THE MAYORALTY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3863, 5 October 1899, Page 7

THE MAYORALTY.

DEPUTATION TO MR BLAIR

PROMISE OF RECONSIDERATION,

A. depuration waited on his Worship tile Mayor yesterday morning for the purpose of requesting him to allow himself to be again nominated for the •» Mayoralty. There,were present Messrs 11. Beauchamp, C. M. Luke, T. M. Wilford, E. W. .'Mills, W. Gill, John Ross, T. 'W. Ballinger, C. W. Benbowv • H. Hurrell, R. E. Bannister, S. Wilson, E- Wilberfoss and others. Air Beauchamp said that the deputation claimed to be thorouglily representative of all shades of opinion - in regard to the civic government of the city. They desired first of all to express their very high sense of appre- ' ciation of the manner jn, .which Mr Blair had performed his Mayoral duties during the past two years. It was with regret that‘the citizens had heard of his • expressed intention not to contest; the Mayoralty for a further term, and tlie deputation-had been formed to ascertain whether he could not he induced to reconsider the matter. A vast amount .of attention had been given by Mr Blair to the city’s affairs, Mr Beauchamp said, and being now' on the eve of great municipal development it was desirable that the same hand should he 'at the helm for another twelve mo nths. tie would,then he able to launch many’ of the undertakings which had received his care—particularly those" contained. iu_the Empowering Bill now before Parliament!"" "One “yeSl'~WKß7~of course, far too ;short a .time tor the

Mayor to hold office. Three years would ho a much more !?atisfactory : term, as then the occupant would gahj. a clearer knowledge of the requirements and administration of . his -position. Again, it would he well if the Mayor were elected by the Council. which should 'have the privilege enjoyed by every 'other public body —of -choosing its own chairman. - r pilis- vvoiPd.iencoiffnge men who now hung'hack to take the position of councillor as a .steppingstone; to the higher dignity. Mr Beauchamp then read a rtumerously-signed 1 petition, the text, oL which has been .published, .praying,;. Mrj. again accept office, and ,Me Beaucliamn; in 'conclusion, said:—‘T Rope,.,you will see your - way ‘to-’accede to .the. wislies of the deputation; 1 for .we recognise, that you can he Of great benefit to nsnow. Wo may perhaps ■be' ■ selfish .in suggesting that you might' cast aside r one or more of fhe■ onerous.duties with which • you are burdened,,,,hut we. ‘ feet that the city has a greater claim on your time 'and-'o.bility. , ’‘:rr.‘a "ocx-.t .1 .uvl Mr E. W. Mills-concurred'with,uvhat had fallen from the preceding-speaker, 0./nd pressed Mr Blair to give the .matter earnest attention. The-’ number of men, he said,, who were walling and capable of filling the position-was, unfortunately, very small,; and those.who were capable were not willing, and vice versa. ~ ~ " Messrs C. M. Lttye, H., Hurrell and S. Wilson also briefly addressed ins Worship in a similar.strain. ; Mr Blair, in responding, s.aid he r.ad never been placed .in -such - a -painful., position in his life before.; ... Ho ..had. carefully weighed this matter before making the announcement, ,ho . that it was not a .question of giving an opportunity lor putting pressure upon him, to stand again. CircTiinsfancesoseenukl to indicate that he, would ho unable-to-continue in the Mayoral chair. ■* Hehad imperative duties in' other directions, and it, would hardly hg fair or honest for him to' undertake pnmihci year of the Mayoralty, assuming that he were elected. Nosdonht the tune comingwould be one; of the inosf inir portant in the- history of Wclli.u.lon. Large, changes were inevitable, and the propel;, qr improper carrying onf-y ok those changes would largely benefit' pi" otherwise the. city.- , In reference .to, what- had been said as to conflict, ol opinions, he had not felt what had taken place with reference to- the recent loan proposals. He. had not lolt any responsibility for those works, because, although personally, favourable .to their prosecution, they had not emanated from him, and ho had - realised That the. present was ah.'inopportune time for bringing the proposals forward. However, in laying them before the citizens he "had only done his duty.-’ The result had made it evident that such a lot. of feeling ■ had ■ Origdvalod out of the ‘Way the 7 -drainage .wolkibavt' been carried through, that-it; <uow..almtWf, impossible; to carry' any ■ proposal;a. dealing with . the,, waterworks: 'extension which, wpuhLhe necessary hi,'.' M prsiiip hoped tliat it would''hd'rriade clear-Ui(n, the wntel';iwas:;a which waf atupresent paying hiore than fhy : expenditure, and which would continue to do so, besides being' of' groat ' assistance to, local industries, The elec- - trie light and the traniwe'ys ‘would, under efficient management, ajso necinnc revenue producers, . In rpgaru .lo toy former, there had been a’iie'V'development at Home, where a newi gas .engine had been brought into the market by the WestinghoUse,Electric Company, through ' the agency of whicli it w.is claimed that the cost of electricity was, reduced to lid as agam-vt -id and fcd under” the' old' system,--the- method-pe-ing to, carry the engine and dynamo to any given c6rftTo and -to ! -distribute tne energy from that point. ' There existed at the present time.; :ai ‘grand op - portunity for any mah to' occupy, the .Mayoral chair ..and do good service! ; to the" city,- and it was with very great concern 7 that ho felt compelled tp say that he would .not be, able to stand again. Ho would still ~ -further'consider the matter—(hear, hears)—and he would 'communicate / with Mr Beauchamp probably ‘ to-morrow; s • (Applause.) <. He would go over the ground again and see if there wvas' ■ a,' f Way'out! He thanked, them all from the bottom of his heart for the "cbuHcsy'anil consideration, they had extended to. him. .. .. . The deputation thanked h'is‘ Worship and withdrew. ■ , '