The Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 162, 12 July 1870, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1870.

Our readers have at; various times heard a great deal about the decoration proposed to be bestovyed by the G-eneral Government upon; those of our armed force who might display -conspicuous bravery in actiou against .the enemy. They may also have begird, that our present Governor received . a severe si übbiug from Earl Granville for baying given his assent to the Order in Couucil by which the decoration was institute:-!, but it is ouly since Parliament met that we : haye seeu the despatches iu /connection" with this matter, and we are now able to give ihe precise words in. which .E;<r,l r Granville thought , fit to, comment upon the course pursued by Sir G. Boweu. f'.l am unwillingly constrained to observe," ho says, "that in complying with the desire of your Govemnaent, , you- have outstepped the limits of the authority confided to you by her Maje§ty.'? ; -He. 4beu proceeds to give his. 'Excellency a gentle-reminder as to what his powers really are, aud he is requested to observe : thai' " the authority inherent in the, Queen as fountain of honor throughout the Empire has never been delegated ; to youyand you are not, therefore, competeut, as her Majesty's reprei sentative, to create any 6T" fehoss titular or decorative Histihcindns which," in the Brirish Empire, Tiave their source, aud are valuable becpusei they; have, their source, in the grace of the Sovereign,'' The sarcastic sneer thus indulged in by Earl Granville at a decoration bestowed 'by a Colonial Government was, perhaps,' hardly called for, aud : we Should naturally expect to find Sir George' \Boweu endeavoring to remove the impression conveyed to the minds of the recipients of the -distinction by the derogatory, .remark of 'the Secretary of State, by Bhowing that although the decorative was not expected :/ to be possessed of the value that would attach to it had k- been : bestowed by the sovereign, • stillr. that! it' was aL mark of honor and 'anT.i&cknovsriedgement of conspicuous bravery-displayed in the Geld, and as such, mighfbe worn with pride by those who had been .fortunate, enough to win it. 1 ' Instead/ ;|of this " what is Sir George?s veply.to.Earl Granville?,- With a humility paipfiul ", fo". .wj.tu'ess, with a servility degrading ifo 1 the colony over which he is placed as Governor, he thus abjectly apologises -for the • liberty be has taken.' " The distinction " he '"says .".is. simply" a local honor, instituted and awarded; as it has been truly. said" "on a principle analogous to that. on. w.hiQh (for example) the Royal Geographical Society,, or the Humana Society -grant their medals." •. -. * * * * * * " The ' 'iVTiti isters urged that .^the small silver ornament which they wished to confer on the [yolunteersaud militia-(both European and. -Native) for good conduct on active service was not' designed" to be of any greater significance than • the. imedals and. other .decorative distinctions which the Executive-Councils of this and of other colouies have for many years past, given to tKe same corps, as prizes for skill in the use bHhe rifle" !

In other words this great and good Governor says to his angry master " You need'ut make "such" a fuss, about this miserable bit of silver, for it means nothing after all." ..And the next time that Sir George Boweh is called upon to bestow this distinction upon some gallant r fellow who has distinguished hirosejfLm the field; he will in. all probability preface the presentation with some eloquent arid flowery speech that will' preaeuYa strange contrast to his reply "] to Earl Granville, but the recipient of the ''small silver ornament'' will not be, deceived, and he will fuel that if he had happenedi.o hit a black spot on a target a certain number of times he would for that feat have received a decoration which in, the. eyes of the Governor, of New Zealand would be of equal value with that now awarded with so much' ceremony.

Waimea Road Board.— The: polling! for two members of the Waimea Road Board took place yesterday with the following result: — Rout, 51; Holland, 49 ; Audrews, 17. The two former were declared duly elected.

, The Christy Minstrels, we notice, intend to give two more performances in Nelsou, as there is no opportunity for them to leave for the West Coast before Thursday. The handbills that have been distributed over the town give promise of capital entertainments, and with .the reduced rates of admission will no doubt attract large audiences.

Winter Evening Lectures. — We are {jlaJ to learn that the Christ Church Orga R Committee are about to make arrangements for a series of lectures, readings, and musical entertainments to take place during the eusuing winter months, the profits to be devoted to the organ fund. The first lecture, of which due notice will be given, will be delivered in about a fortnight by the Rev. G. H. Johnston?, and as several ladies and gentlemen have kindly promised their services on futuie occasions, we have no. doubt that die efforts of the Committee will be attended with success, particularly as it is proposed to make the, p?'ices for entrance such as will enable all to attendj thus making these entertainments what it i3 intended they should be — essentially popular.