A GOVERNOR’S MISTAKE.

Evening Star, Issue 22442, 12 September 1936, Page 14

A GOVERNOR’S MISTAKE.

On the whole New Zealand has nothing but happy memories of her Vice-Regal visitors from the Homeland. If there is a fault to be found in the system of Vice-Regal representation it lies in the fact that in most cases the fouryearly term of a Governor-General appears all too short.. , It is with reluctance that farewells are bid to those who, having been reared and trained in accordance with the British traditions of courtesy, tact, and sincerity, have won their way with ease into the hearts of our people. Many years ago, however, the Borough of Riverton, which recently celebrated its sixty-fifth anniversary, had an experience which made its residents rather dubious about the diplomatic qualifications of Sir James Fergusson, father of the popular and highly-respected Sir Charles Fergusson, who preceded Lord Bledisloe as the Dominion’s Governor-Gene-ral. The story of how Sir James spurned the hospitality offered him by loyal subjects in Riverton is astonishing, and, as published at some length in the ‘ Southland Times ’ at the period of the Riverton Borough’s jubilee festivities, it makes interesting reading. The announcement that the Governor would be visiting the district in January, 1874, appears to have caused quite a flutter among the local residents. For weeks prior to His Excellency’s expected arrival the various societies of the Western District, with characteristic thoroughness, pooled their energies in preparing a suitable welcome. People acquainted with Southland hospitality will know what that meant. On the vital date a wellmounted body of horsemen was detailed to meet Sir James and escort him to Riverton.- It was to have been a real gala day, and the many riders who had come in from long distances did not worry over the early morning start which their participation in the greeting necessitated. But hours passed by without any appearance of the VicoRegal party. There was a pardonable depreciation in the enthusiasm when a messenger arrived from Riverton to say that His Excellency would take no part in the procession with tho riders, that he could not wait for lunch and could not spend much time in , the. toTVft, In

spite of this, about forty riders decided to wait for him. Their loyalty was not rewarded. When Sir James at length arrived he drove straight through between the lines of cheering horsemen without even a smile or a nod. Worse was to follow. His Excellency, staying only half an hour in Riverton, refused to partake of a specially-prepared lunch, but found time to complete a day of amazing boorishness by throwing into the fireplace of the hotel where he stopped an elaborate address of welcome executed on the regulation parchment at the expense of much labour. Needless to say, the people of Riverton were glad to see the last of Sir James. However, the borough council’s association with him was nob complete. It duly received an account for £6 for the Governor’s horse hire from Riverton to Invercargill. The records do not disclose whether or not the account was paid. In extenuation of the Governor’s behaviour it is submitted that his temperament was such as to debar him from being able to conceal his detestation of the adulation and emptiness of flattery which he fancied usually accompanied such functions. Perhaps he had had previous grounds for his impatience in this respect, not, we should imagine, based on New Zealand experiences. Where he made the mistake was in underestimating the sincerity of a typical colonial welcome. It ja/a matter for gratification that the mistake has seldom, if ever, been repeated.