NEW ZEALAND'S NEW GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12545, 12 April 1904, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S NEW GOVERNOR.

LORD PLUNKET'S APPOINTMENT. "V. • HIS VIEWS AND INTERESTS. AN "INTERVIEW" BY POST. [FROM OUR OWN COr.IIESrONDEXT.] London, March 4. Last Friday night the Secretary cf State for the Colonies cabled to the Government of New Zealand that Lord Plunket had been appointed Governor of the colony in succession to Lord Ranfurly. The news was published in all the British papers on Saturday. Lord Plunket is the fifth baron of that title, and is a son of the late Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland; his mother was the only daughter of Sir B. L. Guinness, Bart., and sister of Lords Ardilaun and Iveagli; he was born in 1364 and so is now in his 40th year; he was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Dublin, graduating as B.A. at that university; ho succeeded his father in the barony seven years ago; he married, 10 years ago. Lady Victoria Alexandrina Blackwood, younjftit daughter of the laio Marquis of Dufferin; he has three children, the eldest son and heir being now five years old; lie has had some diplomatic experience, having been lion, attache to the British Embassy at, Rome in 1389-1892, and at Constantinople 10921894, and ho has been private secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant, of Ireland since the year 1900, having thus nerved under Lord Cadogan and Lord Dudley. 1 may add that, ho has a' distinguished ancestry, the first Baron Plunket being Ixjrd High Chancellor of Ireland, the second Bishop of Tuam, and tho fourth Archbishop of Dublin.

AN "INTERVIEW" BY POST. Naturally the first idea suggested by the announcement of Lord PluiiKet's appointmont was the eminent desirableness of an early interview. Unfortunately, however, your now Governor is not in London, or even in England, but as his relatives in the'Housa of Commons would say, "In another placo," via., Dublin, nor was there any hope of his coining to London before to-night's mail should CIO3O. Accordingly I telegraphed to tho Vice-regal Lodge," Dublin, requesting that Lord Plunket .should accord me an interview thv.re. Ho replied courteously that owing to previous engagements ho could not make any definite promise for tho current week, la these circumstances I wrote indicating the points on which I sought infori mation. I received a most prompt and courj teous reply furnishing all that 1 had asked j foi. Lord Plunket wrote with the utmost fulness and absence of restraint, although my request must have been a terribly inconvenient one, coming at a time when, as he himself put it, he was overwhelmed with work. ' Indeed, he acted with far more than mere courtesy to a stranger; ho showed singular consideratencss and genuine kindness of heart, I mention these matters because they servo to illustrate the nature of New Zealand's new Governor, and to show that the colony will have the pood fortune to possess a Royal representative who is, alike by his promptness in action and by the kindliness of his nature, eminently suited to represent King Edward VII. in His Majesty's farthest distant possession. I A BUSY TIME.

In this letter to me Lord Plunket explained that just now, he is working under extreme pressure of business, as the duties of his present office—that of private secretary to the Viceroy of Ireland—are seldom light, and during this season of the year in Ireland, when Dublin is very full, owing to its being the Castle "season," he is always very busy. He has, of course, no actual dutitts to perform in connection with what may be termed the "social" part of the Castle functions, or the entertaining of guests, but a large amount of the more serious duties of the Lord Lieutenant's position are crowded into tho two months, February and March, when everyono of importance in Ireland is in Dublin itself. On top of all come the necessary preparations for the approaching visit of their Majesties the King and Queen to Ireland, which have to be faced at once. Also, of course, Lord Plunket has to begin his own preparations for his departure for New Zealand, including tfie collection and selection of his new staff, servants, etc. So it is easy to appreciate the validity of his plea of extreme pressure.

DATE OF DEPARTURE. Sly first question related to the possible date of Lord I'lunket's departure lor iho j colony. i This point is not yet definitely settled. Either Lord Pluuket will leave in about a month's times or else he will remain in Ireland during the Royal visit, arid if .so he would start about May 5, after the King and Queen had loft Ireland, 'i'iio ultimate decision, I understand, depends somewhat upon whether or not Lord Kanfuriv ran stay 011 a little longer than was originally intended, If ho can, then Lord l'lunket will remain in Dublin to assist in making the* arrangements for the visit of their Majesties to Ireland, which is 10 take place toward the end of next month April. The Viceroy, Lord Dudley, would naturally prefer that Lord Plunket should stay and help hiiu in this important matter, as he (Lord Plunket) has had considerable experience in connection with the visits to' Ireland both of the Into Queen Victoria and of the present. Sovereign and his consort. 1 understand that King Edward would greatly prefer that Lord Plunket should remain if this can be managed with- ! out inconvenience to Lord luUifnrly or to ! tho Now Zealand Government, and the quesi tion is not yet finally settled. I Lady Plunket will accompany her husband, and so will their children. According to their present plans they will probably travel . by one of the direct steamers via the Cape ! of Good Hope. As some former Governors of Now Zea- ! land have either gone out to that colony > with the intention of returning to England ! before the expiration of their official term, I or have done so owing to subsequent events j which they, had not anticipated, I ventured I to ask Lord Plunket whether it was his inj tenrion to remain for bis full term in New i Zealand. Ho replied emphatically: "I ceri tainly hope so." I ft is not yet arranged who, will be the ! aide-de-camp and private secretaries of the | new Governor. Some weeks may possibly * ! elapse before these matters are definitely settled. • Lord Plunket hopes to visit every part of : the New Zealand islands during his Gover- ; norship. I learn that ho lias never hitherto | visited either New Zealand or Australia, so lie will como without any fixed impressions based upon past experiences, but with an entirely fresh and open mind. He is prepared to find much to admire and enjoy in New Zealand, and abundance oi interest in his new sphere of duty.

'PERSONAL MATTERS. New Zea landers are so much an '' openair" people and so enthusiastic about out-of-door sports that they will be pleased to learn that Lord Plunkct's chiefly-preferred recreations are of tin => order. Ho is very fond of shooting, deer-stalking, fishing, rowing, and motoring. As regards_ this last, he is, 1 hear, quite an expert, having plenty of practical knowledge of motor cars; anil, indeed, having himself kept his own car in order. This acquirement should be useful when ho takes long motor trips into the Ulterior beyond the reach of any repairing shop. It would seem as if he were specially "cut-out" tor a colonist I It may appear an abrupt change from amusement to religion—yet the two things are by no means necessarily antithetic, and I tool; the liberty of putting a question as to the religious views of the new Governor, although I felt that, as the son of a very distinguished Archbishop of the Anglican Church, there could hardly be any doubt. Lord Plunket is a member of the (Protectant) Church of Ireland. But 1 am in a position to add that both he himself and his late father—the Archbishop— have always.' been 011 very cordial terms with Irish • Nonconformists. Indeed, at the garden parties which the late Archbishop used to give at Lord Plunkct's country scat, " Old Ootmaught," at Bray, in County Wicklovv, his own clergy. Nonconformists, and many Roman Catholics used all to meet on friendly terms—by 110 means a* common thing in Ireland, where religious animosity sometimes runs high. Lord Pluulcet's concluding remarks I venture to quote verbatim. Ho said: ' Among the numerous interesting parts of the British Empire, thu two in which I have fox years taken the greatest interest, and for which I have the highest admiration, are Canada and New Zealand To have boon selected to represent His Majesty in one of them is therefore not only a great honour, but the greatest possible pleasure and satisfaction to mo." NOTES ABOUT THE NEW GOVERNOR. it is noted by a London paper that " Lord Plunlwt is a descendant of the famous Chancellor of that name, whom Mr. Gladstone wnca described as the most »ft£uificent era-

tor be had ovei listened to, and the new Governor of Now Zealand has inherited somo of his most distinguished qualities. _ Another London paper describes him as " somewhat stoutly built, with broad forehead and thick, light-brown hair. It states that Lord iPlunkot was oh the eve of entering the House of Commons when the death of" his father, in 1897, raised him to the peer- j age, and adds: "He has, although a young , man, a largo experienco in official life, lie : was* in the Embassy at Paris when Lora . Duffcrin was British Ambassador, and mar- i ried the Marquis' youngest daughter. I Yet another London paper remarks : ine New Zealandcrs are to have a fellow countryman of their retiring Governor, the Earl of Kanfnrly, to succeed him, in the person of Lord Plunkot; and the keen regret which the colony will undoubtedly feel at parting with the present Governor, who is immensely popular with all classes, will not prevent a warm and loyal wclcomo being extended to his Irish successor. Lord Plunket is many years junior to Lord Ranfurly, but he saw a good deal of the world in his diplomats days, and has had considerable political experience since. His wife, born Lady Victoria Blackwood, and youngest daughter ot the late Marquis of Dufferin, has much of tho charm which belonged to her distinguished father, and will be a worthy helpmeet to her husband in his now capacity, I Lord Ranfurly's extended term of office ox- , pi re s this month." I And one more says: ' Lord 1 lunket, , K.0.V.0., who succeeds Lord Kanfurly as Governor of New Zealand, is, hko Lord Kathmore, a Plunkct with one ' t.' Ine two-t'd Plunketts are the Earl of I'ingail, Lord IJunsanv, and Lord Louth. The British Ambassador at Vienna is a I lunkett of the Fingalls; tho ,Hon. Horace (Plunkett, ! Vice-president of the Irish Department of , Agriculture, is of the Dunsanys; and the; youthful Hon. Ot'.ray Plunkett is the son and heir of the 14th Lord Louth. _ T. be , Barony of Plunket has amply justified its creation since 1027. Tho first baron was the Irish Lord Chancellor; the second was Bishop of Til am; the fourth was Arebbisnop of Dublin, son-in-law of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, and brother-in-law of the future Barons of Ardilaun and of Iveagh. The Archbishop's son, who succeeded him as fiftb baron in 1897, perpetuates this connection in his baptismal namo of Lee. He will be well established in the Government by tho time lie keeps his 40tli birthday, next December. He has acq-iired a good diplomatic manner as Hon. Attache at Rome, and has hud the further advantage of being secretary to two Lords-Lieutenant, while when he made a god-daughter of the late Queen his wife ho made a former Viceroy of India his father-in-law." '"yfi?'. . . A personal friend of mine, who also is a dignitary in tho Irish Church, writes to mo of J tho new Governor as follow?: —'.Lord Plunket is an extremely nice, bright, pleasant fellow. He has acted as private secretary to two Lords-Lieutenant— -Cadogan and Dudley. He is married to a daughter of the late Lord Dufferin, and they have, I think, three little children. In Dublin society ho i is most popular, and is an * approachable i person. Of course, you know that he is j the son of our old Archbishop, and nephew*

| <;t Lord Avdiiaun arid Lord Iveagh and Lord I llp.thmore. He has a very nice place, 'Old i Connaugbt,' at Bray, about 10 miles from Dublin, but of late he has lived chiefly in his official rcsidcnco in Phoenix Park, near the Viet-regal Lodge. He is most sympathetic about cburch work, but has not identified himself with any party. Ho knows the world, and has good brains. 1 believe the appointment is an excellent one, and that he will work cordially with the people in the colony." 1 . . Another Irish friend who stands ' nigh in the law" writes to me: —"It so happened that the day that the appointment appeared in the papers, 1 was talking to the onlv one of my few acquaintances here who was in the least likely to know him, and asked him all about him. Ho told me that ho had met Lord Plunket a fow times; that he was quiet, retiring, arid amiable." Also one of the leading members of the Irish press, writing, to me this morning, says: "In my representative capacity X have had the privilege and the pleasure of meeting Lord Plunket several times weekly for several years oast, and I can assure you that New Zealand will find in him a courteous and kindly gentleman." It may perhaps bo worth mentioning that Lord Plunket, living tho cousin of Lord Ivengh's sob, Mr. Rupert Guinness, who ! lately married Lady Gwendolen Onslow, is i related by marriage to one or" his predacesj fiors in the Governorship of New Zealand, ! Lord Onslow. LORD PLUNKET IN LONDON.

HIS PLANS. [>'110 M OUR OWN CORRESTOXOBNT.] London, March 12. Lord Plunkct lias boon is Loudon during the current week. Most of his time, howover, has been spent between the Colonial Office and Buckingltam Palace, at which latter place lie has been in almost constant conferorix; wit!; Lord Knollya, His Majesty's private secretary, planning the various arrangements requisite in connection with tlio approaching visit of their Majesties the King and Que to Ireland. Lord Plunket has thoreforo been too much occupied with duties in his present official capacity to be able to devote much attention to his own j programme of arrangements for entering upon his new position as Governor of New Zealand. At the present moment his idea i-: to send on his servants and heavy luggage either by the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Paparoa, or by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's steamer Gothic, and tor Lord and Lady Plunket and their chilj dren cither to follow in the P. and O. s.s. j Macedonia, which leaves Marseilles on May | 6, or else themselves also to go out in the Gothic. In any case, however, the new Governor intends to reach New Zealand in time for the opening of the nest session of Parliament. He is aware that this is much desired by the New Zealand Government, and lie is extremely anxious to meet so far as possible the views of his future Ministers in this respect. Lord Plunket pjiid his first visit to the New Zealand Agency-General the day before yesterday, and made a highly favourable impression by his courtesy and kindness of maimer, and by his utter freedom from the slightest, touch of affectation or assumption or "side." On all hands the verdict was: "A very nice fellow. Just the sort of man for a Governor of Nov/ Zealand. Ho will, be immensely popular out there j In personal appearance ho is a well-built j man of middle height, neither fair nor dark, j but perhaps tending toward tho former j rather than the latter. His face is shaven, j save for a moustache. j Upon iuy asking him whether lie could add anything to the information he was good I enough to give mo so fully last- week. Lord | Plunket replied in the negative. "lam i sorry," he said, "I cannot add to the in- i ! formation I gave you. lam not yet certain | ot the date I start or of the route, and I | I have not yet finally decided en 'my staff." j So for the present I must leave the mat- ! ! tor at that point. |

The many lovers of operatic music will have a rare chance of gratifying their taste on Wednesday at the next popular concert I of the Tree-Blitz series. The management are giving on this occasion a production of j Gounod's famous grand opera "Faust" in camera form. Madame Tree, who makes her ! first appearance at these concerts, will be j heard to special advantage, as grand opera is j the'work in which she is most at home, j Madame Tree has undertaken tho role of Marguerite; Miss Maude Tobias, Martha; I Miss Lilian Aulsebrook, Siebel: Mi. Walter I Whyte, Faust; Mr. H. Lloyd Brett, Valen- j | tine; and Mr. Reginald Marie, Mephistoi pheles. I The Phoenix Foundry at Ballarat (Vie.), i which has the contract 'for the supply of five j engines of the heavy goods class to the Railway Department," has been dosed down I owing to the failure of the Newport workI shops to provide the necessary wheels. During the time the works are closed down 250 I men will be out of work. The plant is worth £250,000. There ir at present on trial a novel gangway on the Pert Jackson Wharf. Sydney. At first sight the contrivance looks cumbrous, but the hands work it easily. It is constructed with the weight all at the shore end, and the man on the steamer, with ease, lifts his end, and the gangway is drawn ashore with facility. It is certainly a great improvement on the old style of the two planks. For some years an arrangement has been in existence midei which postal officials in I uniform were allowed to ride on the Mel- | bourne trams free, the company accepting an annual payment of £1000 from the department. Now, however, the company thinks that the service rendered by it. is worth a great deal more, and it has asked the department to agree to a system of penny coupons for officials. That Dick Cavill, fit and well, will have matters all his own way, as far as the American? arc concerned, should the New South Wales Association send him to compete in the swimming events at the St. Louis Exposition meeting, may be gathered from the fact that the Yankee papers of recent date are making much of 2m. 435. for 280 yds. Tbia time, slow though it is in comparison with the Australian's best, beats bath Brewer and Hohafers' previous indoor and outdoor record by over is.