DEPARTED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 192, 8 May 1908, Page 9

DEPARTED.

— « • THE GLORY OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE. A GOVERNOR'S LIABILITIES. The glory of Government Houso has departed. Tho romance, that haunted hallroom and conservatory has heen driven out by din of saws ami hammers, or buried under drifting sawdust. The imagined splendour of .vine-regal private apartments has become a public desolation. Government House has had many visitors during . tho. past few weoks, and a public which strangely thirsts to know how a "celebrity" eats, drinks, and sleeps, or in ivhat sort of bath ho takes his " shower,"- has largely gratified its curiosity in respect of tho King's representative. But Mary Ann, with thoughts of an establishment for two, and older matrons, idly curious, have gazed for nearly the last time, with awe or disappointment at the vice-regal furniture. Most of it has now been packed up, and is in course of removal, wliilo the ancient building is being, swept and garnished in readiness'for other occupation. It is not generally known that, under an Act of 1873, the Governors of New Zealand must provide their own private furniture. ' In tho,case of the vice-regal residence at Auckland, they are expected to provide all tho furniture, for official as well as private rooms. As, howovor, it would bo both inconvenient and ungenerous to store the contents of Government House, Wellington, while His Excellenoy is residing elsewhere, a large portion of its equipment is being transferred temporarily to the. Auckland residence, and to furnish the additions which are, being made to Mr. Strang's house at Palmorston North, in view of its vice-regal occupation. In having to provide their own privato furniture, Governors arc worse treatod than Cabinot Ministers; who havo a house and furniture provided for them, in default of which they aro entitled to a special allowance of £200 a year. Tho Act of 1873 provides that the following rooms at Government House, Wellington) shall be furnished at tho State's expense-deception roomshalls and corridors, diinng-rooni, drawingroom, ball-room; official rooms—Governor's room, private secretary's and aide-de-camp's rooms, executive council's ! room, and clerk of executive eounoil's room. The cost of furniture in all other rooms must ho borno by the Governor. A maximum sum of £350 a year can be provided by the State for the upkeep of the gardens, and grounds. In 1573 this may havo boon an ample allowance; in these oxpensivo days !it would provide salary for biit two gardeners. ■ . Tho Governors who came,to New Zealand in tho yoars closely following 1873 wero not mubh affected l>y the' Act. They entered into- possession of a "residence which had' been completely furuislietl by the State, and of which tho furniture"'was still,in good condition. Several of; tho later Governors, howover, aro understood to have expressed surprise on scoing a vice-regal , mansion whose, internal iittings had largely fallen into, disreputable decay, and on learning that jf tlioy desired thoir privato surroundings to be more truly vice-regal, they i .must - provide the wherewithal out of their privato purse. One Governor in particular, .whose term of. office was a , very short one, complained loudly,.of tho necessity of providing • several hundred pounds-, inluicdiatoly on'his -arrival,; for the purpose of refurnishing his apartments, and asked why he had not been informed of his personal obligation in this matter before ho accepted tho appointment, 'The'humble furiiituro' which ho oventually purchased,, in View of h'is expected short stay, was hardly pleasing to his successors. , On ono occasion Parliament made a special vote;of £500 to i assist-a'Governor in refurnishing.' A long time has passed', since'- then, and in tlm opinion of many visitors the present-furni-ture of Government House is not at all equal to what may .ho regarded'as the' vice-regal standard;-. Somo of the State-furnished -'Ministerial'.; residences,'- it is' said, were 1 able, ' no long ; time- ago; to; make' a- much bottor' ap- : pearanee.. /"j ; ..The subject; lias .some public aspects, one' of them .being: that' tho. depredations. 1 of tlio, borer in sent are said, to havo spread to the. actual walls of Government House from furniture which was placcd'within them during tho terms of office of ;past governors. It is understood, also, that" trouble has contjmi-. ally arisen in. the past, and is always likely to ariso again, as regards t]io. respective liabilities of tho Governor and State in regard, to furnishing. • .