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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4289, 18 December 1874, Page 2

The result of yesterday’s poll for tho Mayoralty is significant in some respects. Mr. Dransfielp represented, in an eminent degree, local interests ; Mr.

Moorhouse, on tho contrary, represented

something wider Than mere local interests. He came forward, as he himself stated, with the avowed object of inducing tho inhabitants of this city to take a more enlarged view of public questions than that which simply appertains to tho municipality; and the verdict of the electors has been unmistakeably in his favor. Tho election yesterday is, therefore, a matter of colonial significance. Wellington is tho political capital of Hew Zealand ; she aspires to lead tho public opinion of the colony ; and to that end

has passed over an old and deserving public servant, who had filled the office of Chief Magistrate with cx-edit to himself, to make trial of one of lai-ger experience in Now Zealand politics, with tho undisguised purpose of rising to tho level of her own future eminence. Viewing yesterday’s contest, thcrefoi-o, in this light, no one can regret tho result. Let us hope that Mr. Moorhouse -will redeem his promise. There is a wide field of enterprise before him ; and wo shall be greatly mistaken if he does not zealously endeavor to advance the interests of the city, commercially as well as politically. At tho same time, it will bo necessary for all those who take an active part in municipal affairs to co-operate with him in tho task the citizens have

imposed upon him by their suffrages. His hustings appeal on this head, we are certain, will not bo in vain. Tho good feeling that prevailed throughout the contest is almost a guarantee for such a result. Indeed, wo have never known a contested election conducted throughout with better feeling on both sides than that which has just terminated in Wellington. _ Tho number of votes polled is also an indication that the ratepayers take a lively interest in municipal affairs, and that they are likewise minded to make Wellington, in reality, as in name, tho Empire City of New Zealand. A wholesome local public opinion has been evoked, and there is little chanoo of its diminishing in volume during the Mayoralty of Mr. Moobhousb. In conclusion, wo trust that any feeling of personal hostility that may have been excited during the contest will give place to one of friendly co-operation. Tho interests of the city, at tho present time, require the united wisdom of its public men, and it would be a great pity to imperil these because of the vote cast in favor of Mr. Mookiiousjs yesterday.

One item of news in the telegrams received yesterday from London, via Melbourne and the West Coast, will he received with great regret. It is the announcement of the appointment of Sir Arthur Gordon to the Governorship of Fiji. A more unfortunate nomination cannot possibly be conceived. Sir Arthur Gordon had been initiated in the government

of a Crown colony in some obscure and remote settlement in the West Indies, and was a perfectly unknown man beyond the offices of the Secretary of State for the Coloniesj when he was nominated to the government of • the Mauritius, in succession to Sir Henry Barkly. From the moment of his landing in Port Louis he found himself in antagonism with the residents. He seemed to have no power to adapt himself to the position in which he was placed ; unable to comprehend the state of society, or the wants of the community; without capacity to give advice, and without intelligence to x'eoeive or comprehend advice that might have brought about better relations with the people of Mauritius, and done something to secure the improvements that, in the state of the laws, were admitted on all hands to be necessary. From day to day, during his comparatively short period of office, the estrangement between him and the Creoles of Mauritius grew wider and wider. He shut himself in a species of Japanese seclusion, and was more difficult of access to his people than the Mikado himself. This state of things could not continue. Petitions for his recall were got up, and were numerously signed. Sir Arthur Gordon shook the dust of Port Louis from his shoes, and paid a visit to the remote Seychelles Island, which formed a part of the territory he governed ; and from that “ lone isle of the ocean" he sent home his resignation, which was accepted, much to the delight of the inhabitants of the island made classic by the . story of Paul and Virginia. _ What could possibly have induced Mr. Disraelis Minister for the Colonics to entrust the government or a new dependency, such as Fiji, to hands so utterly incompetent as those of Sir Arthur Gordon, it is en-v—-ly impossible to conceive. We can only hope the telegram is not correct. If it is true, it needs neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet to predict that evn Hines in store in Fiji for Great Britain. A more absolutely lunatic appointment could not have been made