The Globe. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1878.

Globe, Volume X, Issue 1273, 17 April 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1878.

"We learn from the Argus that the authorities are pushing forward the defences of Victoria with great vigour. Captain Ellory and the members of the Torpedo Corps are working energetically to get their infernal machines in readiness for blocking the south channel of Hobson's Bay, and during the Easter holidays the work of laying down torpedoes will be performed. The mounting heavy guns at the Heads is being pushed on as rapidly as possible, and it was expected that the 800-pounders would be in position some days ago. The Victorian Artillery will then be transferred to the Heads, and the first work they will have to do will be the formation of a ditch and parapet to defend the new batteries, should a hostile lauding take place. In the event of Avar being declared, 500 men will be at once enrolled for active service, and sent into barracks in readiness for drafting to any place where they may bo required. Such is a brief outline of what Victoria is doing in the matter of defence. What are we doing in the same direction ? It is surely the duty of the Government to take the public a little more into their confidence in this matter. Wo observe by our London exchanges that Sir G. Grey's statement last session that New Zealand cannot afford to defend herself has not passed unnoticed. If, in obedience to public opinion, his Government is now changing their views, the least they can do, for the sake of the good name of the is to jnake their altered policy as widely known. Colonel Whitmore stated in Auckland the other day that they intended to apply to the Imperial authoritioe for a number of b'i-pouuder rifled guns, Are they making the api plication in forma pauperis, or do they intend to buy them P if they are going to take the ouiy manly and honorable \ course open to them they might perhaps ' obtain .some .gups in Victoria, for in frl« reparfc o» t&e defence of Tasmania, Sir W, Jorvois slates--/- &g } have already touted P» Ou-pouuder nilcd fpms, imv

for Hobiirt Town, and two for Launceston, are required. These, together with tho necessary carriages, platforms, and supply of ammunition, will have to be purchased, and may probably bo obtained from the Victorian Government." If a number of guns could l)e obtained in Melbourne a creat savins: of lime would be effected,

for owing to the culpable delay of the Ministry, it may be far too long to wait for a supply from England, were war deelarod between Britain and Russia.

The Governor of Victoria, Sir G. Bowon, has. during the last few months, had a difficult task to play. Politics in that colony have heen in such an excited state that it must have been difficult to keep a cool head, and take a perfectly unbiassed course. How far the Governor has succeeded it is difficult to judge. The majority in tho Legislative Assembly are of opinion that he was eminently successful, while the Opposition, especially in tho Council, evidently entertain a very diferent view. Tho Argus also is never tired of denouncing His Excellency's conduct as tending to lower tho respect which should bo felt for Her Majesty's Representative. Without pronouncing any opinion upon the general question, we wish to direct attention to a remarkable correspondence which has just been made public. Before giving a summary of it we may state that the Governor of Victoria has an annual salary of £IO,OOO. Since the new Government House, erected some time ago, has been occupied the Governor has been relieved of many charges which were formerly borne out of tho salary of £IO,OOO. In addition, a supplementary vote of £IOOO appoared on tho estimates this session. When the question of tho payment of members camo up there were those in Victoria who inquired why the Governor should take such a deep interest in the measure, and who did not fail to insinuate that personal motives had something to do with his Excellency's conduct, and that had the £IOOO and other pickings not appeared on the estimates the Governor might havo taken a more independent course. The corrspondence we have spoken of has reference to this matter. It appears at length in the Argus. The same journal also summarises the main facts, from which we gather the following particulars : —ln December last, during the progress of tho crisis, it was reported that the Governor had been insulted in his own house by the President of the Legislative Council, Sir William Mitchell. Tho latter gentleman communicated with the Governoi*, and was informed that his Excellency had been offended by remarks made by the President at a certain interview, but that he would have remained silent had not the President called on Sir Hercules Robinson when visiting Melbourne, and uttered insulting things to his prejudice. Sir W. Mitchell's version of the story told in reply to his Excellency's letter is briefly as follows : —The interview was a perfectly friendly one, and lasted several hours. During that time many subjects were discussed. In tho course of conversation, the President said "he thought the Governor was unwise in drawing his extra pay by means of votes on the estimates. His Excellency replied, poutingly, that if his gas bill of £BOO was not paid, he would give no birthday ball. The President said his idea was that tho money should be given, and more, but by bill, in order to avoid scandal." Shortly afterwards they parted, apparently on tho most cordial terms. The conversrtiou with Sir Hercules Robinson went over the same ground, " the President expressing the opinion that the vote of £IOOO on tho estimates for additions to his Excellency's salary was liable to be misrepresented, and that it might bo held to account for the zeal tho Governor was privately displaying in the interests of the Ministry." A letter from Sir Hercules Robinson states that the President made no complaint to him whatever against Sir G. Bowen. At this stage Sir G. Bowen intimates that all correspondence has been placed in the hands of his responsible advisers, and that in future the communications from Sir W. Mitchell must bo made through the Governor's private secretary, in consequence of the attacks made in the President's letter on the character of the Governor. To this Sir W. Mitchell replies at length, again repeating in detail all that took place. He points out that the alleged insult took place on November 9 th, yet it was not till December 20th that he heard anything of it—five weeks after. This letter also contains a communication from Sir Hercules Robinson, stating that Sir W. Mitchell had made no complaint against the Governor on the occasion of their interview. The letter concludes with a request that the correspondence shall be laid before the Secretary of State, because, " it is well that it should be known that in his Excellency's opinion the exigences of responsible Government are such as to make it imperative upon him to convey to his Ministers for the time being all that may be said to him in conversations which he conducts with apparent friendship, and without any intimation to tho colonist conversing with him that the interview is not confidential, but will bo placed (and perhaps, as all are liable to error, with some unintentional inaccuracy) at the disposal of the Ministry of the day." At this stage his Excellency evidently makes an ineffectual attempt to induce the President to withdraw his letters, who however prefers that they should go homo, apparently for tho amuse, meat) of the Secretary of State. " All this hubub" the Argus points out is "consequent upon a state, meat by the President, that in his opinion the Governor had bettor receive his extra pay by bill instead of by annual votes." If the narrative given by tho Aijws is a fair summary of the correspondence, Sfr G. Bowon appears to havo placed himself in an extremely ridiculous position. Sir W, Mitchell was evidently riffirt in pointing out to him his liability to misrepresentation while he continued to accept an addition to his salary at the hands of his Ministers, more especially when at the very time a portion of the Melbourne Press was levelling charges of paxtizansbip against him. In these orcumstances it was surely unbecoming , that as the representative of Her Majesty, ' h 0 should allow the slightest suspicion to ' exist, t]iat ho was actuated by other tli»»