THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1372, 21 December 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1872.

However hard it may be to trace the sources of the seutiment, there can be no difficulty in discovering the outward expression of a lively sentimental interest in most of the movements, actions, and utterances of the gentlemen who, as Governors, represent the British Crown in these Colonies. Expressions of tills respectful and reverential 'feeling have been abundant even in our own small community, remote though it is from those situations in which the influence of the vice-regal presence is immediately felt. We have assembled in multitude, cheered in unity, listened to and applauded speeches, shown all the courtesies that circumstances permitted us to exercise, and been familiarly friendly within the bounds which the distinctions of position permitted — and all this from no spirit of toadyism, but through the existence of a sentiment which is more a subject for speculation than description. Neither is the sentiment regarding the office the only spring to our actions. Sympathy with the personal qualities of its occupant go a long way in promoting the good feeling, and, though different in their kind, such sympathies, it will be confessed, were freely provoked by two successive Go--1 vernors, Sir George Grey and Sir George I Bowen, in all parts of the country which they hftd opportunities of visiting. It is not strange, therefore, that there should be some interest as to what manner of man the Crown has given us for our next Governor, in selecting Sir James Fergusson, the late Governor of South Australia. According to common and constant report, Sir James Fergusson found, during his period of office in that Colony, that "uneasy lies the head" of him who even represents the wearer of a crown, and at its close he seems to have left the shores of the colony without attaining the proud preeminence of many minor men — that of being "deeply and widely regretted." Before he took his departure, however, Sir James Fergusson made Botfle public appearances which, to distant readers, seen to place his past character in favor*

able light, and promise a good deal a3 to the position in the confidence of the people of New Zealand which he is likely to attain. One of his speeches which he , delivered at Adelaide is, at least, remarkable for its candour both with regard to himself and the characteristics of colonies and colonists. Sensible, apparently, of tho "distance" which had grown between himself and the colonists with whom he was associated, ho rather epigrammatically explained the difference between his de- ! mean or and his sympathies by stating that "in the office which he had the honor to hold, a man may be proud and tenacious, and yet be personally humble." He seemed to draw a wide, distinction between what he should be as a man, and what he should be as a Governor, and his conception of gubernatorial duties, or the manner of discharging them, is certainly a dignified one, though ils dignity may approach to "stiffness." "I cannot," he said, "separate myself, and I never have thought of separating myself, from the office of Governor, in the sense of separate individuality. The idea which I have formed of the office of Governor is not that he should try to conform himself to the current fashion of colonial politics or ideas. He has much to learn in the colonies — and I hope I have not lived in this colony for four years without learning a good deal. My idea is that he should bring out, maintain, and preserve as far as possible the Imperial model, and should be actuated by what he learned from the good old stock, and not try to model himself on that which, after all, was only an imitation. The Governor comes here to represent tho old country — not to cram the old country down the colonists' throats ; but not to forget to adapt what he has learned elsewhere to the new society into which he has come." But interest, to our point of view, attaches more to our new Governor's expressions regarding our Colony, and the "defects" which he finds in Colonies generally, for he is no mealymouthed man, and even in this parting speech he made more reference, to what he considered to be defects than he made — what he himself considered an obnoxious platitude — "favorable comparisons." Of his new domain and appointment he said : — " I have been called away prematurely, before the expiration of my natural life among' you, and by the kindness of one whom 1 cannot omit to mention on this occasion. I received from the Secretary of State, at a very painful period of life, great consideration, and I do not' think that a greater honor could be done to anyone than that a somewhat young governor of another party should be offered a government which can be second to few in importance before the expiratiou of his first term of office. I trust— l earnestly trust, gentlemen— that the kindness you are showing me this evening — the generous consideration which is being displayed, and has been displayed towards me by the people of this Colony, will enable me to come among those whom I am soon to know with such great advantages as may save me much trouble, and may entitle me to a very early instalment of their confidence," He made a further reference to New Zealand when he spoke of an absence of speculation and commercial life in South Australia. He would Booner, he said, see a good deal of money change hands by speculation than see it locked up in the savings' bank ; he thought there had been rather less of joint-stock speculation than was desirable; little purpose in the public works winch are necessary for the development of a Colony. As an example of the opposite he quoted New Zealand, and although there may be opposite opinions upon the point, this opinion of a Governor of another Colony, who takes a lively interest in public affairs, is at least worthy of some consideration. "New Zealand, which is a younger Colony than this, would (he said) see the money which the Colony proposes deliberately to expend in public works being laid out on a settled system. The requirements of the Colony are studied, and the money is apportioned according to the wants of the several districts. They cannot expect to satisfy all, and some districts will complain that they do not.get their fair share. ' But the public works of the Colony aro undertaken in regular order, and on a plan which has been deliberately laid down as the best suited to develop the progressive resources of the Colony." Among Bomewhat prevalent colonial defects, Sir James referred to some of our peculiar phraseology, not on its own account, but as representing, in some instances, a disposition to exaggerate matters, and in others to contemn our public institutions and our public men—meaning, no doubt, those men who are approximately worthy of the name, We shall conclude these references to our new Governor by quoting his remarks on this last subject, and we have little doubt thai those who read them will find reason to congratulate themselves that, whatever his defects may be, we are to have a Governor who speaks his mind so plainly as Sir James Fergusson does in these few sentences : — "We change Ministries and call into play phrases which are applicable to the removal of men who are impeached for high crimes and misdemeanours. How ofteu is a poor Minister, who is forced into power by the legitimate position of eminence in his party, and who becomes an object of great hatred ever after he attains the position — (laughter) — how often do we hear of his being kicked out of office 1 Kicked out of office ! — a man whom we meet around the board, whom we shake hands with in the street, and whom we know to be one of the best citizens, just because he has raised himself by his own merits and the confidence of his fellow countrymen to a place of legitimate ambition. (Cheers.) Depend upon it, if we do not respect ourselves and our institutions they will fail in their usefulness, and we shall suffer ourselves. Our public men are our representatives — doubly our representatives. We send them to Parliament, and the confidence of Parliament places them in office. I do believe if we respected them more— if we thought their position was one that entitled them to respect, and as long as they remained in office entitled them to generous consideration, they would be nerved to greater efforts and greater usefulness in the public service. Then, gentlemen, there is another phrase that has been often used during my tenure of office, and which I wish buried in oblivion. When a man has been doubly representative, and has had the confidence of the tepresentative of the Sovereign, on the recommendation of that representative he frequently receives an

honorable title for life. Gentlemen, I feel sure that men would marvel at homo to know that it was thought- a matter of ridicule that an old and valued Minister should receive a title and uniform for life. The best men in the British House of Commons wear the uniform with pride, (Cheers.) Gibea and sneers may till an empty paragraph oi?. point a joke, but they do more harm when they bring into contempt that which we ought to respect. Respect is akin to reverence ; and depend upon it those who will not pay honor to whom honor ia due, are very apt to fail in reverence where something more than honor is due. I think that prints which throw contempt upon the natural result of legitimate ambition ought to bo unsaleable, and public men who lend their eloquence in the same direction ought to be discredited."