GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8888, 26 May 1892, Page 5

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

THE QUESTION OF FURNISHING IT. [l!Y .TMLEIiKAPII. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. Touciiiso- the near approach of the new Governor and his family, a very curious matter has come to the surface. A few day* ago Lady Glasgow telegraphed that Government House should be put in ordor for her reception. It seems, however, that with the exception of the public receptionrooms, the ollices for the secretary and aide-de-camp, the offices for the Executive Council and for the Governor himself, there ha- been no provision of late for furnishing the official residence of the Governor of the colony for the uho of his family and and domestics. A "silver cradle" was once purchased for an infant scion of a former governing family, and when the expense appeared on the public Estimates it was objected to. The salary of a Governor was at that time £0500, with travelling expenses allowed to the extent of over £1000. The travelling expenses weie some time afterwards disallowed, and the Governor's salary has been reduced to £5000. It was hold at the time of the silver cradle " business that Parliament was under no obligation to furnish the private rooms and domestic apartments of the Governor. I learn that Lord Onslow furnished the residence in Auckland, and others in Christchurcii and Otago, selling the furniture when he was about to leave the colony. This position of things is not generally known. I have reason to believe the Government will do what is necessary to make Government House fairly comfortable for the reception of the vice-regal family.