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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3983, 4 October 1881, Page 2

In the course of an article on Sir Arthur Gordon, in the last issue of the Taranaki News, the writer delivers him* self thus:—His Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon is an unaccountable sort of person. An autocrat of the stiffesfc type in his own proper dominions—the Kingdom of the Cannibal Islands—he chose to add to his honors the constitutional sovereignty of these free lands, much against the grain of the inhabitants thereof, who have.no fancy for being governed by half a High Commissioner. When he first arrived he bngan by assuring bis new sujects that he had left autocracy behind him, and that he thoroughly understood his position as a constitutional ruler. He reflated this formula over and over againrirhenever he, had occasion to speak in public, until at last people began to get very tired of it. ..- and to wonder whether it was true. In „ course of time.it came out that Sir Arthur Gordon had literally no notion of what constitutional government in a colony like „ this'meacs. '" - i .-■

The Lyttelton Times derotes a graceful article to the late' William Sefton Moor* house, in the course of which it says :— "Th« Legislature, .miadful _of the services of. William Seftoo ,Moor* houie, had heard in regretful silence the .. noble words of just eulogy spoken of Slim « in both its Chambers. The Government, .:. with thoughtful promptitude, had made arrangements for conveying his remains • to his chosen place of burial, and the two t ■■ Houses of Assembly ■. had fol* lowed the cortege to the wharf. When . the coffin was met by the waiting crowds at the Christchurch Station, it watfacoom* : pauied by the gentlemen whom 'the Government and the Speaker had appoin* ted to represent the Administration and the Legislature at the grave-side. They felt—and rightly felt—that 'William Sefton Mocrhouse , was entitled to this special mark of honor.' Their '' choice of Mr FitzGerald, Canter* bury's. first Superintendent, tp ,re- ... present New Zealand at .the burial of Canterbury's greatest colonist, was appro* " priate, and, for many reasons, most graceful. The long funeral procession passed through the hushed and crowded streets, the tolling of bells in the,air, accompanied by whispers of sympathy for the great heart that had been so brave and so resolute. In the quiet country church-yard the bright sun of the. oalm spring afternoon looked upon men of all ' shades of opinion, assembled together by common sentiments of sorrow and res* pect. As the beautiful words- *>f the - burial service broke the stillness, Memories crowded upon the mourners there, of - achievement, of pastime, of honest strife, and chivalrous generosity; of words of wisdom and kindliness, of hopes and struggles, of a thousaud things of life. All felt that the rest and peace of the grave had come to a uiau who had done much in his day.