URBAN V. COLONIAL SENTIMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8815, 2 March 1892, Page 3

URBAN V. COLONIAL SENTIMENT.

TO THK KDITOK. Sir, —Some Aucklanders seem inclined to ridicule Mr. Shera, M.H.R., in connection with his protest against the order of precedence observed in the farewell demonstration to the Governor. On reading the programme of the procession, and before Mr. Shera's protest appeared at all, it was forcibly impressed upon me that, instead of the principles of order being observed in the matter, ail element of discord and contention had been introduced that would not pass unnoticed, even though your members in the House were sufficiently wanting in selfrespect, and respect for the high office which they hold, to take umbrage thereat. Mr. Shera's critics do not even contend the main point of his protest, but endeavour to make it appear that he has made himself ridiculous in the method of his protest, and on some point that does not touch remotely the merits or propriety of the protest itself. But there is no reason to think that if another member instead of Mr. Shera had made the protest he would not have been sat upon all the same. If the late demonstration had simply meant an Auckland farewell to the Governor on his departure for Wellington or Dunedin, the City Council might be permitted to arrange and monopolise the honours as they chose, and members of the House of Representatives might absent themselves" without much offence to the Governor, Hut this demonstration should have been strictly regarded as the colony's farewell to him; and the way in which the colony s representatives have been treated in this matter manifests anything but a broad colonial spirit amongst city people.—l am,&c., [spirit amongst city people.—l am,&c., A Stratford Settler, Auckland, February 27.