EARLY DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 505, 12 May 1909, Page 4

EARLY DAYS IN NEW ZEALAND.

RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. W. KENNAWAY. Tho forthcoming retirement of Mr. Walter Konnaway, C.M.G., secrotary of the New Zealand High Commissioner's Department, deprives London of an interesting personality (says the "Standard of Empire"). Mr. Kennaway was appointed to tho post of secrotary in London as far back as 1874, and has thus served for thirty-fivo years; The Dominion, has never had a more loyal servant nor a Department a better chief of staff. Thirty odd years of a Government offico have failed entirely either to Bwatho him in red tape or to mar his natural serenity of mind and temper. Mr. Kennaway belongs to tho Devonshire family of that name'. Ho went out to New Zealand as a young man, and took up farming in Canterbury, on the forks of the Ashburton. "For ten years," ho said, "I was a working settler. I havo ploughed behind ray eight bullocks and pub in my fourteen hours a day at harvesting. I havo ridden all over tho Canterbury Plains on horseback doing my seventy miles in a day. I have explored all round the mountains, and been to tho top of "some of the nearer ones on the Canterbury side. I was one of the first to tako a dray up through Burko's Pass into the Mackenzie country." In those early days Mr. Kennaway used to see a good deal of the late Samuel Butler, the distinguished author of "Erewkon," "The Way of All Flesh," and other stimulating works. Butler.had a sheep run called "Mesopotamia," at the head of tho Rangitata,'■•'■in tho "sixties"—this was before ne had taken to writing—and he used always to put up for the night at Mr. Kennaway's station on his journeys to and from town. "I remember him now as though it were but yesterday," said Mr. Kennaway. "I can see. him coming down the mountain side in the evening, leading his horse. A capital fellow, he was to talk. I remember we used to have long arguments on religion.'" It , was in those that Butler/gathered the local colour which ho used with such effect in tho opening chapters of "Erewhon." ■ Mr. Kennaway entered the Canterbury •Provincial Council in 1863, and served in two Ministries. In the first he was Pro:vincial Secretary and Secretary for Public Works, and in the second, in addition to these posts, ho took the.leadership as President of the Provincial Executive. Tho 'Second Ministry, lasted three years, which (Was/considered quite a long life for a Provincial Cabinet in thoso days.' 'The Government was defeated, on tho casting voto_ J the Speaker, over its proposal to bring oiit a railway manager from England to reorganise and direct the railways of the Province, which were in'a very unsatisfactory state. The defeat amounted to a vote of no confidence, involving as it did the whole question of railway management, and the Government' at once resigned. The .first thing the new Cabinet did was to get fid of the railway manager and bring in a new one —the very thing the late Government proposed to do,-and wefo defeated for proposing! .. , ".■ ';■ ..'.'.

That Was the close of Mr. Eennaway's political career.. Ho left New Zealand, in. 1874 to take up the position of Secretary of the Agont-General's Department. He. was rlie first Secretary of this Department to bo r.ppoitited by tho Government of New Zealand, and he has held the position ever since. Mr. iKennaway .has seen no..fewer, .than, eight Agents-General and High Commissioners in and out of office-, including- himself—for.- ho held the position of Agent-General (not acting A.6.) for some, months before the 1 advent. of Sir Westby Perceval. ■ 1 ..' His first Agent-Keileral was Dr. Feather-' ston, after whoso death Sir Tyrone Power, an old Civil Servant, was appointed to the position. . Next camo Sir . Julius .Vogel, and when he retired Sir Francis Dillon Bell took up the running., iu' 1891 Sir Francis went .back to New Zealand, and Mr. Kcnhaway was appointed Agent-General for four or riv. months.until tho anival in London of Sir Westby Perceval. In 1896- camo the Hon. W. P. Kebves, who served as Agent General and afterwards as High-Commissioner for a period totalling thirteen years. ■ Mr. Reeves resigned last DecemberXand ; in : the following month the Hoiij W. Hall-Jones ■ took over tho High Comiiiissionership. From first to last during Mr. Eennaway's torm of office the Department has been located in 13 Victoria-Street, but it has gradually spread from floor to floor, and,tho.work has increased tremendously. "The .business of the' Department has; grown with tho growth of the Colony;": said Mr. Kennaway, ''and I believe it will continue to grow. Tlio work of many other Departments of the Government service concentrates on tho.London office, and in addition we have an increasing

amount of work to do for colleges, schools, and other outsido bodies. Tho correspondonco of tho office hns grown enormously in recent years. I remember ouo Easter Tuesday, during a wave of. immigration, finding no fewer than 3500 lottors awpiting me when I arrived at tho office. N On making inquiries at the Australian offices I found that on the same day the correspondence of all tho Australian offices put togother did not como to one-half of pur 3500. ,r In addition to and coincident with his duties as Secretary of the Department, Mr. Kcnnawny has acted as Trustee of tho'Sinking Fund, Delegate under tho Lost Debontures 'Act, Custodian of Public Securities, Commissioner under the Public Revenues Act, and Stock Agent. Mr. .Kennaway is looked upon as an authority on Anglo-Colonial finance, and his knowledge in this department has rendered his services of. peculiar value to New Zealand in connection with tho Dominion's financial transactions in the Old Country.: '..'■.' : . , "I am nino years over the ago limit of sixty-five fixed by the.Government for Civil Servants," said Mr. Kennaway at tllo closo of our interview, "so I cannot complain at having to retire It .is time to give way and let younger men havo a chance."