THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3148, 21 March 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1879.

T«E people of Wellington seem to be taking energetic steps to receive our new Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, in a suitable m&iiner. The telegrams of late, received frOm New South Wales, all speak of thp steps taken by the residents of Sydney to show the high opinion in which Sir Hercules Bobin son is held by them, the respect, due to him £« their late Governor, -arid the jiappreciation of his honest, upright personal character. A friend Sir Hercules Sobinson proved him-, self to be to New South Wales, nerer neglecting an opportunity to assist in promoting the prosperity of the Colony over which, he was placed, and by his example stimulating efforts in the same direction^ (New, Zealand is to be congratulated upon having such a Governor, and anything lets than the enthusiastic

manner in which the Wellington people are preparing to welcome him to our shores, would show a want of apprecia tion of the honor done to the Colony, and an absence of that reiptopt esteem which is always 3udjt6 x private worth and ability. Thir^how the Sydney Punch speaks of»JSir f Hercules Robinson in an article upon his departure from New South Wales :— " Like many great men before him, Sir Hercules JKpbinson has. found his best security for such, fame and honor as his position could give him in the hearts of the people. In truth it is not much in the way of fame and honor that now-a-days dan fall otherwise to the lot of a Colonial Governor. Fairly, to rule i« not a very difficult matter with a responsible Minis* "!tsy and any number of very irresponsible members of Parliament to rale for you; nor is it easy to get up any large amount jof enthuiiasm for -brilliant exploits or <lkriog adventure*; wl»en there i| no one Ht light and^noth|ng $ lull b)^ time and the blues. It ib purely to birWii strong personal character, thrown into bolder relief, no doubt, by the fierce light that beats upon even a vice-regal throne, but. in no other way helped by his officiil position or performances—that our Governor owes his firm place in the public heart, and the one word for that character is—manliness. • From grave to gay, from lively to severe '-^-whether relieving the dullness of a public meeting platform; shocking the sensibilities of the metely learned in the Univerity Senate House; talking grave sense to greybeards at the Council Board ; or bright nonsense' to grammar-school boyV; informing and delighting with something of their own bold spirit, the hardy settlers of the bush, or snubbing the snivelling impertinence of canting critics; whatever his subject, or whoever his audience—talking literature to the.learned or turf to the horsey, wisdom to the foolish or folly with the wise— teaching manners to 1' the erascible legal' dignitaries, or plain lessons of habit and conduct to every one—the one unfailing characteristic of His Excellency's every public utterance amongst us has been the clear, unmistakable ring of strength, and truth. Wide and various as the range of his speeches may have b^een, and it has certainly been wide and various enough— from the future dominion of Australia to next year's Derby, University education to newfp^pe^noodledum—unequal, too, as they must have been, they have at least all had this one great virtue in common. Ajnd what a virtue it is ! . 'That which is born of valour and honour teaches valour and honour,' and where was there ever torer need for such; teaching than in this land of boasted free speech, so fast becoming foul? 'Live with the wolves,' sajs the Spanish proverb, ' and you will learn to howl,' and if only as an antidote < too mucltdfjthe wjdlfUike public eloquence «fi the period, the manly speech of our cool, calm, courageous, but evercourtejous Governor, must long have a pleasant ttiuaic —

; | "In sounds that echo still "— •at any rate to those who, if still con* damned to live with th^jrolves, don't iwant to learn how to howl. As his speech is so is the man—manly and thorough to the back bone—strong, phy> ; .sijcally and mentally—keen, bright, add' true as the steel he once wore—a gentledan unmistakeably, every inch of him, Wir-to 1^- »*-A J-l U> a* .v CI. i