COLONIES AND PLACEHUNTERS. (From the London Spactutor )

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 330, 19 July 1849, Page 3 (Supplement)

COLONIES AND PLACEHUNTERS. (From the London Spactutor )

A parliamentary paper just issued reads like the statistic! of the Ely-Jan fields, to which hen es of good connexion were tianalated for their repose and beatification : the blessed statistics set forth the existence of forty-three posts of dignity with salaries ranging from £800 to £7.000 and averaging £2.781 15». The total sum of £119,746 is divisible among 1 the occ.ipunts of these delicious seats, besides an odd £2,070 15s. uuder the head of " fees, &c." One disadvantage attends the.-c abodes of the blessed, that they are all a good way off. ***** Yes, it is to be collected from the return, which now loses somewhat of its purely beautific character, that there are forty-three colonies great and small, which need Governors. It is evident that in its chief Governor, every colony must requite a person possessing the qualities of command, habits of public business, a knowledge of political and commercial affairs generally and of the colony in particular. There is therefore a demand on the pare of the coloni i for forty three rirst«rate practical politicians. We now perceive that these forty-three posts may be viewed in either light,— either us things required by the colonies, or as thirgs required by certain estimable gentlem nat home,— ihe two requirementi having no connexion ; and in practice the two requirement! are treated quite distinctly, perhaps according to the preponderance of the want on either side. For example, New Zealand, used ai a play ground for a dilettante Governor, got into such a mess for wank of government, that it been me absolutely necessary to appoint an effective officur, end so the first Governor appointed for New Zeahnd wai Captain now Sir Georg3 Grey, not one of the Greys, but a clever working official. On the other hand, it is to be presumed that the wants of Lord Tonington rather thun Ceylon swayed hii distinguished relative Lord John when the post worth £7000 a year fell vacant ; io it was given to Lord Torrington, and Ceylon goes without a Governor for the time. As the consequent slate of anarchy is worse than mght be anticipated, it is to be expected that next time a Governor will be appointed for Ceylon ; but the co'ony may have to wait for the term of three years before the incumbent of the £7000 post ceases to be ex.-offieio viceioy, and a vei y teazing viceroy, over the local Secretary j who must be tadly put to it in managing to scramble on with public affa'rs. For tbcie two instances out of innny others, the political Btudent will perceive, that although these posit are available as resources for the amiable and distnguished connexions of our aiistocracy, they must sometimes be »acrificed on the exigencies of the colonies. On tVe whole, however, it h.is been found difficult to n ake a very convenient use of the best places : thus, £2300 11 given up to Sir George Grey, but the £70' 0 is secured for Lord Torrington ; Loid Grey* cou»in, Sir Charles Gtey — not quite such an anti-colo-nial Governor as Lord Torrington — gets the £C 0 )0 in Jamaica; but Lord Harris, the decidedly I'io-colnnul Governor of Trinidad, only has £3-300. If Lord Elgin t'eti the Cunidian on pub ie grounds, his rank serves lo ktep up the dais character of the reserve; it Guiana is thrown away for the tme upon an actual colonist, Mr. Henry Baikly, the step is a npat wny of securing the contested £5000; which will thus he available f or any future Grey or Elliott ; and if 1500/ ii yielded to Sir Heii'y Young, who kept Guiana so long in hot water, he has got South Australia out of hot water, and is decid dlj one o f thoie ndroit and not impracticable officials whom it is profitable for the Colonial Office to encourage by promotion.