Untitled

Wairarapa Standard, Volume III, Issue 133, 5 August 1869, Page 2

We have on several occasions alluded to His Excellency Sir George Bowen’s despatches—marvels in their way—far from being confined by the strict rules of veracity, and evidently written with the view of exhibiting a great Ego, I, in the foreground and all other matters, whatever their importance might be, as merely adjuncts to the picture. Many might smile at such proceedings, and think them harmle.- & exhibitions of the vanity of a foolish old man, but when vanity becomes so inordinate as to form the ruling passion of a person’s life, it becomes dangerous when thwarted, especially if the said person has the power to carry out his revenge. As a

case in point we may mention an occurrence which took place in Wellington a few days ago. The No. 1 Company of Volunteer lliilcs have in their ranks a number of dramatic amateurs woo perform occasionally. -Recently they announced a performance for the benefit of the Benevo- , lent Society, which the Governor and the Commodore were requested to patronize. The Commodore not wishing to attend, having recently suffered a severe domestic affliction, took a number of tickets and encouraged his officers to be present. The Governor, however, wrote to say that he was unable to attend, but, the company weio at liberty to use bis illustrious name. Not anticipating any great benefit from doing so, they headed their bills, “under the patronage of the Com modore.” It came to their knowledge that Sir George considered himself slighted by this, and the secretary (who was a gentleman in the civil service), was directed to inform His Excellency that being aware that ho was not going to attend, they did not wish to deceive the public by saying that he was. The letter was not couched in language sufficiently submissive to be agreeable, but, nothing was said until there appeared in the “ Evening Post,” a local giving the particulars of the affair, and commenting outbevalueofiiisExcellcncy’s name. Sir George’s wrath was aroused at once, and setting the civil and military machinery of the Government in motion, the delinquent was attacked on two sides at once lie was accused of “lese majesty” in writing impertinent letters to the Governor, and of being the author of a vile local which appeared in the columns of an evening periodical, unworthy to be named. Colonel iieadcr attacked him, as his commanding officer, for breach of discipline as a volunteer; the head of his department suspended him for breach of civil servic regulations, and tho unfortunate individual found himself between “ the devil and the deep sea,” The “ Evening Post ” exonerated him from all complicity in the “ local ” yet he still remains in a precarious position, daily expecting dismissal. It cannot bo denied that Sir George Bowen’s conduct in this instance has been the very reverse of gentlemanly; its justice, people can form their own opinion of. If he considered himself aggrieved by any statements in a newspaper, he should have vented his indignation against it and vindicated himself, which he had abundant means of doing, and not have wreaked his wrath on an unfortunate clerk, whose position left him open to be crushed under the Vice llegal foot.

Sir George may be a very eminent man and an able Governor—at all events he think so himself—but, it is impossible at times to avoid contrasting him with some of his predecssors. Would Sir George Grey on the eve of a great and pressing emergency, a matter of life and death to the Colony have been afraid to exercise his power of ordering the troops to remain, and sat in a corner twu.dling his thumbs, while Dr. h'eatherston went to Melbourne to ask General Chute to do so? We rather think he would at once have assumed the responsibility, and justified himself afterwards as he best could. We are much afraid the people of New Zealand are quite as obtuse in discovering the merits of their model Governor, as w T ere their neighbours in Queensland.