The Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1903. A WORTHY OBJECT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7799, 2 September 1903, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1903. A WORTHY OBJECT.

After having held office for more than six years, Lord Ranfurly intends to relinquish the Governorship of New Zealand next autumn and return to England.^ He will b« preceded Homo by the Countess of Ranfurly and the members of his family, who in a little more than two. months propose to bid good-bye to thd country which has been their home for more than half a decade. There is reason to believe thcit his Excellency and his wife- look forwardi reluctantly to severing their connection with New Zealand, and we feel that we ar© voicing an almost unanimous ; opinion- when we «ay that this feeling ( is reciprocated throughout the colony. Apart fron^the popularity which the Governor himself has gained by the warm interest lie has taken in the colony and its affairs his, family have won golden opinions wherever they have travelled. This is particularly so in the case of Lady Ranfurly, whose great kindliness of heart, neadiness to assist in movements for the promotion of good works, geniality, and last, but not least, disregard! of obnoxious class distinctions, have endeared her in no common degree to- the great mass of the public. Governors' -wives, it is true, have no official connection with the affairs of self-govern-ing colonies, but they are so situated, nevertheless, that they can exercise a very powerful influence on the social life of their husbands' domains. Curiously enough, democratic communities such as are found in New Zealand are not insensitive to nice points of social etiquette. Moreover, they are critical. They are- not easily pleased and rather easily offended. They have not always derived unalloyed pleasure and satisfaction from their relations with their Governors' "ladies;" and! certain past experiences have tended to sharpen their critical faculties. That Lady Ranfurly when she leaves New Zealand will carry arsvay with her the affection and esteem: of a larce majority of" New Zealanders is abundant evidence that lier stay here has been an unqualified success. Immediately it became known that she meditated an early departure from the colony a movement ; was started 1 in Wellington Jhaving for its object a farewell compliment to her. It is now suggested that the movement should be extended! so as to embrace the whole of tie colony. The suggestion is an excellent one. Lord Ranfurly ihas 'been the colony's Governor in.eveny sense of the word,, Unlike some of his predecessors, he has striven to show that he feels and recognises thait he owes a duty to the whole country, and not simply to the capital. In his endeavour to carry, out this aim he has ibeen aMy seconded by his wife. , It would be most appropriate, therefore, if any presentation which, were made td Lady Ran* furly previous to her departure came not from the citizens of Wellington but from th.c ipeople of New Zealand.