A TRUE GENTLEMAN.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 2, Issue 134, 24 December 1879, Page 3

A TRUE GENTLEMAN.

A Sydney correspondent of the New Zealand Sun relate* the following rather improbable story:—One of the colonial Ooremora who assisted at the inaugural ceremony at the Exhibition was returning by one of the small coasting steamers, never in hot weather over convenient. His Excellence remarking that as no ladies were on board to occupy the cabin exclusively reserved for their comfort, his aide-de-camp applied to the captain of the steamer for permission to the vice-regal party to use it, but at first was met by a point-blank refusal. Besorting, however, to bland per■asion, and offering a promise that he would vacate the cabin on the appearance of ladies, his Excellency carried his point, and forthwith installed himself, like Admiral Porter, “ in the privacy which a cabin affords.” At one of the intermediate stopping places, a poor, tired woman came on board, and was shown to the cabin, from which bis Excellency was requested to clear out. The secretary expostulated—the Governor was engaged, the Governor's luggage would have to be removed, the Governor could not possibly be disturbed. But the captain ordered two sailors to remove the luggage. Then it became serious, and his Excellency remonstrated in person. “ Surely, captain, you will not inconvenience me for the aake of that poor woman !” “ Sir,” said the captain in blunt reply, “do you think it is only the silk dress that makes the lady ?” Like a gentleman, the Governor bottled the inconvenience and acknowledged the lesson. “ Captain,” he said frankly, “ forgive me, 'tis you are the true gentleman, not I.” That the Governor indulged privately in a few hearty vice-regal oaths, 1 liave no doubt ; but it would be interesting to be able to record the Bufferings of the poor secretary during the remainder of the voyage.