NEW ZEALAND GOVERNORSPAST AND PRESENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5559, 22 January 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNORS—PAST AND PRESENT.

(From tho Melbourne “ Imperial Review.”) Lord Noirmanby approaches the Governorship of Victoria at the most critical time in Australian history. The democratic party has been irritated by rumors that Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New South Wales, would bo tranferred to Victoria, and it was believed that he had expressed himself in favor of crushing out Berryism with an iron heel. There would almost have been a ruction on bis mere appearance. Another gentleman confidently spoken of was the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, Governor of Madras, and from report he would have been too hard and fast. Lord Normanby is the best man that could be picked. Sir George Bowen is safe to obtain a peerage ultimately. He would be a valuable accession to the House of Lords, and we claim a barony for him, on the precedent of Sir John Young, Lord Lisgar. Sir George Grey is a man we cannot account for, except on the hypothesis that he is utterly without scruple. Certainly he was a sensible aristocrat as a Governor, winning his victories by an imperial and regal line oLconduct. His success lay mainly in that he was not afraid to act, and hit right out from the shoulder, on conviction and principle. He cared neither for Downing-street nor for the local clamors against him, which were mainly raised by the classes to which he now koo-toos. As a Governor Sir George was a favorite with all people who grounded their ideas on abstract truth and justice, apart from any class interest. We cannot give adequate reasons for the deadly animosity to the English Government which now burns within the frame of Sir George Grey. We believe it extends even to the English nation. He is as complete a rebel, to the backbone and spinal marrow, as there is in the colonies. Some of these days he will throw away his title, as Spurgeon did the Reverend, Taking Sir George as we find him, we would like to know whether or not he is engaged at this moment in the hopeless task of undoing Vogel’s work of the confederation of New Zealand, in the practical abolition of the provinces. As a provincial superintendent Sir George was Vogel’s bitterest enemy. Grey, Stout, and Maoandrew, tho lights of the old conservative party, rule the roast in New Zealand to-day. The last named has certainly been intriguing for the Separatist cause. Stout, wo suppose, would not intrigue about anything. He and Sir George Grey ought to declare their frank acceptance of Vogel’s labors and triumph, so far as it went, although Vogel spoilt his career by taking the Agent-Generalship. There are rumors of his return to New Zealand, and we think it is the right, place for him. He is only acting a part in those feeble efforts in the way of magazine articles on the empire. Let the Blachfords aud the Lowes do the twaddle, while the Beaconsfields and the Vogels act. But the fact is Sir Julius Vogel is too fond of luxury. London is his Capua. Wellington was. While Graham Berry kept the little grocery shop in Frahran, Vogel was the out-at-elbows reporter at Inglewood. Ho missed his ambition of getting a seat in the Victorian Assembly, and went in a huff to New Zealand, or he might have guided the destiny of the Australian continent.