SIR CHARLES DARLING ESCAPES FROM HIS “FRIEND.”

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 381, 31 May 1866, Page 2

SIR CHARLES DARLING ESCAPES FROM HIS “FRIEND.”

(From the Sydney Horning Herald, 12th March.) Either by the effect of an interview with the gentlemen who received him at midnight with shouting, whose “ customs and manners” must have greatly impressed him, or by some friendly monitor under whose influence he has had the good fortune to come ; or by that sense which can hardly' ever be extinguished in a representative, of the Queen,, that his position is not bettered by the interposition of such friends between the Sovereign and himself; or from some other cause creditable to his discretion —he has declined the honors designed him. Their style of thought on questions of “ law and order ” would be better caught by the people of this city than by a stranger. However, “We maun all live,” says the Scotch proverb, and it is fortunate, that the multitudinous occupation of civilised life afford a place even to its smallest members. Our readers will remember the riots at Burrangong, and how warmly the assailants of the Chinese were cheered, and how zealously their cruelty and violence were excused. A meeting was held in this city having reference to those disturbances, and its spirit may be inferred from the following extract from the report:—“ He thought they weie wrong in not having convened a public meeting at first to denounce the cruelty and cowardice of those who had made such a ruffianly attack upon the Chinese. This sentence virtually brought Mr Hamilton’s speech to a close, for such a storm of hooting, yelling, and groaning ensued, that he was utterly unable to proceed.” The chairman of that meeting was Mr Murphy, who was also the chairman and leader of the compliment Sir Charles Darling. Among the most conspicuous in support of these demonstrations were Messrs Hanson and Bennett; and Mr Hanson, it will be seen, was the reader, perhaps the author of the address to Sir Charles Darling. Mr Buchanan was at the anti-Chinese meeting, and distinguished himself; lie was not present at the ovation to Sir Charles Darling, probably being engaged in Fenian affairs. There were others present at the aforesaid Chinese meeting, who are not enumerated among the persons who welcomed Sir Charles Darling; but then Mr Harpur has disappeared altogether from public life. Mr Dalgleish happily for the Ministers, retired into a steam boiier—a Government berth—where wo hope he will secure his own and the public safety. Mr Moffat, one of the lights of the meeting, has been blown by the Supreme Court into infinite space. Mr Stewart, who was at both meetings, was then a member of the Assembly. As he had pased from public observation it wasgratifyto see that he had not gone for good, like so many of his constituents. Such, then, were the gentlemen who figured in the meeting. The survivors were the animating spirit of that grand demonstration which was to cover the retirement of Governor Darling with special honors. Now, looking at all these circumstances together, that the same parties, excepting those who have been disposed of otherwise were the leaders in both cases, we think. Sir Charles Darling has been properly advised in asking to be spared. He was naturally taken by surprise, and the manner in which he has interposed to stop further exhibition's polite, but decisive. So little, indeed, are these gentlemen accustomed to receive compliments from such a quarter, that they will accept his expressions as highly complimentary. He has, however, shown himself master of that art which somebody described when he said : “ He Ticked me down stairs with so muck grace, That i thought he was handing me up."