The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1873.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 426, 23 October 1875, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1873.

The lato di.stribulion of honours b}llio Imperial Government amongst distinguished colonists is worthy o( notice. Lain telegrams inform us tliai Governor JM ungrate, of South Australia, hast i oen created a KnightGcmmander / f St Michael and St George; Mr Weld, Governor of Tasmania; am! L'r Hector, of Hew Zea-

land, have received Companionships of the same order; and Captain MacMahon and Mr Samuel Wilson, of Victoria, have been knighted. In the ease of Governor Musgrave, the distinction conferred upon him is only a fitting recognition of his services in various colonies. But why should Mr Weld and Dr IK c tor be bracketed together as Companions of the most unsatisfactory order which is bestowed by Her Majesty, Dr Hector has done good service to New Zealand, in a scientific capacity, no doubt, but would even his most enthusiastic admirers class his services as comparable with those of the originator of the “ self- “ reliant ” policy ? It may be said that Mr Weld’s policy, which obtained the approval of the Imperial Government, has been already rewarded by the successive Governorships to which he has been appointed ; and certainly he may look forward to further promotion in the service of which he is now a member. But in this case we should imagine that Mr Weld would have preferred waiting until the Knight Coramandership was offered him, to having bis present honours thrust upon him. The knighthoods which have been awarded to Captain MacMabon and Mr Samuel Wilson are recognitions of success in very different lines of life. Captain MacMahon has filled an arduous and important office for a considerable number of years, and no one would grudge him the honour now conferred. But with Mr Samuel Wilson the ease is different. We are all aware that some little t me ago this gentleman offered £BO,OOO to the Melbourne University, and this act of princely generosity was duly notified in every colonial journal and newspaper. Of course such a gift could not pass unnoticed, and the distinction of Knighthood has accordingly fallen to the donor’s lot. But, curiously enough, we are now in informed that the £BO,OOO wehave heard so much of has not yet been paid, and that Sir Samuel has contented himself with paying the interest on the sum which it was generally imagined had been handed over to the University. Such at least is the story which we gather from the latest Melbourne files. Previously to Sir Samuel Wilson making his offer, he was known to fame as one of the largest owners of sheep in the colonies. He has never distinguished himself as a politician, or in any way, except as a successful accumulator of wealth. The handing over of, what appears to the public, an enormous sum of money for the purpose of being dubbed Sir Samuel for the rest of his life does not appear to us to be a very publicspirited action. Wo do not mean to say that there is any connection between Sir Samuel’s gift and the Knighthood now bestowed on him, but the Colonial public will put the two facts together, and they will not. get the idea out of their minds that such is the case. They will reason that it is possible for any wealthy man to procure a title by act of ostentatious generosity, and the titles so obtained will be valued at their proper worth.