THE SOUTHLAND TIMES ON THE TO KOMAIRIRO CHILDRENS ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 324, 24 January 1874, Page 3

THE SOUTHLAND TIMES ON THE TO KOMAIRIRO CHILDRENS ADDRESS TO THE GOVERNOR.

His Excellency, while at Tokomairiro, is said to have won golden opinions by the pleasantly affable manner in which he conversed with the children assembled to meet him. It is even recorded that he made use of the expression, " I delight in children." While not at all disposed to question the sincerity of an exclamation so well calculated to endear him to the matrons of Tokomairiro and the colony at large, we must confess that we should like to know whether Sir James was awa.re at the time that the juveniles intended to present hhn with an " address " — and such an address. If he did, then we shrewdly suspect there must have been a mental reservation — that if he had given full utterance to the thought passing through Ms mind l»e -would have said " I delight in children — as children, and not as precocious men, v For a niore imchildlike production could scarcely be imagined than that which ostensibly emanated from those " delightful children," It ran thus : —

To His Excellency, &o,,— The children of Tokomairiro welcome you. Our parents and teachers have taught us to love and honor Her Gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, for her many great and noble virtues. As her representative wo welcome you. We have also read, and hcai'd our fathers speak, of your own virtues, and of your manly and outspoken sentiments in your public speeches and actions, which form a marked contrast to the general tone of society in these Colonies. For the respect we bear to yourself, and to your good Lady, who is a 6tranger to us, we give you a hearty welcome.

Could anything exceed the sycophantic meanness oi the comparison instituted ? If the children were really responsible for it — but the supposition is too absurd to receive a moment's consideration. They were simply the medium for the gratification of some addle-pated official's notion that the Governor was accessible to a species of flattery common enough among uncivilised and " degraded nations. Yet, what a strange estimate the fell&w must have formed of His Excellency's character to suppose it would 1 give him pleasure to hear- colonial society grossly libelled in order that he might be exalted — to be pointed at as an exception in life, morals, and manners to those over whom he had been appointed to rule and with whom he must perforce associate^ "Probably ho did not at tho moment notice the invidious distinction drawn, or he would have at once- read the children, and those who were responsible for their address, the lesson that it is possible to -honor those in authority without grovelling in the dust before them. If the " General tone of society " were, as- implied, the reverse of what it should be, there might have been Borne excuse for the " contrast * but what is the fact ? That the people of New Zealand,, as a whole, are at least equal in point of honor, morality, and public spirit to any owing allegiance to the Crown. We observe that the children's address was the only one presented at Tokomairiro, and, considering its construction, think the fact is one upon wluch the residents there may be congratulated — for it is not unreasonable to suppose- that the seniors would have even more completely exposed the existence among them of a spirit of flunkeyism utterly unworthy of British colonists.. This may seem harsh, but if we are to, believe that the children^ estimate of colonial society was " taught by their parents." the inference is inevitable.We have sometimes wondered at his Excellency's reputed dislike to. " addresses," but we have now no difficulty in understanding it. He evidently does not like to see people making fools of themselves by descending to self-abasement under the impression that they cannot otherwise sufficiently honor the representative of a Queen whose simple tastes and unassuming life have gained for her- something more than- lip-service" — a. place in the hearts of her- people, and a respect as different from slavish obsequiousness as. light is from darkness..