OUR COMING GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4020, 30 September 1874, Page 3

OUR COMING GOVERNOR.

Ti:r. following letter, with reference to the Marquis of Normanby, who is to be our new Governor, is from the Queensland correspondent of the Otoyu JJuihj 'Time* :—" And so New Zealand is to rob us of the -Marquis of Normanby—one of the most able Governors that Australia has ever known. "Well, I -heartily congratulate you; as it is not often that an Australian colony has the luck to get a Governor who was four years in his'last place,' and leaves 'universally regretted.' Since, however, the time at which the arrangement must have been made with Downing-street, Queensland is worth a thousand a year more than it was ; and, although 1 do not remember exactly what you pay your Governor, 1 don't think-it is £5000 a-year. But if it is not, you can very safely give it to the new incumbent, for he is worth it every sixpence. It is quite possible that the experiences of New Zealand politicians of the value of the imported article from Queensland may not predispose them to receive Lord Normanby cordially; but I think they may (lo so, without fear of having to draw back afterwards. The worst that I ever heard said of him, or of the Marchioness—a kind-hearted and excellent woman, too—came from match-making mothers, who complained that the opportunities of trotting out their fillies in the matrimonial market (of which Government House was always regarded as the great emporium) were not sufficient. Let me assure you that the fathers of the said daughters have their own private opinions upon that point; and when the right man comes, as in the natural course of events he will, without being hunted for, the demoiselles may lind it not altogether to their disadvantage that papa's pocket was not so ruthlessly robbed for balls and concerts under the regime of Lord and Lady Normanby as during the time of our first Governor, Sir George Bowen, who, with the best intentions in the world, helped to their ruin many weak minded people, to whom frequent baskings in the sunshine of the vice-regal lodge were supreme felicity. X would give you my reasons for considering Lord Normanby what I have described him —one of the most able governors that Australasia lias ever known ; but I may be sup- I posed —wrongly enough, goodness knows— j to have party or local prejudices arising out of political events. I therefore send you the papers giving the history of how the celebrated twelve members of the Opposition, who caused the deadlock of 1572, approached the Governor with their grievances, and what he said to them ; and I leave you to judge for yourself. Although, at the time, the matter attracted no little attention outside Queensland, it is hardly likely that you printed in exlenso the papers on the subject; but as this man is now coming to rale over you, no better idea of the stuff of which lie is made could be imparted to the colonists of New : Zealaii(l, than by giving thein the whole story. I have only to add that no one has '"tried it on" with Lord Normanby since."