THE CIVIC ELECTIONS.

The Citt Co.-_.ci_ elections are overshadowed by the general elections for the House of Bepreeentatives ; but it is nevertheless to be hoped that the citizens ■will neither forget their _ duties and privileges, nor fail to exercise them. For the good Government of the City, it is of Bupreme importance that due attention should ho given to these annual opportunities for the critical declaration of the ballot. The nominations of candidates for the vacancies close at the end of this month, and the elections take placo on the second Thursday in September. So far as we aro at present informed, the tenure of Councillor Hosking for the North-east ward will be once more challenged by Mr H. Crooks, who it will be remembered is not without experience in the Council, and who "" comes up smiling" after a former defeat. In the south-eastward, Councillor Andrews is to be challenged by Mr John Lee Scott. In the north-east ward, Mr C. M. Gray will oppose Mr James Bowman, and it is quite possible that this will be a very Wjarm contest. In the south-west ward, it is said, Mr B. *W. England will be nominated for the vacancy occasioned by the retirement of Councillor Louisson. We hope, by the way, to see Councillor Louisson come forward for the Mayoralty. That he was not elected to this position last year, waß due purely to the question of principle involved in the manner of his nomination. So far as he is personally concerned, Councillor Louis3on is fully entitled to the Mayoralty by virtue of services rendered, and he iB certainly well qualified to act as the City's Chief Executivo Officer.