South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2399, 24 November 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1880.

Siu Arthur Gordon has arrived in the Colony at a somewhat critical juncture. Auckland receives him with manifestations of delight, such as no Governor has ever before experienced. Triumphal arches have been erected, and bis path has been literally strewed with roses. But the arches are flimsy, and behind the floral tributes lurk dangerous thorns. If ever a Colonial Governor had a difficult task before him, it is Sir Arthur Gordon. He takes the reins at a juncture when liis safety must depend on a firm grasp combined with penetration and decision of character. Sir Arthur has had an opportunity of studying the savage races of the South Sea Islands, and we believe lie lias been tolerably successful in bis government. He will now be afforded a chance of dealing with tlic cultured savages. The work for wliicli Sir Arthur lias evidently been chosen will exercise an important influence on the future destinies of New Zealand. He will be required to exercise the prerogative not merely of a Governor in the ordinary sense of the form, hut of an umpire between different races and classes. The colony is full of the elements of angry social and political strife. Although the surface seems peaceful, the volcano only slumbers. We have repeatedly predicted of the present Parliament that when the shell once bursts, the fragments will never re-assemble. In the changes that arc impending the new Governor will be called noon’>to play a leading part. Sir Arthur has the reputation of being something very different to the ordinary classic ornaments of Downing street. Ho is said to be possessed of plenty of tact, and to be neither destitute of moral courage nor firmness. If he arbitrates fairly between contending parties, the Colony will undoubtedly realise the benefit, even if Sir Arthur should suffer. The skeins that he will be asked to unravel, are some of them very much tauglcd. Quo of the most difficult problems imaginable is the native land question. It is daily becoming more and more imperative that the whole policy of dealing with native lands in the North Island should be re-opened. The dispute that has already arisen over the Patetcre block points to the necessity for some definite adjustment. Steps have been taken to bring the issues fairly under the review of His Excellency. Bightly or wrongly the residents in the neighborhood of the block in question regard the action of the Government with suspicion, and a memorial asking that the proclamation over the block shall not he withdrawn has been widely circulated, and will be presented to the Governor as speedily after his arrival as possible. The negociations that have been in progress regarding this slice of native territory have a somewhat unpleasant side, exhibiting as they do an astounding display of duplicity, on the part of the late Native Minister, and an inclination on the part of the Cabinet to play into the hands of a northern land ring. Should His Excellency interfere and grant the prayer of the memorialists, he will be brought into collision with the Ministry and a political crisis, for which the country is hardly yet ripe will be the result. It is to be regretted that this Patatere dispute should have arisen at a time when the Ministry are performing eminently useful services for the Colony by endeavoring to bring its working expenses within reasonable limits. Even the greatest opponents of the Government will admit that they have performed a large amount of necessary but unpleasant work in a most satisfactory manner, and, although, with regard to the incidence of taxation there are urgent reforms yet to be undertaken, the country is hardly yet ripe for a political crisis or a general election.