GOVERNOR’S DESPATCHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4152, 11 July 1874, Page 3

GOVERNOR’S DESPATCHES.

. (From the Lyttelton Times.) There is a very marked contrast indeed between the late and the present Governor of New Zealand in the matter of despatchwriting. Sir George Bowen was diffuse and discursive ; Sir James Fergusson is bri*£ and business-like. The probability is, therefore, that his despatches will be read in Downing Street. As an illustration of what we mean, we may refer to a despatch dated February 18, 1874. His Excellency informs the Secretary of State for the Colonies that he has just returned to the Seat of Government after an absence of three months in the Provinces of Canterbury and Otago. He had also, he adds, paid a short visit from the former to Westland upon the occasion of its proclamation ns a Province. “ I had been led to expect,” he goes on to say, “that my residing for some time, during, the parliamentary recess, in the

Provincial capitals would be generally acceptable, and comfortable residences were provided by the Provincial Governments, besides an ample supply of horses for my conveyance about the country. I have thus begu able to see at leisure these important and prosperous districts, and to be become acquainted with their leading men to an extent that would be impossible by residing diming the greater part of the year at the seat of Government.” It is, however, in the latter part of this despatch that the contrast to which we have referred is most noticeable.

Given the same materials, and Sir George Bowen would have written a small volume. He would have described in detail his reception at the principal towns, taking care to send copies of the addresses he had received, with his replies thereto, and would most probably have supplemented all this with reports from the local newspapers. Sir James Pergusson simply remarks that “the Provinces of Canterbury and Otago present striking evidences of their great capabilities and speedy development, and the Provincial administration of both, though differing considerably in character, appeared to me to be enlightened and vigorous.” He expresses a belief that with the improvement of the means of interior communication, which a few years will accomplish, a greatly increased rate of progression may be anticipated, and a constantly extending field for industrial employment. This is all that His Excellency has to say on the subject of his tour through the two southern Provinces and his short visit to Westland. He was provided with comfortable residences and ample facilities of locomotion, and he was enabled to become acquainted with the leading men. The Provinces of Canterbury and Otago are important and prosperous ; they present striking evidences of great capabilities and speedy development; and the administration of their affairs appeared to him both enlightened and vigorous. There was no reason why His Excellency should say more, and he could hardly have said less.