THE EX-MAYOR.

Evening Star, Issue 6478, 20 December 1883, Page 1

THE EX-MAYOR.

Mr J. B. Thomson vacates the Mayoral chair, carrying with him the goodwill and best wishes of the Council and the citizens. His tenure of office has been distinguished by a steadfast attention to business, whilst in an unobtrusive but able manner ho has discharged the quasi political and social functions, which are by no means the least onerous of the duties of the Mayor of Bunedin. In presiding over the deliberation?, not always very calm, of the Council, he Las been conspicuously successful, and ha 3 kept the peace, all things considered, in a really wonderful manner. As chairman of public meetings he has proved himself quite up to the mark, and has displayed modesty, good sense, and tact. The burge&fes have indeed every reason to be satisfied with the result of their choice of Mayor for the year which expired yesterday. Our opinion does not in any respect confirm the view very commonly advocated, namely, that the office of Mayor should be, as a matter of rule, a rolling one. Wc are, on the contrary, inclined to think that the experience of one term renders good men especially qualified to serve again. It takes, in fact, some time to know the ropes and become familiar with the rather complicated machinery of the municipal government of this City.

The crops in the Tuapeka West district at the present time are looking remarkably well. The wheat and oats in particular ara looking very healthy, and grass is very plentiful. The autunm-sown wheat is out in ear, and the district never looked Letter at this season of the year. * The farmers are turning their attention more to grazing lately, on account of the inducements held out by the irozen meat export.—'Times.' The attendance at the Sydney Art Gallery during November numbered 23,672 persons. The average weekly attendance was 570; that for Sunday, 2,213. The Salvation Army have decided to establish a home for discharged prisoners m Melbourne, and to devote special attention to this branch of their eelf-imposed work. A constable at a Sydney Police Court, when questioned as to the Btate of a prisoner, "He was perfectly sober your Worships but slightly under the influence of liquor." _

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