The Marlborough Press. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1873.

Marlborough Press, Volume XIV, Issue 835, 15 January 1873, Page 2

The Marlborough Press. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1873.

In the relaxation afforded by the festive seasons of Christmas and the New Year, politics are laid aside for the time* and amusements indulged in, in which the care of State and its concomitant anxieties are for a while forgotten. As .the seasons pass on, and the mind becomes fettled down to working order, the question of government comes to the surface again, and the knowledge of the doings of our rulers attaius its usual importance. VVe are about to lose one Governor in the persou of Sir George Bowen, who has been appointed Governor of Victoria, and to receive in his place" Sir James Ferguson, late Governor of South Australia. Sir George Bowen has been requested to take charge of his new office in March, and it is expected that he will leave this Colony in February for that purpose; the office of Acting Governor in New Zealand being for the time filled by Sir George Arnev. It is not quite certain when Sir James Ferguson .will arrive to take the reins of power, but as he has left South Australia to pay a visit to lEngland previous to takirig charge here, it probably will J not be long before we are called upon to welcome the coming guest. In what .. manner the parting guest will be speeded will depend upon the political procliviiies of the wisher; some asserting that since the Colony has been self-governed there has been no Governor who has filled the office in every respect so well „.:$s Sir Qeprge Bowen ; others assert

that the parting Governor has never been, much more than a cypher in the hands of men of firmer mind and stronger disposition than his own. During liis term of Governorship, no political questions of constitutional importance have required settlement; but in the few disputes that have required his assistance to decide, he has not shown to advantage, apparently wanting earnestness, and being inclined, to vacillation, and to side with whichever party was likely to be strongest. The truth will be found between the two extreme opinions quoted; and if the retiring Governor has not shown himself possessed of all the wisdom of a modern Solomon, his want of firmness has not led to evil results in the shape of a stoppage to the political machine and a complete; upset ot the relations between different sections of the body politic. This is a virtue not possessed by all Governors, as stubbornness in those holding administrative powers has before now led to most unexpected complications, and has caused a nearly complete .paralysis of trade in very large communities. Sir James Ferguson, from... the reports that have reached us, and from his known actions, may he taken to he a gentleman of altogether different calibre to the departing Governor; hut as the situation in South Australia may be so different to what it is here, it will he time enough to judge whether the actions of the new Governor are likely to please when we know what line he takes.

Two members of the Ministry have left the Colony to attend the Intercolonial Conference in Sydney, where many things affecting the interests of the Australasian Colonies will be discussed. The postal conference is ostensibly the cause of the conference; hut other subjects, such as intercolonial free trade, telegraphic communication, and the assimilation of a code of laws for certain ends applicable and to be in force ill the whole of the Colonies, are expected to he talked over, and, if possible, settled. Mr Vogel will scarcely meet with such pliant Ministers as he did in Mr Duffy’s Government, when he succeeded in obtaining a promise that the Government of Victoria would pay the major share of the cost of the San Francisco mail service and leave the greater portion of the benefits to this Colony. The Government of New South Wales having called for tenders for a Californian mail service on its own account, and having received suitable offers, does not augur well for the success of the Ministers from New Zealand, and it is *yet a possibility that the costly mail service now carried on alone by this Colony will he altered to suit the requirements of the Australian Colonies, and by this means a portion of the burdens will he shifted on to the shoulders better able to hear them than ourseives, who will need all the money that can be obtained to finish public works now in progress or shortly to he undertaken. Thus far in a general sense, if there is nothing of paramount importance stirring in the political world, there is sufficient going on to lay the foundation for some important movements.

Locally we have progressed during the month in an appreciable degree, and if every succeeding month should be as fertile in initiating matters of a progressive nature, we shall have little to complain about. A steamer direct from Melbourne has visited the port; and came loaded with goods; and as the owners signified their intention of allowing one of their boats to continue in the trade should there be sufficient support accorded, there is a likelihood that direct communication with Melbourne will again be maintained for some little time at least. This is of more importance than at first sight appears, as, beyond the convenience afforded to our traders in having another and better market open to them, the goods that arrive from Melbourne are for the most part dutiable, and the Customs dues will be paid in the Province instead of going to swell the amounts in neighboring Provinces, to the injury of ourselves. After a time the sheep farmers will be able to take advantage of the facilities afforded by the Melbourne steamers, as the owners offer to convey wool from ports in New Zealand, carry it to Melbourne, ship it in the well-known first-class ships that sail from that port, and do it all for Id per lb. Squatters will avail themselves of this offer, because, in addition to the wool being conveyed home in some of the fastest and finest ships afloat, the charges will be much less than they now are compelled to pay to get wool carried in vessels that have been discarded from every other service.

The town is showing signs of improvement as well as advancement. The Town Board have undertaken important works, and have made great changes in the aspect of the place; new roads being formed, and other improvements effected that have added greatly to the comfort of the inhabitants and the appearance of the town. Not satisfied with what has already been

done, the Town Board are energetic in continuing the work they - have so well commenced. New buildings have been erected for various purposes. A new wharf, well designed, well constructed, and commodious, has recently been finished, and is capable of affording accommodation for the increased amount of shipping that may Be expected to visit the port,when the railway is finished. A chapel, erected for the accommodaof the Wesleyan body, was formally opened on Sunday last hv the Rev. Mr Richardson; and on Monday a tea meeting was held in the building, at which many ladies and gentlemen attended. Many other subjects have occurred during the month ; but as most of them were noticed at the time of occurrence, they call for no further notice here, as they will be found mentioned in other columns.

Some time since, it will be remembered, a petition was sent to the General Government, asking for an enquiry to be instituted into the truth of certain scandals current in which the name of Mr Eyes was freely mentioned. No notice was taken of the petition, and a deputation waited upon the Government to urge them to take steps to enquire into the truth of the alleged offences, when the Premier acknowledged that sufficient grounds existed for the appointment of a commission to make an enquiry, and promised that one should be appointed at an early date. A few days since, the following letter was received by the gentleman to whom it is addressed, by which it will, be seen, that the Government have lost no time in fulfilling their promise. The Express has made a mistake in noticing the appointment of the commissioners, as, in a paragraph in Saturday’s issue, it endeavors to lead its readers to believe that Mi Eyes had asked for the enquiry. The facts of the case are simply these : When the petition was sent to Wellington with an explanatory letter, the matter was referred back to Mr Eyes for an explanation; and, in reply, he stated in effect that the promoters of the charges against him were actuated by hostile political motives, and had seized on some unhappy home differences to cause the public mind to become inflamed against him, and he concluded by asking that the truth of the charges should be enquired into. Under the circumstances, Mr Eyes could not do less ; for if he had requested that no enquiry should be held, he would have placed himself in a peculiar position ; so he made a virtue of necessity. This reply of Mr Eyes is assumed to have been supported by certain Provincial influence in such manner as to cause the Government to suspend the appointment of commissioners, until the deputation opened up the question again. In the present position of this affair, it is not judicious, for the Express to attempt to mislead its readers, as such a mode of proceeding is sure to cause the subject to be more agitated, and the more it is stirred the less it will benefit the person attempted to be befriended. The following is the letter alluded to : Colonial Secretary’s Office, Wellington, 6th Jan., 1873. Sir, —Adverting to the interview between a deput ttion from the inhabitants of Marlborough and the Government, relative to certain allegations affecting the character of W. H. Eyes, Esq , J.P., the Sheriff and Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Province of Marlborough, I have the honor to inform you that the Government -have decided to issue a commission under the authority of “ The Commissioners Powers Act, 1867,” and of “The Civil Service Act Amendment Act, 1871,” to Lieut.-Coionel Russell and Mr W. J. W. Hamilton, authorising and requiring them to enquire into all such charges affecting the character of the said W. H. Eyes as shall be brought in writing before them', and to report their opinion thereon for the information; of the Government. The commission will sit : ‘between the middle and the end of the present month. ' I have the honor to be, Sir. Your most obedient servant, John Hall. - The Hon. Capt. Baillie, M.L.C., Picton, Marlborough.