THE GOVERNOR'S NAMESAKE.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1147, 3 February 1874, Page 4

THE GOVERNOR'S NAMESAKE.

A funny little misunderstanding, which elicited an expression of extreme honhommie on the part of his Excellency the Governor, occurred, says the Daily Times, on board the steamer Golden Age very recently. The steamer had been engaged to convey the Governor and those who were with him, including the Hon. the Premier and Mrs Vogel, and his Honor the Superintendent, on board the Mikado, and the Custom House boat was ordered to attend the steamer to take the party from the one vessel to the other. Now the name of one of the crew of the Golden Age happened to be James Eergusson, and when the Custom House boat ranged alongside, the coxswain sung out, "Hi Jimmy Eergusson, catch hold of this painter." Much to the confusion of the coxswain the response to his call came from an unexpected quarter; the Governor heard the cry, coupled with his own familiar cognomen, and casting ceremony to the winds rushed to the side of the steamer and seized the proffered rope, and then recovering himself without an effort, he quietly handed it to ths abashed namesake who was standing at his elbow. That his Excellency can help himself as well as help others at a pinch, was demonstrated in the afternoon, when his yacht Blanche returned from her day's cruise. The wind being light she made but slow progress up the harbor, and would certainly have been too late to catch the six o'clock train. To meet the difficulty, her boat was lowered and pulled in hot haste for the pier, and it was observed from the shore that Sir James could handle an oar as well as either of the crew. He pulled " like a Briton," as an onlooker remarked, aud reached the pier only just in time to save the train —for the approach of the boat was not observed until it was close to the steps, and time being up and something over, the train had just commenced to move. It was, however, immediately stopped, and one compartment of a second-class carriage being vacant, the Governor and his Aide took possession of it, and were soon on their way to town.