The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1729, 15 April 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1882.

When Sir Arthur Gordon assumed office as Governor of New Zealand it was tolerably well understood that he was autocratic in his manner and behaviour, and accustomed to d » exactly as he pleased, irrespective of any on* but himself. We were all thoroughly awafcre that he had for many yeais ruled with despotic sway the dark-skinned natives of countries where free and representative institutions did not exist, and from this knowledge might have been led to expect (bat he would rnt at first fall in with the ways of beings more civilised than those with whom he had consorted, but we most decidedly were not prej>ared to find him riding rough-shod over the rights and privileges hitherto enjoyed under the constitution granted to ns many years- ago, and which it is the bounden duty of every well'-wisher of his adopted country to cherish and preserve intact. Yet Sir Arthur Govdou has done all this, and more. We- all respect the high office he hold's, and 1 venerate him as the direct representative of our Sovereign, and shall continue to- do so ' r but as an

iniividnal merely, we feel bound to denounce liis recent most unconstitutional action i i connection with the resignation of the Ministry, It is unnecessary at the present moment to discuss the question as to whether Sir George Grey or Mr Hall is the better man. What we really have to consider is this : Has the Governor of this colony acted in an unconstitutional manner, or not? We most unhesitatingly assert that he has done this, and, in doing it, directly outraged the feelings of everyone residing between the North Cape and the southern extremity of Stewart’s Island. It is extremely to be regretted that Sir Arthur during his residence in New Zealand has not thought fit to take from the time he has devoted to objectless leisure a few hours, occasionally, for the study in the first place of the nature of the laws under which we live, and the constitution under which they have been framed ; secondly, the constitutional laws which rule the civilised world in the administration of any particular form of govern ment. If he has not done this, he has erred greatly • but if he has, he has erred still more. The constitutional law and invariable custom in this colony has been this : If a Ministry goes out of office in consequence of an adverse vote of the House, the Governor sends for the member on whose motion the vote has been carried ; but in the case of the resignation of a Ministry with a majoiity at their back, either at that particular time, or when last Parliament closed, the Governor is bound to listen to and accept the advice given him by those who are leaving office, as to who shall be called upon to form a new Government. We are told that the Hon. Mr Johnston was deputed to convey to his Excellency the views of himself and his retiring colleagues, and that he attempted to offer advice, but was not allowed to do so. Now this, if it really happened— and we have as yet no reason to doubt the correctness of the statements received—was most monstrous. Sir Arthur Gordon his taken up a position which is ic every respect untenable. There is, however, one circumstance which is well worthy of consideration. It is quite evident that those who are usually the best informed in political matters are, as a rule, groping blindly in the dark for information not to be had at any price. Under such circumstances, the conjecture may be hazarded that Sir Arthur Gordon has sent for his old friend, Sir George Grey, to discuss, in a friendly and confidential but altogether unofficial manner, the position of affairs, before deciding upon the adoption of any particular course. In the meantime we must pay no attention whatever to such absurd telegrams as that which referred to Downie Stewart as the future Attor-ney-General. Whoever sent that item of news must have been a new hand Who had passed the greater part of his life in Nootka Sound, or some other equally cheerful place. However, the murder will out shortly, and I hen, and not till then, shall we know whether a Governor and an ex-Governor have combined to interfere detrimentally with the highest privileges of the people of this colony.