WHAT WILL THE GOVERNOR DO?

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 82, 27 July 1868, Page 179

WHAT WILL THE GOVERNOR DO?

(Prom the Wanganui Times, July 14.)

In consequence of the recent arrival of Sir George Bowen as Governor of this colony, the people have been willing to wait and allow him sufficient time to “view the position ” before taking a firm hold of the reins of government. Having viewed it, will he now assume hi 3 duties as a Governor, or be a passive instrument in the hands of the Ministry of the day ? This is a most important question in the present critical state of the colony. Has our new Governor a mind, a will, a determination of his own, or will he go on to perform by deputy the high duties committed to his trust by our most Gracious Sovereign ? It is time that the people of this colony could perceive some indications of-what they might hope for in this respect. Nominally, Sir George Fergusson Bowen is Commander-in-chief of her Majesty’s forces in this colony, but practically, Col. Haultain exercises that authority under the instructions of Mr Stafford. There is an important distinction to be observed between the duties of the Governor of this colony as Governor, and and Commanderin -chief. As Governor, he constitutionally consults, and, unlesss in extreme cases, acts upon the recommendation of lhs responsible advisers. As commander-in-chief, he is responsible to his Sovereign for the use which he makes of ,her Majesty’s forces, whether by land or sea. Those forces include Colonial ms well as Imperial, aud the Commander-in-chief may not delegate his authority over them. In the exercise of his two-fold authority, he alone has power to make war, or order troops upon active service for the suppression of rebellion. Those high and responsible duties are now being performed not only by Colonel Haultain and Mr Stafford, but even a clerk, or storeinspector in their employ, undertakes to countermand orders issued by the Commander of a field-force on active service. What is the result ? The suspension of hostilities until Colonel Haultain could be communicated with, and slaughter of an entire detachment on outpost duty. ..The settlers in these districts, and tho colony at largo, have a right to expect that Sir Ceorge Fergusson Bowen will perform,, and not delegate his duties as Commander-in-Chief. Were he to assume his proper position in that respect, and guide and direct by his authority the movements of >my troops that might be required on active service, the colonists would volunteer to a man, and be proud to serve under his orders. Native Commissioners would at once be dismissed, the Native Department abolished, and the Native race taught that a firm hand ruled over them. At present they don’t know who governs. It may be a Native Commissioner, or a Resident Magistrate, or a Clerk from Mr Stafford’s office, or anybody else, and under this state of “confusion do.ubly confounded ” ruin is being hurled upon the colony. Let us hope that henceforth our new Governor will, both in civil and military affairs —but especially in the latter—assume that exercise of authority so essential to the peace and prosperity of the colony. The enormous patronage which a “ native difficulty ” throws into the hands of the ministry of the day, can only bo curtailed by the Governor performing his own duties as Commander-in-Chief. If we cannot abolish, let us curtail that patronage, and then neither the Native Department nor the native difficulty will anv longer continue to oppress the colony, or be the means, either directly or indirectly, of the murder of colonists.