THE NEW GOVERNOR.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 989, 26 January 1883, Page 2

THE NEW GOVERNOR.

The arrival of Sir William Jervois, K.C.M.G., and the enthusiastic greeting accorded Hm at Wellington, reminds us that we hare again a duly - appointed Governor amongst ns. Sir James Prcndorgast fulfils the duties of Administrator of the- Government so well,' without undue interference with ministers or rebukes covertly conveyed under seal through the Colonial office, that we have felt no ill effects in not having a properly constituted Governor in onr midst. However, the Home Government is not inclined, to give up ap pointment of its representative over ns, and so the much sought after vice-regal office of Governorship has been again filled, and if remains to be seen how much better Sir William Jervois will get on with the people of New Zealand than did his predecessor. Generally speaking, those representatives of Her Majesty, who have served a term in New Zealand have made themselves popular with the people in the Colony and- when their term of office expired, have felt unfeigned regret to leave.

Thcro-is a notable exception in the case of Sir Arthur Gordon, who evinced so autocratic a hearing towards his responsible advisers, and made his duties as Governor of New Zealand subsidiary to those of Commissioner of the Western Pacific. From the reputation Sir William Jervois has obtained during his five years official connection with Australia, we have no fear of his rousing the ire of the people as did Sir Arthur. .’lndividually their ..natures appear to be ■ totally, opposed to each other. While‘the one was ever impressed with his own importance as the scion of a noble family, and kept aloof as mnch as possible from the democracy over which he presided, the other appears to be an every-day matter-of-fact man. The. training.of a soldier, and the practical knowledge of a great Engineer on naval defences, have made him too ranch a man of action to waste his time on the airy notions indulged in by his predecessor.' The speech delivered, upon his landing was a mo lest and sensible utterance, betokening the character of the man who spoke it. He was quite prepared to stand by what he performed, believing, to quote the words used by hifn, that “ho who pntteth his harness on, should not boast himself as he who pullelh it off.”