Ministers and the Marquis of Normanby.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3126, 24 February 1879, Page 2

Ministers and the Marquis of Normanby.

EXPLANATION BY THE COLO-

NIAL SECBETABY.

(Pee Hebald Special Wise.)

Wbilimgton, Friday. Sir, —I learn by a telegram just rebewed—that' considerable excitement has been caused by a rumour circulated to the effect that His Excellency, the late Governor, was subjected to the intentional affront of Ministers refusing a salute and guard of honor at his embarkation. Further, that having asked me to order these honors, and hanng been refused by me, he had sent direct personal orders to the officers, and thus it happened that both salute and guard formed part of the ceremonial. I trust you will allow me to state that not one of these statements possesses one word of truth. No Minister except myself heard of this subject. The Governor never spoke to me about it, neither did any of my colleagues, nor did I ever refuse a guard of honour or salute, and the Governor never gave- any order whatever about either. Nobody better than his Excellency knew that by the Queen's regulations he had only to apply for a salute, and it could not have been refused, but no such application was made, indeed, until Saturday. In the absence of any communication on the subject, I believed that his Excellency meant to go on board as quietly as previous Governors on leaving Wellington had done, and that the " salute," as in their case would have taken place at the point of actual departure from the colony. After the levee, Lord H. Phipps informed me that the Governor intended to embark with more formality, and asked me whether a salute and guard had been ordered. Consequently I at once gave tho necessary instructions, and, as everybody

knows, His Excellency had both salute and guard. It is inconceivable to me that anybody should suppose, as an old soldier, in a quasi-military matter, I could intentionally show discourtesy, or fail in respect to the Governor on such an occasion. After this explanation, it must be quite clear how little foundation there is tor the reports which have led me to publish this contradiction. —I have, &c, G. S. Whitmobe.—To the Manager of the Press Association, Wellington."