A GUBERNATORIAL FOLLY.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1964, 21 August 1869, Page 2

A GUBERNATORIAL FOLLY.

It will bo within the recollection of our readers that some months ago, in the letter of our Wellington correspondent, allusion was made to the fact that a number of gentlemen—members ot No. 1 Company, Wellington Volunteers —who had formed themselves into a dramatic club, had given, or were about to give, an amateur performance in aid of the Wellington Benevolent Society, of which his Excellency the Governor is president. It appears that “at least a fortnight before the performance was to take place,” his Excellency ( s patronage and presence on the occasion were asked, and all preparations in the shape of a guard of honor, &c., had been made to receive him properly. Instead of the expected gracious acquiescence a “stiff reply ’’ was received, giving his Excellency’s “permission for the performance to be announced under his patronage,” but stating that he could not attend. As nothing was said as to taking a single ticket, and no word ot thanks was expressed, the Society naturally felt that they had been treated in very cavalier fashion, and, to use our correspondent’s words, “ declined the honor of his Excellency’s patronage.” We now find that the matter did not end there, and are indebted to the Walrampa Mercury of the sth inst., for the following further particulars. The Commodore was, it a2>pears, also asked to patronise the entertainment in question, “ but having recently suffered a severe domestic affliction ” did not wish to be present; yet—in marked contrast to the conduct of his Excellency—- “ took a number of tickets and encouraged Ids officers to attend.” The dramatic Society therefore, “headed their bills ‘ under the patronage of the Commodore,’ ignoring the Governor altogether, and the Secretary (a gentleman in the Civil Service) was directed to inform his Excellency that being aware that he was not going to attend, they did not wish to deceive the public by saying that he was.” “ This letter,” says our contemporary, “ was not couched in language sufficiently submissive to be agreeable, but nothing was said until there appeared in the Evening Post, a local giving the particulars of the affair, and commenting on the value of his Excellency’s name. Sir George’s wrtth was at once aroused and setting the civil and military machinery of the Government in motion, the delinquent was attacked on two sides at once. He was accused of ‘ lese majesty ’ in writing impertinent letters to' the Governor, and of being the author of a vile local which appeared in the columns of an evening periodical

“ unworthy to be named.” Colonel Reader attacked him, as his commanding officer, for breach of discipline as a volunteer (the italics are our own'; the head of his department suspended him for breach of civil service regulations, and the unfortunate individual found himself between ‘ the devil and the deep deep sea.’ The Evening Rost exonerated him from all complicity in the ‘ local,’ yet he still remains in a precarious position, daily expecting dismissal,” Commenting upon the matter, the “ Mercury ” attributes His Excellency’s conduct to his “ inordinate vanity,” instancing in proof of which his despatches, which are characterised as “ marvels in their way, and evidently written with the view of exhibiting a great Ego, I, in the foreground, and all other matters, whatever their importance might be, as merely adjuncts to the picture,” and adding :—“ Many might smile at such proceedings, and think them harmless exhibitions of the vanity of a foolish man, but when vanity becomes so inordinate as to form, the ruling passion of a person’s life, it becomes dangerous when thwarted, especially if the said person has the power to carry out his revenge.” • Finally, summing up the matter, our contemporary writes as follows (and we think that, in the justness of the remark, most people will coincide) : “ It cannot be denied that Sir George Bowen’s conduct in this instance has been the very reverse of gentlemanly ; its justice, people can form from their own opinion of. If he considered himself aggrieved by any statements in a newspaper, he should have vented his indignation against it and vindicated himself, which he had abundant means of doing, and not have wreaked his wrath on an unfortunate clerk, whose position left him open to be crushed under the Vice-Regal foot.”— Oamam Times.