The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1876.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2724, 21 December 1876, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1876.

The annual elections of Mayors for the various Municipalities, although they do not here create that wild excitement necessary to bring an election up to the true Pickwickian standard, nevertheless, cause at times a considerable amount of quiet but not friendly feeling which gets itself discharged, for the moßt part, in pitiful insinuations, of which the candidates and their friends would be altogether ashamed on ordinary occasions. "Why that which is generally regarded as despicable should be thought not only justifiable, but praiseworthy, if it assists a man to obtain a public place, is a moral problem which we need not here consider. The evil, such as it is, assumed such o very mild form at tho elections just concluded, that any trifling sore which may have been rubbed in the cuticle of either candidate, is probably quite skinned over this morning. This observation relates especially to Christchurch; in Lyttelton, the defeated candidate appears to have been rather more severely galled, judging from the report of his speech. With respect to the new Mayor of Christchurch, he is undoubtedly placed in a difficult! position, succeeding, as he does, a man who added considerable ability and tact to strength and singleness of purpose. In the latter quality Mr Gapes may reasonably refuse to yield precedence to any man, and can point to his career in evidence. But in the matter of managing men and business, there is certainly reason to anticipate that larger calls will be made upon the forbearance of the Council and the public than has been the oase of late. His Worship is probably aware of his own shortcomings in this respect, and it may therefore be hoped that he will not think it beneath his dignity to seek and take advice from his fellow Councillors. Even as early as in his thanksgiving oration yesterday, he took the opportunity of ingenuously showing tbe burgesses with what i facility his mind may become hopelessly bogged. The morass through which he took his preliminary flounder was the supposed incompatibility of the Municipal Corporations, Drainage Board, and Public Health Acts. He failed to see how they could be worked without one or other of them clashing--a sentiment which leads to the supposition that, contrary to the generally received opinion, his Worship thinks it possible that one thing should make a clash all by itself. Thero ia really no reason for anticipating that any antagonism will arise : certainly it need not, if the several bodies created under the above Acts honestly endeavour to work harmoniously for the public good, and not for their individual glorification. There is perhaps no more uncomfortable state to the person afflicted than that of chronic fogginess, from whatever oause arising, and this certainly appears to be the normal condition of the new Mayor. Seeing, however, that the burgesses hare emphatically declared

their opinion that a lucid intellect and eduoation may be dispensed with in a Mayor, provided he possesses unquestioned worth and sincerity, we hope to see the Council bow to the decision, and its members do their best to bring thoir president clear of any pitfalls into which his unfortunate haze may threaten to cast him. That occasions will arise in the coming year when his Worship will have to speak or take action of his own motion, without reference to his fellow Councillors, will be unavoidable, and then the laughterloving public may look out for amusement. At the risk of being thought irreverent in tendering advice to so lofty a functionary, we must suggest to Mr Gapes that he should make these occasions, when he goes into action unfortified by tho advice of his comrades, as few as possible. If he will adopt this line resolutely he need be under no apprehension but that he will get through his year of office creditably. Aided by his comrades' counsel, he will float as lightly over municipal perplexities as a boy in a cork jacket over a mill-pond, or Moses amongst the bulrushes. With respect to the Lyttelton election there is little to be said. The burgesses of that town have registered their opinion that they cannot improve upon the holder of the civic office during the last year, and have therefore reelected him— a compliment which Dr Bouse will no doubt duly appreciate. With regard to Mr Allwright's remarks as to workmen having been called upon to vote in a certain direction under threat of dismissal, it may be mentioned that in future any suoh threats, will render the person making them liable to smart punishment. The same speaker called attention to the omission of the annual meeting. It is perfectly true that this meeting, which should have boon held yesterday, was not held, and that the Act makes no provision for holding it on any other day. Consequently, the only opportunity for the final settlement of the year's accounts, as required by the law, has gone by. Parliament not being in session, there seems to be really no remedy for this dreadful state of things but to leave the accounts unsettled. As this means nothing worse than that the balancesheet, which has, presumably, already been prepared and duly audited, must remain for ever bare of the Mayor's autograph, it is just possible that the Borough may survive the storm.