THE GOVERNOR AT WANGANUI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2134, 6 December 1890, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR AT WANGANUI.

His Excellency the Governor, Lord Onslow, paid a visit to Wangariui on Wednesday, and was suitably received and presented with various addresses of welcome, Ac. He was afterwards entertained at luncheon by the mayor and councillors, a representative gathering of citizens being ptosent. In replying to the toast of his health he thanked the mayor for the manner in which he had proposed the toast and the enthusiasm with which he had been received. He regretted that the

position or w-overnor in tne Australasian colonies had suffered considerable changes during recent years. Not long ago men of experience in the administration of the Government in different parts of the world looked to the position of Governor of an Australian colony as a fitting guerdon of a long and honorable career. These men looked upon their profession as a means to provide for old age and for their families after them. In recent years these colonies had so grown in population, wealth had so increased, and the standard ef comfort and civilisation so risen, that the leader of society in them could no longer look to fill that position adequately if he looked npon it as a profession. It was to be supposed that as Parliament had not made such prevision to enable distinguished men such as those to whom he had alluded to to continue to fill these posts the people will not be too critical of the shortcomings of those whom Her Majesty considers able as well as fitted to undertake the duties of Governor. All men who occupy public positions expect criticism, but in most public positions men who hold them are able to meet the criticisms and deal with them. It happens that a Governor rarely has an opportunity to give utterance to the views and principles whish guide his actions, and he was glad of this occasion to give expression to the views he entertained as Goveror

of New Zealand, The altered circumstance* in which ho found himself compelled him to cast aside the precedents adopted by former governors, which no doubt were suited to the conditions ia which they found themselves. When locomotion about the colsny was less easy the Governor resided entirely almost at the seat of Government ; expended such of his salary as he chose among the tradesmen of the capital and in entertaining those whose residence was at the seat of Government. Under the changed conditions, however; when the Governor is not called upon to interfere in tbe Administration or Executive, the benefits that he can render to the colony are not so much to be reckoned during the term ef his office but rather in what he can do upon bis return to take up his duties in England. It was not likely that anything a Governor could do would lighten the burden of taxation or improve the condition in life of the settlers, but a Governor, especially if he is fortunate enough to occupy a position in Parliament, where he can obtain a hearing, is able from personal experience to impress upon the English public the value ot the security afforded to

capitalists by the natural resources of a colony and the industry of its inhabitants and upon intending settlers, not only the advantages of the colony generally as a field for settlement, but the part of the colony best suited to industrial capacity. Such statements could not be made with authority if not the result of personal study throughout the colony, or if they are only the outcome of statistics, which might be just as well made in Loudon as in New Zealand, aud it was for these reasons that he, with the full concurrence of bis advisers, determined to see as much as possible of New Zealand during his term of office, and not confine his visits to mere towns, but to spend sufficient time in the various centres, differing as they do in population, thought, and interests, so as to became acquainted in something mure than a superficial manner with the wishes and aspirations, not of a portion on<y, but of the whole of the people to whom it has been Her

Majesty's pleasure that he should be her representative. Havi»g those

objects in view, it would be his earnest endeavor to discharge the united duties of governor of the colony in a manner in which in his humble judgment, subject to the advice of his Ministry, he believed to be the best calculated to promote the interests of New Zealand, the solidity of her position in the Empire, and the duty he owed to the Queen. The speech was received with loud and enthusiastic applause. Lord Onslow is the guest ©f Mr F. A. Krull, German Consul.