Pen and Ink Portraits.

Observer, Volume II, Issue 40, 18 June 1881, Page 438

Pen and Ink Portraits.

No. 22. — Mr John Davies Oemond. A bilious man is the member for Clive. Vain withal. "Eaten up with vanity and spleen," a well-known newspaper man said. He carries a weight in the House of Representatives, although he would kill any ministry of which lie was a member. He is an unsocial man. No one likes him. A keener man cannot be found in the two islands. He is a parson's son, and as such, had been thought to have a sharp eye to a "living." He has been patient and calculating in his chances through life. Few men care more for themselves and less for others than does Mr Ormond. He has the ability to plot. On the Continent, had he lived there, if lie were not in the Government employment, he would have been a conspirator. He has been one in New Zealand, although a member of Ministries. Here he has conspired against the public weal for his own advantage. Our early politicians, with few exceptions, all sought for loaves and fishes. Foxes, Featherstons, Fitzlierberts, Ormonde, Welds, Halls, Woods, Polens, Riehmonds, Bells, Macfarlanes, RuSsells (some of them), and Atkinsons ; what have they done ? Why, conspired against the public weal. And yet there are many honest men in the Legislature. Not so many, however, as the member for Mount Ida would have the public believe. It was the partial salvation of New Zealand — the greatest social event since 1840 — the discovery of gold in Otago. God knows what would have happened to this fair country if it had been given up to the devices of its politicians. Hall managed Canterbury with llolleston's aid. The three Fs "spotted" and worked Wellington. Weld seized the fairest portion of Marlborough. Mr Whitaker "bossed' Auckland. Other than sordid thoughts rarely crossed their political horizon. Ormond has managed to acquire the richest patch of land in Hawke s Bay, and became the leader of what were known as the "Twelve Apostles." Contrast their career "with Swanson, Mac Andrew, Sheehan, and others. They have spent in the public service — and have been spent. When Wood, the shifty, made his theatrical peroration in the House last year, it had no effect, for this reason. It was known that its bitterness arose from the fact that the Treasury chest was not open to his hand. He wasted more Colonial money in his one loan transaction, than Donald McLean did in all his Native policy. Mr Ormond came to New Zealand a long time since. He was a stripling, in Wellington, in the time of Lieutenant-Governor Eyre, who did such evil deeds in Jamaica. If lam correctly informed, Mr Eyre applied to Captain (now Sir George) Grey, from Western Australia, for his influence with the Colonial Office to procure him promotion. A letter Avas sent to the Colonial Office complying with this request, and Mr Eyre Avas sent out here as Lieutenant- Go venor. Here he married Mr Ormond's sister, making the present member for Clive his secretary. He Avas then known as a "perky" youngster and called "Young England," if I remember right. When I sat down to write this sketch, 1 intended narrating an event which, took place in Wellington before Mr Eyre left New Zealand, in Avhicli Mr Ormond, some English officers, Dr Featherstone, and" a poor deA'il of a reporter were all actors, but I feel content to throw the mantle of obliAdon over the transaction. Mr Ormond, at all events Avill know and feel that, in so doing, lam a charitable. man. Beside, Mr Ormond may come into politics again, Avhen the information may be of more A r alue. He is a poor speaker. His words, studied in their force or their malevolence, delivered hesitatingly, alone give Aveight to his utterances. He is graceless m his manner, as he is haltive .in his speech ; and yet he is closely listened to. He makes about one set speech in a session. He dreams over it. He studies the scope and force of every sentence. There is more heed paid to his utterances than they deserve, judging his merits from the offices he has held. The only weakness he has or simulates is an affection for the memory of Sir Donald McLean. They Avere long associates in Napier ; the one as Superintendent, the other as Government Agent. When McLean became a Minister, Ormond became the Government Agent and Superintendent. In the history of both these men there is the truth of the old Florentine maxim exemplified that, "To rise from a, middling station to large fortune, cunning is more availing than force." Wishing for success he acted in unison Avith the times, " turning the dust of servile opportunity to gold." As a Minister for public Avorks he manifested a desire to serve his country. His recommendators Avill yet bear golden fruit. He mastered well the details of his department. His Aveakness as a Minister Avas found in the fact that he controlled the native office Avhile Dr Pollen was Native Minister. He did the same thing almost with McLean. He has decided A'iews of the policy Aye should adopt towards the native race. His opinions coincide Avith those of Judge Fenton in his remarkable letter to Mr J. C. Richmond in 1867. The Judge said : " The ultimate result of the operations of the Court (i.e., the Native Land Court) Avill be the conversion of the Maori nature into tAvo classes — one composed of Avell to do farmers, and the other of intemperate landlords. I haA r e little doubt, but I do not think that these results avill be brought about as speedily as many people think. The intemperance and Avaste so noticeable among the Maori landlords of HaAvkes' Bay are-matters much to be regretted, but, in my judgment, it is not part of our duty tostop eminently good processes because certain bad and unpreventable results may collaterally fIoAV from them, nor can it be averred that it is the duty of the Legislature to make people careful of their property by Act of Parliament, so long as profligacy injures no one but themselves. It is Avell that all the money squandered by the Maori landlords is spent in the j>lace whence it is drawn. I can conceive no bitterer sarcasm than to say that Mr. Ormond has firmly believed and practised the dicta laid down some 14 years since by the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court. And

Avhat, it Avill be said, of the Judge ? Why, let him be judged by his words — for he Avas appointed when he Avrote his "brother's keeper." Mr John Davies Ormond A\ r as Minister for Public Woi-ks in the Waterhouse Ministry from October 11th to October 29th, 1872. He again took office under the Atkinson Ministry, and held Lands Immigration, Telegraphs, and Minister of Public Works. He took office September Ist, 1870, and resigned on the 13th of October, 1577. Since then he has been engaged looking after his private affairs. In politics, for the last two years, he has been sitting in the "corner." Another day I may fill in Mr. Orinond's portrait — may state some facts not generally known — explaining cA T ents only at present imperfectly understood. KONEKE.