‘Cycleways will be the item that gets everyone het up, even though the port plan’s far more significant,’ said Pearly, and Congreve gave his reduced grimace and a sigh. Cycleways had become a national fad, and councils everywhere were under pressure to provide scenic paths, often paralleling existing roads. Pearly was an advocate in principle and realised they were favoured by younger voters, but he knew costs would exceed estimates and that some property owners would be unco-operative. ‘See if you can get figures from some of the North Island schemes — overruns in particular. You know how people press for these things and then howl when there’s an impact on rates.’

‘I’ll see if I can spare someone to get onto it. The staff are under a good deal of pressure at the moment.’

‘This is something that needs to be done,’ said Pearly firmly. ‘I’m hoping to encourage some community-based group to take it up and raise funds. Then we could step away from it.’

After their discussion Pearly asked Congreve about his health — an indirect way of divining his plans for retirement. Pearly had to walk a fine line and disguise his own view. Congreve would almost certainly take a small man’s stubborn satisfaction in thwarting the mayor’s preference if it were clear. ‘So-so,’ he said. ‘My health’s only so-so. I’m due a specialist’s visit.’

‘Well, as you say, there’s no let-up in the work here, is there?’

‘Indeed not. People expect to get hold of you any time now. There’s no such thing as a weekend anymore, nowhere to go out of reach.’

‘We’d miss you greatly, of course, after all the years you’ve put it, but health’s so vital. Let me know how things go. We’ll support whatever decision you make. I do see a hellishly busy few months coming up, and the elections, of course.’

‘I like to think I give worthwhile leadership to the team here.’

‘Of course you do. Absolutely,’ said Pearly heartily while thinking that it was time that Congreve tossed it in and provided the opportunity to appoint a younger man keen to accept challenge.