The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1879.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5582, 18 February 1879, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1879.

Whether in a Colony enjoying representative institutions and Parliamentary Government, a Governor is to be regarded as ornamental only, and not as a political officer, and as a branch of the Legislature of tho Colony as established by law —he is the representative of the Crown in that portion of the Queen’s dominions over which, by his commission, ho is appointed to preside, and his office at least entitles him to respect and consideration from all tho loyal subjects of her Majesty' within that sphere. If the functions of a Governor are, as has been said, only to discharge certain ceremonial duties, to represent the community at large upon public occasions, to act as the mouthpiece of public sentiment, and to render service to society by the exercise of a dignified and liberal hospitality on all suitable occasions to all persons entitled to that favor without distinction of party, Lord Normandy has not failed in any one respect. But if, and this is the true view, a constitutional Governor is an active portion of the Legislature and of the Executive of the Colony having powers and duties defined by law, as well as power delegated and duties imposed by his commission and by the Royal instructions, and if, in the discharge of these high functions he shows his desire and his ability to hold the balance evenly between political parties, and to guard and protect the political liberties of the people, it is the duty of all good citizens to respect his office and. to strengthen and uphold him in the exercise of its lawful prerogatives. In this respect, also, Lord Normandy has been able to secure the confidence of the colonists ; the spontaneous demonstration made in his honor by the people of Wellington yesterday may be accepted as a testimony at once of their personal regard and esteem as well as an acknowledgment of their duty as good citizens to respect his office and. to uphold its lawful prerogative. It is a subject for great regret that our responsible Ministers do not represent this public and general sentiment loyalty to the Crown, and respect and consideration for tho Governor of the Colony, and that their very peculiar views should have found the meanest practical expression in unprovoked offensivenoss in their official relations with the Governor, and in tho infliction of small personal annoyances and insults upon Lord Normanby whenever an opportunity could be found or made. On no occasion has this disposition been exhibited more remarkably than in the proceedings of yesterday. There was a studied negligence of all usual official propriety on the part of Ministers, on the occasion of the final departure of a Governor of the Colony from our shores, which shocked the general sentiment and greatly humilitated the loyal people of Wellington. We have two steam yatohs maintained at the public cost, and constantly used by Ministers upon their excursions of business or of pleasure. One of them—the Hinemoa—left this port on Saturday, carrying mails and doing work for which the Union Steam Navigation Company receive a subsidy. To-morrow or the next day the Hinemoa may return to Wellington, carrying the Hon. Mr. Ballancb and Mr. J. O. Brown and their, friends from a . cruise, whilst the Governor of the Colony, with a sick wife in a very precarious condition of health, is forced to take passage in tho small cabin of a crowded coasting steamer, and be subjected to all the discomfort and inconveniences of such a situation on a voyage of six or seven days in length. When tho “papers” relating to Ibis unhappy business are dragged out and laid before. Parliament, every man and woman in New Zealand will be ready to cry shame upon the small personal spitefulness which could stoop to seek its gratification in the infliction of discomfort and annoyance upon Lord Normanby and his family. Whether we are to have an elected Governor or not,, whether the: rule of the future is to be personal or parliamentary, at present wo are supposed to be governed by written law, the Constitution Act, tempered by Ministerial responsibility in the conduct of public affairs ; we venture to think that separation from the Empire is not the policy of the.country, otr of the majority of the House of Representatives; we do not believe that the present Ministry has been put into place and pay merely to carry on Sir George Grey’s vendetta with the Colonial Office by offer- 1 ing mean personal affronts, and inflicting small annoyances upon the representatives of Imperial authority in this Colony, Whatever else may be neglected, that congenial work appears not to be lost sight of for a moment. Is the new' Governor Sir Hercules Robinson to be subjected to the same process 1 Will the Premier be acting in accordance with tlie popular will, and in the interest of tho Colony in so doing ?