The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 7 October 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1880.

The Fiji Times has—in -writing of the removal of Sir Arthur Gordon from Fiji speeded " the parting guest" to a refrain, more forcible than creditable. It charges his Excellency with having violated his promises, and deals out invective of a coarse kind in making undefined charges. As we approach ihe end of the article in the Fiji Times, our conviction that Sir Arthur Gordon is the man for New Zealand materially intensifies. He possesses a history that is indicative of wisdom, honesty, and force of character. Tbese are qualities which should ensure a faithful performance of gubernatorial duties. But the Fiji Times removes ijnj doubts which may have been felt on tfris score. This, the climax of its impeachment, is a sample of our contemporary's style : What wonder then that the news of his approaching departure was lately haded with such universal manifestationsof delight; that a glad smile of satisfaction irradiated every countenance as the tidings made the rapid round of the community, and that hearty hand shakes, as upon an unexpected accession to eood fortune, became the order of the day. "it would have been much more oleasant to have parted with Sir Arthur in the same 3pirit that the colonists of New Zealand will part with Sir Hercules Robinson, but, as it is, he will pass from amongst us nnregretted, but—never to b,e forgotten.

We have only to place in juxtaposition wiUi this valedictory jubilation the fact that Sir Arthur Gordon frustrated the knavish tricks of the Fiji planters, and we cease to wonder. The planters are a powers ul section of the inhabitants of the Colony. Upon theni the Colonial Press depends for its existence. The Fiji Times saw on the one hand a departing gentleman, who was no longer Governor of tUc Colony who could no longer affect that paper either beneficially or prejudicially : it saw on the other hand a powerful phalanx of planters, who represented the wealth ot the Colony, and who could, by combined effort, with a breath whither it out of existence. We know something of the motives that influence journalists—of the temptations which beset their path, temptations which can only be overcome by the exercise of self-denial and high principle, which, nnfortunatolv, seldom fall to the lot of any single representative of the human family. Possessing suuh knowledge, we are surprised that there are n<jt more journals than there are of the character of the Fiji Times. We, of course, refer more particularly to this Colony. But k there no satisfactory cause "for the apparent respectability of ]Sew Zealand journals as ft- >yho]o ] Had such a man as Sir Arthur Gordon, with his reputed sense of just dealing aud determination, occupied the viceregal position, instead of others who have conferred but little upon the Colony except the prestige of being governed bv a representative of the Queen at great cost, v/e jnight ha\e had a very dilferent tale to tell, V/ o k.now of no class more vindictive than tliose who have been, and are, trucking with the Slaoiis for their lands, iliey and their literary representatives have hitherto been very good, but that is because they have always had their own way. They could afford to laugh to scorn the puerile attempts of ovorsconseientious politicians, solongas those objectors did not occupy the* Government benches. The history of last session is evidence of that. The removal of proclamations against private speculators—the re-opening of the gates widely to admit of the resumption of trickery and rank dishonesty towards the natives and the Colony—were easily accomplished in the teeth of—annoying certainly, but nevertheless, impotent objec-tors-—thanks to the Hall Government. The advent of Sir Arthur Gordon may be coternporary with the establishment of a now epoch. If our newly-appointed Governor possesses the excellent qualities attributed to him, he will, whilst regretting that the carelessness of his predecessors —who were little more than signatories to State have permitted a system of dealing with native lands to obtain, that lined the pockets of a fewand despoiled the natives and the Colony beyond redemption, adopt measures that will occasion panic amongst the land sharping fraternity. Xo more Pateteres—no more terrifving natives into pliability to the nefarious demands of speculators by illegal and unjust imprisonment. * But there is another reason why the Fiji Times has made this bitter attack on Sir Arthur Gordon. He committed the unpardonable shj. of taking an active part in endeavoring to transfer the seat of Government from Levuka to Suva. This is a venial transgression that does not in the least degree affect us. It does not indicate the possession of some political principle j that nn'ght be brought into play here I for our weal or woe. Again, we say, a perusal of tlifi article in the Fiji Times not only confirms, but strengthens, our good opinion of Sir Arthur Gordon.