OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 310, 30 December 1872, Page 4

OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

The Australasian of the 14th inst. gives a few extracts, some of which we copy, from a speech made by Sir James Fergussoo at a banquet given in his honor at Adelaide. On the subject of education, he spoke out with praiseworthy distinctness and force. "I am understating the case," he observes, " when I say that onefourth of the children of the schoolgoing age are receiving no education, and another fourth are receiving what is unworthy of the name. Now, gentlemen, I do not undervalue the difficulties of the case, but it is a matter which any one who loves the country should make up his .mind should not continue. Sure am I that any Ministry who will make this their .fundamental policy — put it to the forefront in the Governor's speech and „ stake their all upon it — will' hay support of men of all shades of opinion out of doors ; aud if they succeed in carrying a really useful measure, they will never cease to be glad that they were privileged to do so." His strictures upon the incessant changes of Ministry which occur in these coloniep, and of the consequent impossibility of the Executive discharging those functions which devolve upon it with efficiency and "advantage, were appropriate and welltimed j while he pointed out by what means representative institutions aod those ;',\whO''".adminißter^hem' could be praised in y tKev^Uma^ion^;,jbl 'k 'itiey people.^ f. ' b ■ real: support; 6nd ■ ',' must come -from ; the i 'people: themßelye.s; ; and I do trust that men of known "respectability, who are held in honor amoDg their

fellow-citizens, will not disdain to announce themselves as candidates for either House of Parliament, so that, the position of members of either House may not be : looked upon in this botany with anything but respect. This will augur well for your, future, because pride in your institutions ia closely connected with selfrespect, and with the memory of the duty which you owe to yourselves, and to One above us all." He thought the colony, was fortunate in the general tone of its public press, while, as regards the composition of society of South Australia, he considered that it bore some resemblance to that of an English county. "But," he added, "it had hod this trial, that its inhabitants had to work without those national leaders, which in an English county gave a tone to society. Well, I think thirty years have raised an upper class, of which any county in the old country might be proud. Men go home and get a good education, and come back to be better colonists than ever. That is an experience, which, however, we cannot hope in the first generation fully to realise. Go to Sydney, however, and see what an Australian colony is in its third or fourth generation. You hear men there talking of home, aud by home they mean New South Wales. You see meu there whose fathers and grandfathers have held positions of honor, and who have looked forward to a life in New South Wales. It is not surprising that in the first generation young South Australians should speak of England as home; but I see the sons of many colonists of distinction coming back here to follow their fathers' business, and bringing with them the habits of English gentlemen, to implant them — I beg pardon for the phrase — to maintain them here. I am touching lightly on a subject which has occupied my attention often, and which has often been referred to with regret — that so many rich colonists go away. GentlemeD, depend upon it they will come back; they are coming back; and for every man that leaves yo.u, there will be many who will remain. And if you are true to yourselves, depend upon it the inducement to remain away will o be lessened, and colonists will come back more readily because we are free from the troubles" and drawbacks of some of our neighbors." In touching upon the position and duties of a Governor, Sir Jfcmes Fergusson laid down with lucidity and conciseness his views of both; and they will constitute, we should imagine, a highly acceptable letter of introduction for him to the people of New Zealand. " The idea which I have I formed of the office of Governor," said he, " is not that he should try to conform him self to the current fashion of colonial politics or ideas. He has much tb learn in the colonies— and I hope I have not lived in this colony for four years. without learning a great deal. My idea is that he should briog out, maintain, and preserve, as far as possible, the Imperial model, and should be actuated by what he learned from the good old stock, and not try to model himself on that which, after all, was only an imitation. .The Governor comes here to represent the old country — not to cram the old country down the colonists' throats; but not to forget to adapt what he has learned elsewhere to the new society into which he has 1 come. Well, I have not found gentlemen at this end of the world different from gentlemen at the other."