THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1901.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11716, 26 July 1901, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1901.

Last night Dr. J. Logan Campbell resigned the Mayoralty which he has filled with dignity and honour during the most memorable period in our civic and national history. This early laying down of the golden chain which marks the highest office in the gift of Auckland City has been anticipated from the beginning by his colleagues and will not surprise any who are acquainted, however slightly, with the circumstances under which our revered fellow townsman emerged from his wellearned retirement. It would therefore be entirely superfluous for us to add any explanatory comment to the simple and affectionate address in which Dr. Campbell last night ; bade farewell, to the . Municipal Council over whose deliberations he has presided fo>. so short a term. He has bidden a final good-bye to the public life in .which he has played a part that no future citizen can ever take. Auckland will have many worthy sons, but will never have another father. We trust that he may be granted many years , of restful Age, made soft and pleasant by the knowledge that the City which was conceived in his brain and nursed by his foresight progresses steadily in population and prosperity. Nor could we wish greater gifts to our future generations than that they may be worthy of the fearless planning, the patient undertaking, the unfaltering devotion and the stainless probity of him whom they will rightly immortalise in stone and in story as "the father of Auckland." Our ."EmpireBuilders" assume many guises. They come as adventurous sailors, undaunted soldiers, self-sacrificing missionaries, pushing traders, daring explorers, scientific enquirers, religious exiles, land-hungry settlers, an endless series of transmutations. But Auckland may well be proud and grateful that in the unassuming gentleman whom she put forward 'as her worthiest, in honour alike to herself and to the Heir of Britain at his landing among us, she has known and benefited by an Empire-building type rarely equalled and still more rarely excelled. Nor will it ever be said in this instance of our City that we built into a monument for the worthy dead the stones which we hurled in contumely at the living. It is impossible, however, to close the doors on this short and memorable Mayoralty of ' Dr. Campbell without mention of the noble gift by which he so munificently commemorated the visit of the Du&e and Duchess of Cornwall, and for which he was last night thanked by the Council on behalf of the city. When Greater Auckland . spreads unbrokenly from Waitemata to Manukau and occupies the whole of the narrow isthmus which seems providentially designed for the emporium of a great commercial people, the beautiful Cornwall Park will lie in its midst to rejoice and gladden the lives Jof * : : countless thousands, : But long before that not far-distant day this magnificent tract of land, which the Doctor's foresight secured -and which his loyal generosity so freely gifted to his fellow citizens, will be |in common and increasing public use. It is indeed already appreciated not merely because of the affection and public spirit which inspired it, but because of its real utility and natural beauty. Auckland has been remarkably fortunate in the possession of public-spirited citizens, whose gifts already distin- ■ guish ' her among the civic sisterhood. It may confidently be hoped that this ancient, and honourable custom, whereby ; wealthy > citizens mark their love to the city in which they have lived and prospered and help to mould its development towards their dream of what a city should be, will be long known and followed among us. While this private generosity should inspire the public to remember that beautiful civic parks and beautiful civic buildings, the popularising of Art, the fostering of Science, the - upholding of noble and worthy Charity, are among * the f influences which elevate all without injuring any, invigorating mind and body and spirit with that lofty ■'. Humanity without which no people can be great. The resignation of Dr. Campbell having created a vacancy this must be filled by the Council electing a successor and does not call for a poll of the city. : The process is set by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, of which the thirty-fifth clause reads as follows: " The Mayor may resign, his office by writing under hi 3 hand delivered to the Town Clerk, and in such case 4; ■'.- . his office shall become vacant, and the Council shall proceed to elect another Mayor in his stead, who shall hold office until the Mayor elected at the next annual election comes into office. The Town Clerk shall forthwith upon such vacancy occurring call a special meeting of the Council for making such election thereto." The same Act also provides that: "If a Councillor is elected to be Mayor, his office as an elected Councillor shall be thereby vacated." It will be seen from this that the Council last night adopted the course prescribed by law. A special meeting of the Council will be held next week, when in all probability Councillor Kidd, who has been acting as Deputy-Mayor, .will be elected to the vacant office. '