FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

EXTRACTS FROM THE HERALD, The following are extracts from thi New Zealand Herald of November 23, 1881: Mr. J. M. Clark was elected Mayor for the forthcoming year at noon yesterday, no other nominations having been received. During his term he has fulfilled the duties of his office as Mayor with credit to himself and the city and his unopposed reelection is a proof that the citizens approciate the services he has rendered. Air. Robert Walker was the only candidate nominated yesterday for the Mayoralty of Parnell, and the returning officer consequently declared him duly elected. While considerable disappointment ifl naturally felt by citizens at the non-suc-cess of the police authorities in detecting the authors of the present outrages upon property, the greatest amount of blame must be thrown on the Government, who have left such glaring anomalies in the force, and have left the force at Auckland so inadequate to the work that it can hardly be expected to fulfil its functions. The force is notoriously weak for the districts allotted to it. Fancy two men watching Parnell, Newmarket and Grafton Road; one man at Newton and another at Ponsonby. As for the detective branch, it is popularly believed to consist of four men, but in reality of two, the others being simply attached members of the ordinary police. It is needless to treat as liberal the offer made to the Chamber of Commerce by the Pacific Mail Company, its local representative, to convey to Washington, free of charge, a representative of New Zealand to aid in the abatement of the American duties on wool, because it- is so evidently dictated by self-interest. But self-interest does not always take so judicious a form, and, besides, the interests of the company, which desires wool freight, is allied with those of this colony, which would benefit largely by the admission of its wools into the United States. The company has taken a veiy wise course, and probably that most likely to ensure the object which it desires to attain. .A similar proposal has been made to New South Wales, and if each should appoint a fitting representative the presence in Washington of two accredited delegate* from Australasia must in any case have a beneficial effect.