PEOPLE OF THE PAST

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2785, 1 June 1916, Page 3

PEOPLE OF THE PAST

SOME. INTERESTING STOIiIES. "I think I have personally known all the Governors'of - New Zealand withr the exception of the first two—Governors Hobson and Fitzroy," said Sir Edward GAbes, in a reminiscent vein, at the farewell dinner accorded him by the staff of the Education Department on Tuesday evening. "I met Sir George Grey-ill tlie north of Auckland during 1 the year 'he was appointed Governor (in 1861), and acted as guide to Sir Georgo liowen, when lie iWas in the north. I remember taking him to see a famous spring of mineral water 9yer which'grew a lemon tree, and the idea with visitors was to squeeze one of the lemons into a glass of the water, add a little sugar, and the result was a foaming drink. After' Sir George tasted it, he thought he could improve on .it, and produced his flask—before we could produce ours. (Laughter.) , Sir Edward Gibbes also related the story of-the growth of Sir Arthur Gordon's signature. "When he arrived from England," said Sir Edward, "he found it difficult to make liis most insignificant signature fit the dignity of his office; but lie practised hard, and before he left the 'A' was as long as my forefinger, and the rest was in proportion. Sir Arthur was » stickler for 'the dignity of office.' He was, _ in addition to being Governor, Commissioner of the. Pacific Islands, and on ouo occasion made a trip round on a man-of-war. On that occasion ho demanded that whenever he came aboard he should be received with a guard of honour. That was not very agreeable, but (lie captain had to suffer it. One hot morning, when : lying oft' one of the Islands, Sir Arthur went ashore in his pyjamas for a swim. That was tho captain's chance. When Sir Arthur came back, still in his pyjamas, of course, lie was received by a full guard, of honour. The experience cured him to some extent ■ of stressing the dignity of office. "In those days the leaders were all men of big calibre. There were, for example, 'the four TP's,' as 'they were called—Pox, Featherston, Fitzherberfc, and Fitzgerald, only names, perhaps not even that, to most of you, but all/great men. - Then there was Mantell, a very clever man, who .was always having his little joke. I remember that he used to call C. I'. Powles C. Peepholes out of fun." (Laughter.)