Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1904. The Vice-Regal Departure.

Manawatu Herald, 21 June 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1904. The Vice-Regal Departure.

It is astonishing what an inordinate amount of fuss is being displayed by Wellingtoniana over the departure of Lord Ranfurly from New Zealand shores. A stranger reading an account of the farewell conversazione recently held in the Empire City would think that the Governor had been a wonderful boon to the Colony; and yet if he took the trouble to look up the newspaper reports of the departures of previous Governors, he would find that the insincere and ornate sentiments voiced by the leading citizens of Wellington on Friday last were not original expressions of heartfelt regret, but merely echoes of the effusive flattery seemingly appertinent to a Governor’s departure. We never seem to find out the worth of our Governors until they are about to leave us; and each succeeding Governor appears to be an abler and more popular ruler than his predecessor. Lord Ranfurly has no doubt performed his duties in a very satisfactory manner and it is therefore only right that the people of New Zealand should recognise in some practical way their appreciation of his services. At the same time the Colony derives no lasting benefit from his domicile here, and as for fulfilling his position creditably—well, he receives a sum of £7,500 per annum from the Colony in return for his services—only a little less than the salary of the American President. We do not grudge the Governor his farewell, but we do think that such extravagant terms as those expressed

by the Mayor of Wellington and others in connection with the late vice-regal function, should, be omitted ; for they are certainly not. symbolical of the opinion prevailing in the Colony, and do not tend to increase the measure of respect that is due to the Governor as His Majesty’s representative.