SIR G. BOWEN AND THE DRAMATIC AMATEURS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 711, 23 August 1869, Page 4

SIR G. BOWEN AND THE DRAMATIC AMATEURS.

.(From the Wairarapa Mercury.)

We have on several occasions alluded to His Excellency Sir Qeorge Bowen's despatches—marvels in their way—and evidently written with the .view of exhibiting a great Ego, I, dn the foreground and all other patters, whatever their importance might be, as merely adjuncts to the picture. Many might smile at such proceedings, and think them harmless Exhibitions of the vanity of a foolish .old man, but wben vanity becomes so as to form the ruling passion of a person's life, it becomes jdano-erous when thwarted, especially \i the said person has the power to carry out his revenge. As a case in point we may mention an occurrence which took place in Wellington a few days ago. The No. 1 jbompany of Volunteer Rifles have in their ranks a number of dramatic amateurs who perform occasionally. Recently they announced a performance for the benolit of the Benevo Jent Society, which the Governor and the Commodore were requested to patronize. The Commodore not wishing to attend, having recently suffered a severe domestic affliction, took a number of tickets and encouraged his pfficers to be present. The Governor however, wrote to say that he was unable to attend, but, the company were at liberty to use his illustrious name. Not anticipating any great benefit from doing so, they headed their bills J'under the patronage of the Commodore." It came to their knowledge that Sir George considered himself slighted by this, and the secretary (who was 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. The letter 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 wrath was aroused at once, and setting the civil and military machinery of the Government in motion, the delinquent was attacked pn two sides at once. He was accused pf "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. JPolonel Reader attacked him, as his commanding officer, for breach of discipline as a volunteer ; the head of his (department suspended him for breach of ckil service regulations, aud the unfortunate individual found himself between " the devil and the deep sea." The Evening Post exonerated him from all complicity in the " local" yet he still remains in a precarious position, daily expecting dismissal. It cannot be denied that Sir George Bowen's conduct in this instance lias been the very reverse of gentlemanly ; its justice, people can form their own ppinion 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 pf doing, and not have wreaked his wrath on an unfortunate clerk, whose position left him open to be crushed under the Vice-Regal foot. Sir George may be a very eminent man and an able Governor—at all events he thinks so himself—but, it is impossible at times to avoid contrasting him with some of his predecessors. Would Sir George Grey, on the eve of a great and pressing emergency, u matter of life and death to the Colony, have been afraid to exercise his power of ordering the troops to remain, and sat in a corner twiddling his thumbs, while Dr Featherston went to Melbourne to ask General Chute to do so ? We rather think he would at once have assumed the responsibility, and justified himself afterwards as he best could. We are much afraid the people pf New Zealand are quite as obtuse in discovering the merits of their model governor, as were their neighbors in Queensland.