THE COMMONWEALTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9192, 23 March 1908, Page 1

THE COMMONWEALTH.

THE NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL. EARL DUDLEY'S CAREER. William Humble Ward, second Earl of Dudley, who has been appointed to > succeed Lord Northcote as GovernorGeneral of the' Australian Commonwealth, wa3 born in 1867, and succeeded his father, the first earl, in 1885. He wag educated at Eton, and at the close of his college career travelled extensively. He has always taken a keen interest in military affairs, and was a Major of the Worcester Yeomanry Cavalry. In 1888 he was appointed High Steward of Kidderminster. In his own* county he has taken an active part in local government, and from 1895 to 1897 filled the position of Mayor of Dudley. At the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899, he was appointed Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General of the Imperial. Yeomanry, and in that capacity saw considerable service in South Africa. In 1901 he was appointed to the Reserves. He is a keen sportsman, and has filled the position of master of the Worcester Fox Hounds. He is the patron of thirteen livings, and owns 13,000 acres of land, in addition to mines in Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and large ironworks. A Conservative in politics, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in Lord Salisbury's third Administration in June, 1895, and conI tinued to hold that office till the retirement of the Government in August, 1902, on the resignation of the Pre^ mier. In the Government formed by Mr Balfour, Lord Dudley was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and continued to fill that very responsible position until the Conservative party went out of office in December, 1905 on Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man's accession to power. During his three years at Dublin Castle Lord Dudley did much good work, and gained the goodwill and esteem even of those who were politically opposed to the party to which he belonged. Lady Dudley, who is a daughter of Mr Charles Gurney, won golden opinions during her reign as consort of the

1 Viceroy of Ireland as one of the greatest hostesses who have presided over the semi-regal functions at the Castla.