The Lady Mayor.

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 780, 16 December 1893, Page 2

The L ady Mayor.

Onehonga is having a capital joke all to itself. Things are usually a trifle slow at Onehunga, and the people of that township are occasionally at a loss for a little diversion. The candidature of Mrs Yates for the Mayoral chair, however, afforded them an opportunity for some healthy

fun at a small cost, and they promptly availed themselveß of it by placing the lady in the cbair which her husband was wont to fill in the good old days before Dr. Erson so effectually put his nose out of joint. The burgesses argued that the masculine Yates was a passable Mayor, and that the feminine Yates, being the more capable of the two to fill a public office, would be something better than a passable Mayor. And so they elected her.

And oow there is fan. Four of the borough councillors have retired in disgust. They say that if it is the wish of the bnrgesses to turn the conduct of public business into ridicule they had better find other people who -are willing to play the goat for their amusement. Bat, really, it does not seem fair to assume that the councillors are going to play the goat every Monday fortnight jußt because a lady Mayor is in the chair. Possibly, Mrs Mayor may give the councillors a touch of a quality I hear she possesses in a marked degree, and make them ' quit their nonsense ' in a manner strongly suggestive of Mrs Caudle and her famous curtain lectures.

And the fire brigade! Ungallant fellows ! So they have decided that the women may put out ' their own blooming fires.' Well, this is turning the tables with a vengeance. It is unkind to demand of the ladies that because they have been invested with the franchise they must-, when the fireball clangs its noisy summons, rush forth clad in helmet, rough jacket, leather breeches and heavy boots, with bucket and hatohet in hand, prepared to fight the flames. And yet I presume the women of Onehunga will accepi the challenge. Let them form a brigade of their own, and let Mrs Mayor issue an edict at once providing that whenever the firebell rings at night and the wife and mother is compelled to sally out in response to the call of duty it shall be a punishable offence for the husband and father to refuse to take the baby and nurse and provide for it during the remaining hours of the night.

And then there is the resignation of the Town Clerk, who, I am told, is the best Town Clerk that Onebunga has ever had. It is not very clear whether he has retired because he would not submit to petticoat rule, or for the more substantial reason that his salary was being reduced, but it is as likely as not that he saw an accumulation of troubles looming in the distance and thought it as well to beat a retreat while it was still possible to do co with honour. Alas, Angus ! you have indeed fallen upon evil times.