THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5598, 3 February 1879, Page 5

THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

The Madras correspondent of the Melbourne Argus has the following, which may prove of interest to those who feel any curiosity as to gubernatorial idiosyncrasies:— I see a rumour has reached you to the effect that the Duke of Buckingham, now Governor of Madras, is to succeed Sir George Bowen as Governor of Victoria. Nothing is known here of such an offer having been made to the Duke, who has only just completed three years of his service in this presidency. Our Governors are appointed for five years, and if they distinguish themselves, may get a year’s extension, as Lori Napier and Ettrick did. The Duke is supposed to have accepted his present appointment for four Tears only, though there can be no doubt that no will have the option of holding it for five. His service during the famine is not likely to be forgotten, and will give him claim a on the Home Government for a future appointment, which cannot bo ignored. You might have a much worse man in Victoria. The Duke is arbitrary and crotchety, but his honesty is above suspicion. He works hard himself, and he expects all about him to do tie same. Officials here complain that he is meddlesome, and always looking into details which should be above a Governor’s consideration, but the non-official community regard this failing as leaning rather to virtue’s side. The Duke is great on railway questions, and has all the instincts of a mechanical engineer. He never seems happier than when he is on a railway engine, the mechanism of which he understands quite as well as the driver. Not long ago I saw him mount the locomotive which was to draw his train from Trichinopoly to Madras. The former place is a large military and civil station, and a crowd of officers, officials, and ladies had assembled to witness the departure of the great ™n. The engine-driver was ready to set the train in motion, the crowd in the station were standing bare-headed, the Duke was looking down on us from the engine as though he was about to say a few words of farewell, when the following characteristic remark, uttered iu aloud, harsh voice, escaped him," I see, Mr B- (the agent of the railway), you make better bricks at Trichinopoly than we do at Madras.” Wo dared not laugh, though there was a good deal of muscular agitation beneath those red coats and behind those cooked hats. The Duke would not be a bad man to see to the construction of the thousand miles of railway you are about to take in band in Victoria, and he would not be long in pointing out the fatal errors of your previous Governors in sanctioning a sft 3in gauge when a 4ft Biin gauge would hare served your purpose as well, and enabled you.- to nave communication with the neighbotmhgrOiSlonies without the inconvenience df-nreakof gauge. Socially, the Duke is varypopular. He is (i thorough English geatlemamwShno pretence about bins, very plain and with a decided will of bis own. IHe iaa man who miffs his authority felt, and Mr Berry wouMnottakfi liberties with him, nor 1 would hErJ* l O’lipnghlen frighten him with threats of deportation byrP. and O. steamer. AT; Governor the Duke Uvea in a style that would take with the public of Victoria, His carriage and four, in which he take* his evening drives in ,Madras, is one of the neatest t poerp|jorial turn-outs we have etwr had in tndi{||--sVihfie the entertainmentS at Gorenijhent House are served in a style’ khak is .supply princely. On eveninga iiheo. official pinners are gireft the &mily plate,i*.;barougbt ; out, and a.flneshowPf worth, one of his staff informed me, over £20,000. The Duke has three unmarried daughters, who do the honours of Government House to the entire satisfaction of tbcisdiee of Madras.