THE GOVERNOR. (FROM THE " CANTERBURY MAIL," APRIL 30.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3058, 15 May 1867, Page 5

THE GOVERNOR. (FROM THE " CANTERBURY MAIL," APRIL 30.)

A very extraordinary telegram from Wellington informs us that bis Excellency has proceeded, in the man-of-war on the station, for Tauranga and Auckland. That simple information would be nothing. There is no reason why the Governor should not visit any part of the colony in which his presence is either requested or needful. But the absurd part of the announcement is, that his Excellency goes thither, and "by the advice of Ministers, will make a stay of several weeks at Auckland, to prevent any jealousy arising from his Southern trip." This is simply nonsense: it does not matter much what part of the colony his Excellency visits, so long as he is ready to take the advice of his responsible Ministers in regulating the colony's affairs. But such an announcement as we have quoted above looks as though Mr. Stafford and his colleagues were both ashamed of the Governor's visit to the South, and afraid of the retaliatory vengeance of Auckland. This may be a symptom of a feeling of having done injustice to the Otago people, by withholding from Mr. Macandrew, their elected Superintendent, the powers generally delegated to such officers under the Goldfields Acts. In this sense, it may show a wish to avoid the possible demonstration of unpopularity towards the Governor in consequence of his Ministry's action. And, in that aecse, it is a generous feeling: Mr. Stafford, as head of the responsible Government, will take the consequences of his bold action, and spare her Majesty's representative. At the same time, it may possibly be that his Excellency's amazing predilection for his retreat at Kawau, out of the way of politics and gubernatorial receptions, even by Superintendents and Chaiwnen of City Councils, or other grandee', official or otherwise, has taken him North. Whatever the reason may be, we wish him health and success, as a wiser and more prudent administrator than he was in the times when he was not kept in check by a popular Assembly, and those in whom it placed confidence.