AN EX-GOVERNOR'S MORALITY. A HAREM OF WALLABIES.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 243, 25 February 1888, Page 4

AN EX-GOVERNOR'S MORALITY. A HAREM OF WALLABIES.

Tj2R " Contemporary Review " for January opens with an article by Sir Charles Gavan Dully, which he calls "An Australian Example." He complains that " the working force, tho motive power, of colonial life is quite unknown in what they fondly call Homo." Ot the ignorance which prevails in England ho gives the following amusing and almost incredible instance :—: — "A certain JStcrctary of State — so the stoiy ran— gave audience to an eminent colonist from Australasia, and the conversation fell upon a retired Governor, who, when hid period of .service had terminated, bought a charming' island in the Pacific, and made his home there. He had lostfavour at the Colonial Office, and marvellousstories concerning him were current in that locality. ' 1 am told,' said tho noble Secretary, ' that Governor So and- So lives tho life ot a hermit in all respects but one. Can it bo possible that he has ahut himself up on an island, with no other company than a harem ot wallabies V" l Well, ye»,' said the colonist, 4 that'.s about it. The island and the wallabies aie a true bill; but he has books and music, and ozone to boot.' 'Pi ay, sir,' said the Secretary, in a tone ot horror, ' how many wallabies may there bo there ?' ' How many ? Well, 1 never thought of asking. A good few, no doubt. A hundred for certain, or 500 x or anything I know. I dare cay ho doesn't know how many himself.' 'Gracious Providence,' cried the statesman, in grave surprise, ' wlmt an example to a Christian people !' ( Oh, as for example, 1 wifch all your Governors employed themselves innocently.' 'I am profoundly I gue>ed to hear you say so, sir ! Morality | mu.-fc be at a low ebb indeed when a man | ike you make s light of such a proceeding.' I * 'Morality J' exclaimed the ooloniat f ' what does your lordship suppose a wallaby to be ?* ' Why, a half-caste, of course. ' * A wallaby, my lord, is a dwarf kangaroo !' " Sir C. Gavan Dufly then proceeds to give an exceedingly interesting and well-written ekctch of Australian history, with the view of showing that people in England have much to learn from Australia— tirst,as to the treatment of the Irian problem ; i*nd, secondly, as to the methods of harmonising democraticsufi'rage with a limited monarchy and two legislative chamber*. The articlewill be studied with eagerness in oil the Australian colonies.