The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5183, 1 November 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1877.

When Sir George Grey was Governor his Premier and Cabinet experienced certain difficulty in dealing with him, arising, as they alleged, out of the circumstance that conversationally (if the word may be used) ho was not to be trusted. In other words. Sir George had a memory fleeting as running water for anything that might be said, and therefore it was necessary that all communications between himself and his Ministers should be reduced to writing. Now that positions are somewhat reversed, and that Sir George as Premier has to deal with some one else as Governor, the same unfortunate obliviousness in respect to mere conversation is found to exist. But the obliviousness no longer Is the property of the Governor, it has descended to the Premier. Since the vote of want of confidence in the Grey Ministry was proposed Sir George it seems asked the Governor by word of mouth to call Mr. J. N. Wilson, barrister and solicitor, to the Legislative Council. Sir George, who never does anything but with a great and good motive, wished this appointment made, because, ashe alleged, the Council required legal assistance to assist in their discussions since the resignation of the Hon. Mr. Sewell. The Go vernor pointed out that it would be unconstitutional to make such an appoinment on the recommendation of a Minister in whom a vote of want of confidence was under discussion in the Lower House. Thereupon Sir George proceeded to forget this conversation, and got the rest of his Cabinet to write a memorandum to himself recommending the elevation of Mr. Wilson to the Council, and this he forwarded to the Governor, and got a reply. The new memorandiumad is of sufficient interest to warrant its publication'in full as follows : Memorandum for the Hon. the Premier. 24 th October, 1877. I would fee) obliged if you would advise his Excellency to summon Mr.. J. N. Wilson, barrister and solicitor, of Napier, to the Legislative Council, provided that you and tile rest of the Cabinet agree to the appointment. There is but one practising member of the legal profession in the Legislative Council, the Hon. Mr. Hart, and it is exceedingly desirable that the Council should have further legal-assistance to assist in their discussions. This want has been much felt since the resignation of the Hon. Mr. Sewell.- Mr. Wilson stands very high in Ilia profession, and is much respected in his own district. This appointment would not be a political measure, but one of great advantage to the Council, and through the Council to the country, and on this ground it is brought forward. Mr. Wilson has never taken any part in politics in this country, though he has been at the head of his profession in his own district for tho past twenty years. G. S. Whitmore. I concur in above recommendation. J. Sheehan. J. Macandrew. ■i J. T. Fisher. , W. J. M. Larnach. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Wellington, 27th October, 1877. His Excellency the Governor is respectfully informed that, notwithstanding the opinion yesterday expressed by his Excellency that notice of a vote of want of confidence in the Government having been given, he ought not to accept any advice given for calling Mr. John Nathaniel Wilson to the Legislative Council until tlio decision of Parliament upon that vote had been given, when, if it was favorable to the present Government, his Excellency would, in pursuance of advice then given, call Mr. J. N. Wilson to tho Legislative -Council, it is thought necessary, hoping this can be done without causing emharassment to his Excellency, respectfully to advise tho Governor to sign the accompanying writ summoning John Nathaniel Wilson, Esquire, to. the Legislative Council. G. Grey. Memorandum by His Excellenoythe Governor. Wellington, 27th October, 1877. The Governor presents his coraplimen ts to Sir George Grey, and in reply to his memorandum on the subject of the appointment of Mr. Wilson to the Legislative Council, the Governor regrets that after the opinion expressed by him yesterday to Sir George Grey, the Government should have considered it necessary to press this appointment upon him, and he can only repeat in a more formal manner what he said yesterday. If Sir George Grey informs the Governor that lie requires this appointment for the purpose of enabling Mr. Wilson to take office in the Government, he will make it at once. If, however, it is as Sir George Grey informed him yesterday, simply for the purpose of adding to the Legislative Council another gentleman belonging to the legal profession, there can bo no pressing urgency for the appointment: and the Governor is of opinion that it would be undesirable to make It at a time when a vote of want of confidence is pending. If tho Government are supported by a majority of the House, the Governor will be,happy to accept their advice and appoint Mr. Wilson to the Legislative Council; but, ponding tiie decision of the Assembly, the Governor must decline to make tho appointment. Normandy. Sir George Grey’s object in the above is quite obvious. It is known that his whole desire in entering political life in this colony has been to have what is commonly called “a row,” first with a Governor, and next with the Homo authorities. He has old and fancied grievances to avenge against tho office of Governor and against the Colonial Office, and he means- to avenge them. This is the real reason for the storm in a teapot over Mr. J. N. Wilson ; for it is evident that the Governor has acted in a simple spirit of fairness. As he points out in his memorandum, if Sir George Grey desires tho elevation of Mr. Wilson in order to enable him to take office in the Government, the Governor would not refuse for a moment to elevate him; but as is pointed out in the memorandum, if Mr. Wilson is merely wanted in the Legislative Council in order to add to the legal knowledge of that body, his Excellency sees no pressing urgency for the appointment, and thinks that it would be undesirable to make it at a time when a vote of want of confidence is pending. But Sir George is determined to have a row, and so tries to get one up over this simple matter.,/ -