SIR G. GREY AS PREMIER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 298, 17 December 1877, Page 4

SIR G. GREY AS PREMIER.

[London Times] v It is a somewhat peculiar position which Sir George Grey has now assumed. That aa ex-Governor should descend contentedly to the rank of a private citizen, and should rise on his merits to the premiership, ia an incident of politics not likely to recur very frequently. It is almost as if the Commander-in-chief of an army were to quit his post and to enlist as a private soldier, and were to be promoted subsequently to a leading staff appointment. He would be well qualified, no doubt for auch a place, but his holding it might be a source of some embarrassment both to those under whom he was to act and himself. We hope this analogy will not hold good in the present gaae. Sir George Grey's career aa a colonial governor has been a very remarkable one. In Western Australia, at the Cape, and in New Zealand he has had to deal with "the Native Question" in many forme, and he has always showed himself equal to the difficult task. There has been no governor more popular among the nativen of the colonies he has ruled. On more than one occasion, when native troubles have cropped up after his de- -■ pasture, ha has been fixed upon almost aa a matter of eourse, and sent back "again to quiet them. His work on the Polynesian Mythology contains good proof, direct and indirect, of the pains he took to fit himself for what he deemed the imperative duties of his Governorship. Not lightest among these was a perfect acquaintance with the language of bis native subjects. When he left New Zealand and settled down, finally, as it was supposed, in England, it was scarcely possible to help feeling how great a pity it was that all his studies should have been thrown away, or should have borne fruit only in the past. What mark, however, lie is likely to make in his new post as 3?reoiier is another question . He comes to it with high, antecedents, but not. perhaps, with just the kind of antecedents which may now be thought most necessary for it. The administrative policy to which he stands committed is, to say the least, an exceedingly doubtful one, and one which the course of last year's legislation has rendered more doubtful than ever. But Sir George Grey may, perhaps, t content himself with modifying in detail what he will not attempt radically to alter. It is likely enough to be some "temporary back current which has carried him into office; aud, aa home experience shows us, those who take office iu such circumstances must be satisfied not to govern, and must often keep in the beck ground their moat distinctive party priuciples.