The Star. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1876.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2595, 19 July 1876, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1876.

Ix must of course be taken for granted that the three thousand pounds voted as a gratuity to the family of the late Agent- General, is the Bum whioh the Colonial Executive thought it would be proper to recommend as an adequate recognition of his services. From this point of view it must be admitted that there appears to be some incongruity between the views of the Government on different occasions, as to the sums which it is suitable for the Colony to offer in recognition of services rendered. It is not a particularly pleasant matter to deal with, but the contrast between the amount which the Executive, urged by the Premier, have undertaken to place on the Estimates as a speoial allowance to Sir Julius, in recognition of his having magnanimously abjured all parsimony on his recent visit to England, and the amount which they now recommend as a gift to the family of the deceased Agent- General, is too glaring to be passed over in silence. It is true that a portion of the former allowance is intended to pay the cost of cablegrams, and other expenses incurred on bohalf of tbe Colony, apart from the actual personal expenditure of her delegate. As far, however, as any information has yet been made public on the subject, the moneys disbursed in this manner forms only a small item in the amount charged, £4250, as a special allowance for the Premier's foreign tour. This matter will no doubt be duly debated in Parliament, and in the meanwhile, it would be premature to discuss the reasonableness of tbe sum named. All we desire here to advert to, is the impossibility of supposing that both sums are reasonable. The conclusion is irresistible that the Premier was either immodest in naming the sum which it would be becoming of tbe Colony to pay him for not economising during bis fifteen months' mission home, or be was reprehensibly economical in naming the very meagre sum which the Colony has determined to offer to the family of the late Agent-General, as a mark of appreciation of eminent services extending overyears and duties faithfully discharged, notwithstanding that they were destroying the life of the officer. That the sum named in the message from the Governor was paltry, and not calculated to increase the Colony's reputation for liberality, seems to have occurred to several members of the House, and notably to Mr Stafford, This may possibly be remedied in the supplementary Estimates, and it lias been stated that such is the intention. We hope, however, that if the amount now voted is finally retained, tho House will shew itself equally mean, or—let us say— laudably anxious to be sparing in the matter of gratuities to others, as for instance, to tho Premier.