Society in Wellington.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 211, 25 November 1873, Page 7

Society in Wellington.

"After all she's only a colonial !" What delicious spitefulness, what exquisite femininity, characterises this summing up of the estimate formed of Lady Fergusson by the fashionable world of the New Zealand capital. Shortly after Sir James Forgusson's arrival in Wellington, a reception was given at Government House. It appears that on this occasion" his Excellency and his lady tonic up their position upon an elevated platform or dais, and as the presentees marched past they were accorded a gracious smile. Lady Fergusson especially is stated to have exceeded the great Duchess of Sutherland in the dignity and courtly urbanity of her deportment. But this sort of thing did not consort with the ideas of the New Zealauders, especially the female portion, and who were accordingly not unsparing in their remarks. " Dear me," exclaims one, " what a huge tail our cat has got." "Fancy," replies another, " Sir George and Lady Bo wen giving themselves such airs." " Put a beggar on horse back," interjects a third ; while a fourth by way of a clincher urges, " after all she's only a colonial." In order thoroughly to appreciate this position of affairs one should be acquainted, with society in the Village-capital. With scarcely an exception the fashionable •world is constituted of civil servants and their wives and families. They are about the worst paid but the most intensely aristocratic gentry that ever descended to accepting a position under a government. But if not liberally rewarded, they are numerous enough in all conscience. So much so that every ratepayer is said to carry a civil servant on his back. Officialdom is of the first water. Any mere chronic lightness of the chest is regarded as a simple accident of fortune, and cannot at all effect that innate consciousness of high social status and political importance which a share, however humble, in the great task of administering the affairs of the nation never fails to impart. In their eyes a Governor and his Lady are only sent out there to be quartered on the country, the difference, -if any, being simply as to the" rate of remuneration. Sir George and Lady Boiven, while in Wellington, took things as they found them, and allowed those great little people to believe that they were twice as great as they represented. What then must be the 1 astonishment created by a mere " colonial" undertaking to " keep such people in their proper places ?" Probably we shall next hear of Sir James and Lady Fergusson being permitted to enjoy uninterruptedly the seclusion of' the huge wooden structure known as Government House, while the fashionable seceders resort to small tea-parties and scandal to compensate for any loss of vice-regal hospitalities.—Melbourne Leader.