The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1876.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 71, 13 July 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1876.

The time I*3 now drawing near for the citizens to think of choosing some suitable person to represent them as Mayor for the ensuing immicipafcyear. Till within the !ast two or three clays, very little, if any, interest was taken in the matter, because it was generally believed that Mr. Scmfter would have otfered himself forre-electiorr,-and in that case there would, we are inclined to think, have been no opposition. The announcement, however, which appeared in our columns yesterday, precludes, of course, any probability of the present Mayor altering his determination not to come forward, because, when the harrier to serve the public is one's health, then, of coitrse, the preservation of that blessing must take precedence of all other considerations. The question now resolves itself into this : " Who is to be the coming man t" We have heard the names of several highly-respected residents mentioned as likely to become candidates for the civic chair, but it is highly probable that, as the clay of nomination draws near, the number will be reduced to a couple. It is scarcely necessary to point out, that, at the present junctures of affairs, it is highly desirable that the citizens of Oamaru should have for their representative a man of undoubted integrity, good business j tact, and thoroughly capable of coping ' with the various important matters shortly ! to be brought under the notice of the ! Borough Council. It is for these reasons I chiefly that we regret Mr. Stjmptkr's re- | tirement from an active part in the Coun- : cil's proceedings. When the water scheme i was first practically brought forward, Mr. I StnwTTER was head of the Council, and it I is to be regretted that he was not able to JSStftin office, and see the scheme carried HSR!! In our correspondence columns this 1 evening will be found a letter signed I " Civis," suggesting that Mr. W. J. i Steward should be requisitioned to stand as Slayor. The idea meets with our full concurrence, and we should only be too pleased to learn that the gentleman named will see fit to come forward. Mr. Steward I-has, during the last ten years, represented Oamaru in many ways, and with credit to himself and the community at large. Independent of his action as a journalist, he has, as a member of the House of Representatives, done his \itmost to advance the interests of Oamaru and district, and we think that in selecting Mr. Steward to represent them, the citizens will be paying that gentleman a well-deserved compliment, and at the same time make choice of one of the best men they could obtain to carry out the important duties iof Mayor of this thriving borough. It is i jnst possible that there are other equally I as good men ready to forward ; but ; up to the present time we have not heard ' of them, and, therefore, as the nomination day is drawing near, we feel it our duty to take the matter up and rouse the pubtic to a sense of their duty as citizens, and the privilege they enjoy as electors.