great moderation, and, he thought, groat wisdom. If on sonx fntnre oooaiion he oonld see his way tc flaoept another term of oflko, he would U very glad to do so. TLb desire of thi Counoil, whioh was rery genorally exprussoc to him, andeipooially by the two Councillors who had stood for tbooffioe. sappotted by the <3epntstion of oitizonn whioh hid traitod upon him, was so vory gratifying that ho waß •almost inclined to yield, but there were private reasons whioh had prevented him from standing again this year. If, later on, he could see bis way to aooept the office onoo more, ho should b« very glad to gi-rehis services again to the city of his birth. Ho ((flito agreed with Councillor Smith that so far as young Now Zeaiandora hadboen tried, they had dono exceedingly well. There, at tho Connoil tablo, thoy had a very good example in Councillor Smith himself. (Applause ) Councillor Smith modostly disclaimed the nottotir of being a Now Ztalandor by birth, thotfgh he w«8 so young when ho arrived (bat be M«!ly belonged to tho colony.