A MODEL GOVERNOR.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 416, 22 March 1877, Page 3

A MODEL GOVERNOR.

A good Governor is a great possession. As applied to Governors the word good has not quite tho samo meaning as when applied to more common tradesmen or mechanics, who, nevertheless, cannot be refused tho claim of common descent from Adam, or monkeys as the case may be. When wo speak of a good mechanic \ro know what wo mean. When wo speak of. a good Governor wo are still privileged to speak of that which we know. Tho Marquis of Normanby, who her Most Gracious Majesty has been pleased to appoint to rule over her loyal dependency of New Zealand, is a very good Governor. In himself ho admirably porsouilics the model Colonial Governor, equalled but not excelled by Sir George Bowon. In any comparison made between these two distinguished statesmen the Victorian Governor lias an enormous advantage in his classic connection. He has only to murmer chidingly at Colonial Hebraism and sigh forthesweetcrinttuune'es of Italian shores to still the slightest storm likely to nifie his gubernatorial re.The late vice-regal trip to Wos'jjort is ( . Immortalised by the ' Westport Time's,' Our contemporary had to r;- i print to satisfy the Ueinandofloyal.Westpnviians. .Itis Excellency had to encounter special difficulties in his visit. The disagreeable people of Grcymouth hail bent making sta.lemenfs in revenge, because not invited by the people of Westport. "They profess," says the indignant * Times,' " to imagine, and in imagining are reckless enough to assort that Westportians are but utter barbarians, caring not!iin.;' for social amenities, unable to receive a guest in filling manner, and having scarcely a lady among them whose preset ce would grace a' ballroom." Had his Excellency It >lcried "to this industrious buzzing of statcnieuts,"as it is erroneously it>ported he was tempted toli4.cn," AVestporl, would have heeu deprived of the honor of more than a llying visit from vice-royaliy." "And yet," triumphantly uddii our Jiuppy contemporary, " was his .Excellency gratified full well with every 'detail of his reception at Westport." His Excellency was singularly fortunate in tho M'leiri ion of liis suite. The Hon. 0. C. Bowon,, C. .S. Cooper, Esq., UnderSecretary; Thomas Mack-ay, Esq; Captain Maling, Private Secretary ; ami Lieutenant Patourel, A.idytc-Camp. What elements hero for a grand social success! Wo congratulate Westport! All good Governors mint dance. !lis Excellency danced. .Mr. C. C. Bowon danced._ The Private Secretary, we susjtcct assisted the Charleston Baud, which excelled oven itself, as we hear of no partners being found for him or the Aid-de-cuuip. At midnight there was a collation, alter which his Excellency, with that distinguished tact with which he adorns his high position, retired for the nielli. Karlior in the day addresses were presented from coal merchants, masons, foresters, and others. His Excellency replied suitably. There was nothing tike coal! He sympathised with the people of Westport in their trials. He hoped that out of evil would come good. He thought that the \ivw system of local scltGoverniueut now instituted under County rule would add much to lite prosperity and success of the people of new Zealand. There might be some slight difficulties in initiating the new system, but lie felt quite conlidenl thai, lite people had only to put their shoulders to ilic wheel io make ilie County system very beneiicial. AI. b'.:iO his Excellency held a levee, and the elite of Westport sent their cards, ntfd were presented. At 7.;)0 he dined—special invitations being issued at his •command. Mr. ('. C. Bowcn meanwhile bad not Ik en idle. On the Colliery iic serve question, and generally ou all' questions concerning coals lie pledged himself to consult his eolloaguos, and when inclined lo grant the prayer ofa deputation had hurriedly with great regret to retire to-I ho lewo. Mis Excellency inspecte.l. the coal and made minute enquiries. He '•hoped that if ever lie should be again permitted lo visit Ihe district ho should see the coal-mining industry inactive and proliladlo operation. ,fu these and kindred way* his Excellency left' nothing to chance. The district of Westport was Tice-rc".:ally done, at least in brown coal. Nor via-, the visit without its sensation. His Excellency, with thai, true instinct for a, celebrity which is so valuable a gift in his exalted position, inquired for a Mr. George .Jervis, chief factotum of the Empire Hold, '• who had been the hero of .the occ.f-iou w hen the Maungatapii. murderers were arrested, now some years ago, he having given I he first information leading to their arrest. Tho Burgess and Levy gang having decided by lossinga shilling whether they should murder him at ■once or iirsl go into Kelson to sell gold •they had previously plundered. This fact came out at iheir trial, and also that Burgess carried one particular coin which they always u-ed in deciding their fiendish plans. This coin Mr.-Jervis obtained, *rid hits ever since had in his possession. His Excellency hearing of this, requested thai Mr. Jervis should be introduced to him. and chatting alfably with him on the subject requested lo be shown the coin having »o ghastly a hiMory." At the Horticultural .Show at Wellington his Excellency still had energy enough to draw pulilii: attention to ihe alarming decay of biii.ier, pbuli ry, and vegetables in the Wellington market. Eor this yeoman's »ei vice he will no doubt earn the redoubled goodwill of the people of Wellington. When such high qualities are called out by the nominated system, and Mich impartialily on great questions is secured, Sir George Grey's idea of elective Governors may very well bo dismissed as one of the chimerical dreams of a disappointed man. Wc can never hope to see an elective Governor of New Zealand shine iii good qualities so as to outv!o the noble effort of his 'Excellency the Marquis of Normauby at Westport.