MAYORALTY OF AUCKLAND.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1179, 3 August 1901, Page 2

MAYORALTY OF AUCKLAND.

Dr Campbell's Resignation. Though it was fully understood when Dr Campbell wbb eleoted Mayor of Auokland that he would only hold offioe until after the royal visit, his resignation of the position has nevertheless been received with general regret. There is no man in the oity whom the people delight more to honoar, there is none whose life and oharaoter shed greater lustre on Auokland, and, in filling the Mayoral ohair even for three months, Dr Campbell has lent dignity to our municipal life and conferred honour upon the ohief magistracy of the oity. It now devolves on the City Council to elect a successor to Dr Campbell, and we voioe the popular sentiment when we say that no better choice can be made than Mr Alfred Eidd. For many years, he has been a prominent man in looal politios and in friendly society government. He has served the people in the capacity of a oity aounoillor faithfully and well. And during the last three years, covering Mr Goldie's period of offioe as Mayor and also while Dr Campbell held the position, he has discharged the duties of Acting or Deputy Mayor with consummate tact and admirable address. Thus he has qualified himself for the higher office to which be will probably be called by the unanimouß voioe of the Council.

Probably the strongest endorsement of Mr Kidd'a title to and qualifications for the position haß fallen from the lips of Mr David Goldie, himself a staunch advocate of reform and good government. Mr Goldie, in retiring from office, made pointed and foroible mention of the services rendered to him in the work of reform and general administration by Mr Kidd, and more reoently, in making the presentation of a valuable silver tea and coffee service to Mrs Kidd, be placed upon reoord the valuable assistance he had received from her husband in the capacity of Aoting Mayor. On several occasions, there has been a strong desire on the part of Mr Alfred Eidd's friends that he should contest the Mayoralty. With considerable public spirit, however, he stood back in order that Mr Goldie should still further eomplete his work of reform before he retired from the ohair. More reoently, ignoring his own claims, he exerted all his influence to bring about the candidature of Dr Campbell, in view of the approaching honour of the Duke and Euohesß of Cornwall's visit. There is, however, no reason or necessity for self-e.ffaoement now. Mr Kidd has admirably qualified himself for the position of Mayor, he possesses paramount olaims to the position, and we trust on Thursday night to Bee him elected Mayor of Auckland by the unanimous vote of the Counoil. [Since the above was in type, Mr Eidd has been elected Mayor of Auckland at a special meeting of the City Council. We offer our sincere congratulations.]