The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 88, 15 April 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1867.

Great disappointment was felt throughout the commuuity this morning, at the absence of all signs' of the appearance of his Excellency the Governor. The volunteers and cadets met for parade, and all business wag suspended in expectation that he would arrive sometime during the morning. Some one is responsible for the misunderstanding which has arisen, and yet it is not easy to know who is particularly to blame. In the telegram received from the Colonial Secretary on the sth inst., the Provincial Government were informed that the Governor would arrive in Nelson on the 15th, and that telegrams would be sent from time to time to inform them what hour his Excellency might be expected to reach the harbor. If we understand the matter rightly no official communication has since been received by the Provincial Government causing them to thiuk that the original arrangement between them and the Colonial Secretary would be departed from. Yesterday it was known that Mr. Cross, the Harbor Master, had received a telegram from the Captain of the Brisk, dated Picton 9 50 a.m., April 13, informing him that the Brisk, with his Excellency and suite, would leave Picton at 2 p.m. that day aud rer.ch Nelson about 5 p.m. on the 15th. Mr. Cross, being busily engaged in his occupation, and not regarding the communication to him as one that ought to be laid before the Provincial Government,- took no further notice of it than he would of a communication addressed exclusively to himself. It was unfortunate for the public- that he did not inform the Provincial Government of hiß having re-

ceireil tlri e information. Had he done so, they would have talc en measures to set the public right, and prevent a great loss of time and other serious inconveniences. The fault seems to lie with the individual, whoever it may be, who conducts the correspondence relating to the movements of the Governor, aud who arranges with the various provincial officials the programme of the receptions. If the telegram from the Captain of the Brisk to our Harbor Master was deemed an official communication, it was clearly a mistake*, as the Harbor Master did not think it so, arid the particulars of it never renched the Government till too late to be of any service to them in preventing the public disappointment. It appears that the Governor, before coming here, is visiting Massacre Bay, and may be expected here about 5 or 6 o'clock this evening. Had he arrived any time to day the authorities and public bodies would have been ready to receive him. We incline to the opinion that it would have been better to have received him this eveniug, had he chosen to land, than to cause the suspension of business during another day. The reception committee have thought otherwise, however, and it is not worth while to debate the point. We hope there will be no mistake arising from the want of accord of the officials who accompany his Excellency with the plans and arrangements of the committee. We understand that the Governor landed at Picton between 6 and 7 o'clock, aud if he should think proper to come ashore to-night all the processional arrangements would be nipped in the bud, and experience a most untimely fate. No doubt the Provincial Government will represent the real state of things to his Excellency, and if necessary, keep him a state prisoner in his own cabin till the people shall have an opportunity of demonstrating their loyalty and good feeling. We cannot prevent past inconveniences, but we may prevent any serious disarrangement of the public plans for the future. Tht Band of Hope will be ( pacified with a lump of cake by way of instalment, and the Volunteers will not grumble at having been called out unnecessarily, if no further disappointment occur. We doubt not that the Governor is in happy ignorance of the disappointment h ; s non-appearance has caused the public. Great men are always in the hands of subordinates and cannot move from one place to another except by the rules laid down for them. If Major Richardson is the cause of this blundering:, i ©/ we are very much surprised, as we know him to be a strict disciplinarian and a man of high gentlemanly feeling. Having the organ of hope largely developed and in a state of considerable activity, the present disappointment does not crush us, it furnishes another illustration, notwithstanding, of the wisdom with which the world is governed.