New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5045, 25 May 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1877.

Yestf.kday by its observance was intended to denote that spirit of loyalty to the British Sovereign which is more ac-

tive oven in the colonies than it is in the old country. But whilst the amusements, ceremonies, and observances of the day wore in progress, there was one event taking place that marked the loyalty of our little nation here to the memory of a man who had identified himself with not only the government and good order of the community, but with the whole ad-

vancement, business and social, of the place and the colony. The late Dr. Fbatjibrston was a natural leader of men. The extinct form of local administration in Kew Zealand made in each of the provinces into which the colony was subdivided some particular man come prominently to the front as the representative head of that province, chosen by the colonists who dwelt within its limits. And it is creditable not only to these men, but to those who chose them, that the past glories and successes of each province are coupled in each case with almost a single name. In the instance of Wellington and Dr. Featheeston, the faith of his province never wavered arid never faltered during his tenure of office as Superintendent. In other provinces, and as regards other Superintendents, there was not the same unvarying trust on the one side, or the same continuous tenure of office on the other. Yet, nevertheless, even in those other great provinces popular trust, whilst it ebbed and flowed, remained tolerably constant to one man, or at least connected the greater part of the progress and the welfare of the province with one man. The late Mr. Williamson in Auckland, and Messrs. Macandkew and Moorhouse in Otago and Canterbury respectively, are instances in point. But in respect to Wellington, Dr. Fbatherbton was always its head, was always the statesman with whom the majority of its electors were satisfied. And this fact, if none other, would show that he must have had in him much of the stuff of which leaders of men are made. In truth he had. His self-will, such as it was, was never for self. It was merely the outcome of his belief that what he thought was best for the community and fo? the colony was necessarily best for them. But bis belief was over dissevered from any notion of personal gain or personal inteiests. On the contrary his last thought was given to himself in such respect, his first to the good ho might accomplish by having the opportunity of working for the benefit of others. The ceremony of yesterday, when the marble which is to endure as the image of those features in which “ earth’s dull cold lips cling in the kiss of endless sleep” was uncovered, was in all circumstances worthy of the occasion. No more fitting time for honoring the memory of a popmlar ruler chosen by the people could have been selected ; and, at the same time, as Dr. Feathertson was in life the last man to yield in what he thought right to any popular clamor to the contrary, his career may be thought of as embodying those best principles in our Constitution which prohibit the ultra democratic rule that is more autocratic in the end than the purest autocracy.