MINISTERIAL SKETCHES.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 89, 17 August 1878, Page 3

MINISTERIAL SKETCHES.

SIBO. OBEY. ' Of the Premier's career it is impossible for me to afford a narrative. To do this would require tplumes. His history and that of his services are being written m South Australia and m Cape Colony, where his memory and his munificence are greatly cherished; arid I learn that, m England, his career is being, or about to be, chronicled by no less prominent a historian than Mr Froude. Everbody knows that he was Governor of South Australia, and Cape Colony, m very difficult , times, and that twice he was Governor of New Zealand; under conditions which tested the capacity of a good administrator.- As an antiquarian and expert and enthusiast m book lore and ancient manusonptf hehaßtiot}hiß<, equal m these seas'; and' Man experienced politician and statesman his despatches and] his power of dealing; with theJfotiTes most effectually "show' the versatility of his power of administration. "A man so various that he eeema fcq b,e, Not one, but all mankind's epitome/-. That couplet of ; Dryderi fairly represents the Premier, for the acts of Sir G. Grey, are they not written: m the chronicle of South Australia, Cape Colony, and New Zealand; and m the latter Colony are not his acts and principles still the. subject of discussion ? ''■- ,:■■.':■. I might as well narrate here that all Sir; George's biographers are wrong as to the place of his birth, which is stated as having "been Lisburn, m Ireland. The fact is that he was born m Lisbon shortly after, the battle of Badajoz, where his. father was killed m action, arid was therefore a posthumous child. Without entering within the pale of a biography, I think it right to record here a circumstance which indicates the! readiness and vigorous memory of the Premier. The morning after the death, of, Bishop Sclwyn .was announced, a very excellent and exhaustive biography appeared m the " New Zealand Herald. The telegram was received m Auckland after midnight, and one of the gentlemen oonnected- with the " Herald " went up to the Club where Sir George was staying, knocked at his room door, between one and two m the morning, awoke ; him from his first sleep, told him of tha dtitli, and requested him to supply some facts connected with the life of his old friend. Without a moment's hesitation, and while still m bed, the Premier dictated m excellent English and m admirable connection, as fast as ft rapid writer could take it down, the very complete and accurate biographical notes, which appeared that same morning. This was a feat of memory, and accuracy which surprised the writer scarcely less than the pleasant manner m which he excused the scarcely warrantable disturbance at such an hour and for such a purpose. • : THE HDIIBTEE OF PUBLIO WOBXS. The Hon. Jas. Macandrew, after leaving school, began life as an apprentice m the counting house of an extensive commercial firm m Aberdeen and London, m which he had the very best opportunity of acquiring a practical knowledge of mercantile affairs. While m London Mr Macandrew took a great interests m New Zealand, and m the formation of the settlement of Otago. He was associated with a number of gentlemen as a member of the Committee of the Otago Association, under whose auspices the Government .settlement, was founded. In 1850 Mr Macandrew, with his family, cast m his lot with the Otago settlers/ and from that time his history may be said to be, to a great extent, a transcript of the history of Otago: There is probably no other man who has exercised a greater influence upon, or who has had more to do with! the affairs of that port of the Colony than: James Macandrew. His name is looked on as that of the prime mover and originator of many important public affairs m Otago. Amongst these may be included the Reformatory arid Industrial School, the first institution of the kind m New Zealand, by reason of which crime has been largely nipped m the bud m Otago, arid hundreds of the waifs and strays of humanity hare been rescued from a life of moral and physical degradation. This is an institution m which Mr Macandrew has always taken a lively interest, and of which he has felt justly proud. * The Qtogo" TJriiversity was also his creation, the Port Chalmers graving dock, the Punedin arid Port Chalmers railway, the Odmaru breakwater, and many ■qf _tlie public works m Otago owe their origin to Mr Macandrew.- He was the greatj apostle of steam^ in- New "Zealand, 1 ' having been the first to establish steam communication with Melbourne, but for which it is probable that the Otago goldfields* would have been .unknown, .and thesplendid line 'of steamers' no* playing'betweeri Victoria. and New Zealand would riot have (been: originated. Mr Macandrew was the first mart m Now Zealand who practi-. cally mooted the establishment of , steamJ cpmmunication with England, a proposition now receiving general support. As Superintendent of Otago somewhere about 1859, if I right, he proposed that the Government of the Province bfOtago should start a steam line of its own between Port Chalmers and Panama.- As a"; member of the House of Representatives Mr Macandrew took the initiative m the option which resulted m the Calif orhia service now existing. He -has been .m every Parliament which has existed m the Colony since Representative Government was granted. * A curious episode occurred m his connection' with Parliament, whiehshows the difference .between what was then arid, what is now. Parliament met m Auckland up till 1865. la. 1854 - the : Otagq Members ; went r from ;:Pbr^/ ; ;Cbalmws'^nv-the:;.-"G6verriment- i ''brig' Victoria, and took six weeks to accomplish the passage. In the Session of 1858 there was no direct communication between the South and Noith, and Mr Macandrew strove to find his road to Auckland by way of Victoria. He- went" to Melbourne arid chartered a brig ta bring him to Auckland. When he arrived there he was informed that Parliament had been already prorogued, that he had been unseated for absence which he could not avoid, and a /fresh-- writ was issued and he was immediately after 'elected: without opposition^ Ho has sab for Clutha, Port Chalmers, and Duiiedin, ; which last constituency he now represents. MirMaeandrow was four limes elected Superintendent of Otago, and m three of the elections had a keen contest with; his opponents. He -held. the office" of Siiperinteudent when it was abolished m 1876.! He was a member of the celebrated so-called " clean shirt " ministry at Auckland, iii 1854, and . now holds office m the Grey Ministry as Minister of Public Works. He is a.ccredUedaa being sagacious a,nd .:pr«itHeal^-;ha^.^.'go^ : '^knowiodgQ.-.6fr;men; and their capacity, and to hini J undoubtedly Otago owes much of 4ts'^present. prosperity.