THE DEPUTY-GOVERNOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2935, 15 June 1910, Page 11

THE DEPUTY-GOVERNOR.

AN UNREHEARSED INCIDENT. tFaoij Ooa Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 8. New Zealand has had a narrow shave. It narrowly missed being without a Governor. Indeed, it is probable that we were Governorless lor a few minutes last evening while Lord Plunket’s vessel was heading northwards beyond the threemile line. It occurred in this way : Lord Plunket’s departure having been delayed, the swearing-in of the Chief Justice as Deputy-Governor was post-

- ■ i- —— poned till Tuesday evening, and a judge of the Supreme Cod'd was hurried down from Palmerston Nci'tli to do the deed. But alas ! when ho arrived on the scone it was found that there were not sufficient Minsters of the Crown at headquarters to form the necessary quorum. Messrs Carroll and Buddo were the only two in town. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), the Hon. J. A. Millar, the Hon. C. Fowlds, and the Hon. Dr Findlay were in Auckland. The Hon. R. MTvenzie was at Nelson, the Hon. A. T. Ngata at Port Awanui, and the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie somewhere in the wilds of Taranaki. An urgent telegram brought the last-named member of the Cabinet hurriedly and unexpectedly back to the capital, nnd the situation was saved, not long before the dark and dreary hour of 'midnight. Mr Justice Cooper administered the oath to the Chief Justice, and New Zealand once more had a representative of the King within its boundaries. But it was a narrow shave. 1