The Press. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1883.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5405, 23 January 1883, Page 2

The Press. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1883.

The first meeting between Sir William Jervois and the people whom he comes to govern'appears to have been a pleasant one for all concerned. With many disadvantages, Wellington" has one great advantage. It is singularly well suited for the purpose of a public reception. The noble harbor seems itself to give a handsome welcome to the new.arrival. The steamer comes right np to|the wharf in the very middle of the town, and at the hour appointed for the ceremony of landing, the whole population of the place are en evidence. On a fine day, and a really popular occasion, Wellington can do this sort of thing better, perhaps, than any other town in New Zealand. On Saturday last, when Governor Sir William Jervois arrived, Wellington did its very best; and the result was not unworthy of the colony. The public addresses presented to His Excellency were characterised by good sense and propriety, and His Excellency's replies were equally satisfactory. Everything, we are told, went off without a bitch of any sort, and the general im pression left by the proceedings is unmistakeably an agreeable one.

It may, at the first thought, be deemed a matter of no particular importance whether the reception of a new Governor "goes off" smoothly or not. The whole affair is a mere empty form. The compliments are nothing but unmeaning phrases, the loyal addresses are stereotyped, the crowd are so many sightseers drawn together by curiosity, the Governor thinks the thing an unmitigated bore, and the people, as soon as it is over, have an uneasy consciousness of having bawled themselves hoarse about nothing, and rather' made fools of themselves. There is just a thread of truth running through all this, just enough to give point to sarcasm. But that is all. Of course there is a good deal of froth on all these occasions. But there is also a good deal of honest sentiment, and the world is governed at least as much by sentiment as by interest. How much honest sentiment there is in it may be .measured by the difference between one such occasion and another. We have, seen Governors* receptions so flat and gloomy, so full of hitches on both sides, that everybody concerned felt miserable, and a tone of depression and disappointment prevailed throughout the colony; and we have observed that the subsequent connection of those Governors with the colony was as embarrassing and unsatisfactory as the reception ceremony. The truth is that if the colonists are not pleased with the choice of a Governor made for them by the Imperial Government they show it very plainly, however willing they may be to do due honor to the Queen's representative as such; and, on the other hand, if a Governor comes here against the grain' or imbued with prejudices against the colony, the people or the position, he shows __ it very plainly, however anxious he may be to conceal his discontent. In the present instance there is no such feeling either with the people or witL Uie .Governor.

The inhabitants of New Zealand most cordially welcome Sir William Jervois, They are perfectly satisfied to have him placed in the highest position among them because they know him from his past career to be a gallant and most capable soldier, and an administrator who under all circumstances has done bis duty

finding it necessary to oppressor worry fither people. Sir William Jervois. has seen all sorts of service and done sorts --of work in all sorts of edacities; but whether he has hadyg°|o obeyyor been called on to command, wheCfier it has been his business to originate and to organise, or only to supervise" aj&i(*jtormaily control, he has always doneJSorenghly whatever he had* to do, and done it, moreover, in the right way. Though somewhat advanced in years, he is a comparatively young colonial Governor i hut during his government of the Straits Settlements and of South Australia lie has displayed so much good feeling and so much capacity that he has already gained a very high reputation in the Service. He is evidently a man who recognises that the office of Governor is one in the discharge of which the colonists are as much concerned as he is. In this respect he differs from those who look upon that office merely as a well paid berth ia which to take their ease until something better turns up, or a means of experiment, ing on their fellow creatures in the fulfil, ment of their own individual hobbies. Iv South Australia Sir William Jervois identified himself mo3t completely with the colonists, their sentiments, their institutions their aspirations, and their society. The people of New Zealand have sorely felt the want of such sympathy, and believing that Sir William Jervois will be to them all that he was to their countrymen in South Ausralia, they hail his arrival with an enthu- i siasm far more deep-seated than any that can be conveyed by bands and bunting, the cheers of a crowd, or the stilted sentences of a prepared address. Governor Jervois, on his part, has, we imagine, every reason to be gratified with his lot in being sent to New Zealand. The appointment is promotion for him so marked that we are not surprised to see it has called forth some envious sneera. Then, the conditions of this country and this community are pre_ cisely those in which his qualities as 3 disposition are likely to find a favorable field. To a Governor who takes an interest in the progress and development of a British colony under free institutions, New Zealand is an exceptionally interesting Government. There is abundance of useful and engaging occupation here for a Governor of ability, activity and sociable : nature; and there is also a great deal to be seen, done, and enjoyed by an English gentleman and his family, who are not too proud, too indolent, or to indifferent to make the most of their opportunities.

We need only add to these remarks the expression of a hope that Sir William Jervois will not fall into the deplorable mistake of supposing that Wellington is New Zealand, or, because it is the official seat of Government that it is the chief place in New Zealand. We hope he will begin to travel - soon, and will travel often, and - travel long. The more he goes away from the seat of Government, "the better Governor he will be. If he shuts himself up there, he will sacrifice much of his power of usefulness, and forfeit that attachment to hie person and his office which the people of New Zealand are now disposed to entertain.