Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1867. OUT FUTURE GOVERNOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 889, 2 November 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1867. OUT FUTURE GOVERNOR.

The English mail has brought to the Colony intelligence of the successor to the Governor — a subject on which much surmise and speculation have been spent since the reception of the despatch notifying the recall of Sir George Grey.

The interests of New Zealand, it appears, are to be confided to no new, unknown, or untrained man. In conformity with what appears to be gradually growing a settled rule at the Colouial office j and possibly also in deference to the idea now so prevalent that the dignified posts of Governors in the numerous British Colonies, ought to be in the hands of men specially trained for the service, Sir George Fergusson Boweu, G.C.M.G. will be translated hither from Queensland. Our Wellington contemporary, the Independent, in its issue of the 22nd ultimo, narrates succinctly the public offices this gentleman has successively filled : — lst, as President of the University at Corfu, then as Civil Secretary to the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, and subsequently his appointment in 1859 as Governor of the newly created Colony of Queensland, a vast tract of valuable country (lying to the northward of the 28th parallel of South latitude), which up to the time named had formed part of the territory of New South Wales, and been known as the Moreton Bay Settlement.

The severance thus effected, as may ■well be imagined, was not populai* in the older port of the Colony ; and Sir George Boweu, on arrival iv Sydney, met with uo very cordiat aid from Mr. Foster's ministry^ then in power and scarcely hardened into the system of responsible government not long introduced. He brought with him the prestige of high classical attainments ; but was unversed in the plan of ruling by Parliamentary majorities. Under the tutelage,~then, of- Sir William Deiiison, the Governor-General, it was resolved to postpbne its introduction into the new colony for a time. lii his thorough uuacquaintance with the colony and the condition of its affairs, it was but natural for Sir George Bowen to place himself in the hands of the squatting party, which had been the noisiest and most persistent in the agitation for separation. His main need was the aid of some gentleman of influence whose sympathies were in accordance with this section of the community, who possessed the necessary ability, and had time and means to devote himself to teuding the first steps of the newborn colony. Even the strange omission (not yet rectified) of the Imperial Government, in, making no provision

for a due partition of the conjoint debt of the'two colonies, added to the* embarrassment,.and compelled the search for experienced advice. This he obtained, from Sir Charles Nicholson, Bart.; once Speaker of the New South Wales Parliament, who gave his services in Brisbane without office or emolument, and under whose eye those early arrangements were made by which the nascent capabilities of the young .colony were so early and exteusively developed. Iv these endeavours he was well seconded by Mr. Herbert, who was appointed Colonial Secretary. The judgment; skill, and good feeling exhibited, bore good fruit in the prevention of' all clashing on the border, whether as to customs duties or otherwise • and in first appeasing, and then eradicating the soreness engendered by j separation, which is now looked on as no other than a benefit to both colonies. We are thus minute in referring to Sir G-. Bowen'tf early conduct in Australia, because we believe we discern in it an unmistakeable indication that his inclination and the bent of his mind are such as to impel him to confine himself to the role of a constitutional Governor. It is, we conceive, no stretch of fancy to say that some analogy will exist between his position on arrival in New Zealand, and that he occupied in early times in Queensland. Our speciality is of course the management of the native difficulty. Any improper interference with this question we apprehend need not be feared. It is no longer a special function of the Governor's for the time being. Unlike Sir George Grey he will have no crotchets on the matter, to indulge in. His abilities we cannot estimate at the same standard as his predecessor's ; but then he is not inferior in prudence and tact. Moreover he lacks not decision of character in emergencies. We even suspect that a manifestation of the possession of this quality had its influence in leading to his removal hither. His steady and persistent refusal to sanction the issue of inconvertible Treasury Bills in Queensland, at a time of depression, taking his stand on the Royal instructions, illustrates this phase of his character, and doubtless did not pass unnoticed in Downingstreet. Without meauing to imply responsibility, we must remark that the star of the departing Governor is setting amid a cloud of debt, aud consequent depression ; that the impending years of struggle to reduce the weight of our burdens will tax the ability aud energy of Sir George Bowen to the utmost ; aud that a cordial yielding to him of our best sympathy and reasonable support will be both judicious and graceful. 'Meanee. — A large sale of impounded horses takes place at the Meauee this day. As Artesian Well has been commenced on the race-course reserve. Chatham Islands. — Our correspondent's letter, received by the St. Kilda, is unavoidably held over till Tuesday. Ahmed Constabulary. — Applications for men to serve in the armed constabulary are invited by the Adjutant of Militia. Supreme Court. — Owing to His Honor the Judge having been unable to leave Wellington by the Lord Ashley, the sittings of the Supreme Court have been postponed till late in November. The Holidays announced for Monday and Tuesday have called forth no other intimation of intended festivity than that already noticed by us, of races at Puketapu on Monday. It will be seen that vehicles have been laid on for that locality. The Concert given last evening by the members of the Philharmonic Society was very poorly attended, not more than 40 persons having been present. Some of the pieces were very nicely rendered, and the concert, if not successful in a pecuniary point of view, was a success in other respects. Fire at Hampden. — Intelligence reached town last evening that the Hampden Hotel, kept by Mr. Limbrick, was totally destroyed by fire on the afternoon of the 30th instant, nothing having been saved but a sewing machine. Of the origin of the fire nothing has transpired. An inquest will be held this day. Burglary. I—On1 — On Thursday afternoon last, betjween three and four o'clock, a cash-box containing £3 or £4, and some valuable papers, was stolen from the Shamrock Hotel, Tareha's Bridge. A number of Maoris were in the house at the time, and suspicion has fallen upon some of the party. The box was kept in a bedroom on the ground floor. The police are on the alert, and we trust their efforts to discover the thief will meet with success. Robert James Curtis, who was apprehended on Monday on a charge of embezzling certain monies the property- of H.M. Customs at Napier, was brought before his Worship on Tuesday, but through constable Lewellyn, who came up from Napier to arrest him, not being able to prove the magistrate's signature to the warrant, liis Worship could take no cognisance of the matter. The prisoner will be kept in custody, however, until he is conveyed to Napier. — Auckland Express, Oct. 26. Military. — Two companies of the 18th Royal Irish, under the command of Capts. Wray and Noblett, will shortly proceed from Wanganui to Napier, aud those under the command of Capt. Young and Lieut. Hacker will be located at Taranaki, while the remainder of the Regiment will be forwardeclto Auckland. --"N.Z. Times." Inspector of Customs, — Mr. Seed, Inspector of Customs, sailed for Melbourne by the Omeo yesterday. He will visit .both Victoria and New South Wales with the object of making inquiries , into the working of the distillation laws in those colonies. — " Independent," Oct. 29. The Telegraph in the Wairarapa. — The wires arc stretched so far as Greytown, which is now in communication with Southland and all other portions of the Middle Island. — "Independent." The New Governor. — We are enabled to state His Excellency, Sir G-eorge Grey received despatches by the Panama mail yesterday, intimating the appointment of Sir George Ferguson Bowcn as his successor in the office of Governor of this Colon v. The probable date jof Sir George Bowen's arrival here is not stated. It is certainly surprising that the Melbourne press should have received earlier information on this subject than the Colonial Office vouchsafed to the Government of this Colony. That it should bo so, is however, quite consistent with the policy lately pursued towards New Zealand, and towards Sir George Grey.—" N. ,Z, Times," Oct. 28.