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Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1626, 21 October 1873, Page 2

To lose a Mayor, Councillor, and citizen of prominence is not an every-day occurrence, and, although these things are not literally to happen all within the limits of twenty-four hours, such, loas is temporarily and early to be that of Greymouth, through the resignation which was yesterday placed in the hands of the Town Clerk by Mr Edward Masters. Mr Masters yesterday resigned his seat in the Borough Council, because, while "he regrets the necessity that compels him to take the step," he finds that " business and private engagements will necessitate his absence from Greymouth for some months to come, and that, in consequence, he will not be able to devote the requisite time to Borough Council affairs." Twice Mayor of the town, and honorary servant of its citizens, as we suppose we may venture to call ourselves now-a-days, Mr Masters has shown himself to have the true spirit of the gentleman suited for that position, and if his services are appreciated — as we are sure they are —he is naturally not the only one, but one of many, who regret the necessity that compels him to retire. Liberal, energetic, and anxious for the welfare of the town, Mr Masters devoted more of his time to public-business than the great majority of others either could or would, and. to the exercise of these qualities, with the general sympathy of the Council, are due many of the proceedings which have recently been taken to, improve the condition of the town, and to contribute to its extension beyond its long fixed limits. In a township such as Greymonth it is only to be expected that a suitable successor to Mr Masters will be found, but his successor, whether in or out of the present Council, will be all the more suitable by imitating the retiring Mayor's practice of respecting his position and retaining, without exhibiting, those indefinable refinements which fit men for it.