The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1817. COLONIAL KNIGHTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1448, 5 January 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1817. COLONIAL KNIGHTS.

For months past it has been raining, knighthoods. Colonists who have done •omething, and colonists who have not done anything, have alike been emolled In the most modern Order of chivalry, and the Cross of St Michael and St George has been flung about so freely that modest persons have become •alarmed lest, willy-nilly, they should be made the recipients of the distinction. One gentleman even objected to stand as a candidate for the mayoralty of Wellington this year on the ground that he understood the mayors of all the colonial capitals were to be knighted m commemoration of the Jubilee of Her Majesty's accession to the Throne and he did not feel himself qualified to be a knight. There are still, however, a few people who hanker after the distinction, and long for a handle to their names. Wellington, of course, naturally takes a peculiar interest m these topics. Its drones look down on the working bees of the other parts of the colony as creatures who are useful m the collection of honey for the support of the Wellingtonians, but wno sadly lack savoir Jain and a just appreciation of those social distinctions and refinements m which the inhabitants of the Empire City are so deeply versed. Hence, it is not surprising to find the latest, if not ihe most relidblc, intelligence on the subject of colonial knighthoods emanating from Wellington. The Evening Press rffirms that a project is afoot, — started by Sir Julius Vogel — for knighting one " leading journalist " m each colony, and ihal the gentleman who is chosen as the representative of New Zealand journalism is the Hon. W. Reeres. We thought at first that our Wellington contrmporary was poking fun at Sir Julius and Mr Reeves; but, as the Lyttelton Times strenuously denies the truth of the statement, we fancy there must be something m it after all. That journal's denial has a nob episcopari'x'mz about it which excites suspicion. We are not going to be so disloyal to our cloth as to insinuate that colonial journalists do not deserve to be knighted: but, what strikes us as being the funny side of the proposal, is the suggestion that Mr Reives! should be selected as the representative journalist of Ne*r Zealand. Mr Reeves is indeed the proprietor, or part proprietor, of a Christchurch newspaper : but a newspaper proprietor, unless he be also a newspaper writer, is no more entitled to be styled a journalist than the organ-blower is entitled to be called an organist, although there may be some grouni for his contention that "we " produce the music. A merrhant, a fatmer, a contractor — anyboJ > , m fact, who possesses money enough — can buy or start a newspaper, but literary ability, as well as money, is necessary for its successful production, and the possession of the one does not always accompany the possession of the other. Now, we have never yet heard of Mr Reeves displaying literary ability, or, for the matter of that, any political ability either, notwithstanding that he is an M.L.C. His political creed is a very simple one, consisting of a blind adherence to Sir Julius Yogel, who appears to have got him firmly by the nose, and to lead him by that prominent but useful feature of his counienancewhithersoeverhewill. And, to do Sir Julius justice, he has amply rewarded his faithful follower. Many years ago, for Mr Reeves' expres;? benefit, Sir Julius created a mysterious office m the Cabinet, yclept 11 Resident Minister for the Middle Island," and Mr Reeves filled it for a few months, when the Great Financier found it expedient to reconstruct his Ministry and Mr Reeves was dropped out of it, with many apologies. Upon Sir Julius' reappearance m the political firmament m 1884, he was effusively welcomed by Mr Reeves, who was rewarded for his long fidelity by a se?t m the Legislative Council, where the politically wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. The gnawing pangs of unsatisfied ambition, however, leave their victim no peace ; and one can easily understand why a colonial "Honorable" should pant after a genuine knighthood. Nevertheless, if Mr Reeves is to be knighted, it ought to be on some better plea than that of his being a " representative journalist." We understand this to be

ho objection raised by the Evening Press. Our contemporary does not • ) )j' ct Lo ». representative journalist m each colony being knighted ; but. it probably .thinks "Sir Edward " would sound better ihan "Sir William."