The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1879.

Westport Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1644, 11 March 1879, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1879.

BEFORE Sir Hercules Robinson has sot his foot upon our shores, and before he hns had any time or opportunity to give offence, the Grey Ministry have thrown down the gauntlet of defiance at him, and have more than hinted at unfriendly relations between him and the Ministry. The particular form of annoyance which is threatened as the opening shot, is the appointment by the Ministry of the Governor's Private Secretary. The gentleman who holds this responsible office is paid by the Colony at the rate of .-£:)0O a year, and therefore, says the Ministry, through their organ, the Ministry should have the nomination to the appointment/in the same way as they have to that'of all other civil servant?, moreover they say, there has aeon in times past a great deal of leakage of information from Government House, and inasmuch as the Ministry, or rather the Premier, has not been on aood terms with the Governor, the leakage has been to the disadvantage of the former. This kind of petty indignitv is really going too far, and as it reflects discredit upon the people generally, the people generally should disavow and condemn it. Before the Marquis of Normanby lefc no occasiou was lost of insulting him, aud it was only by his admirable demeanour through a most trying time, that the malignant shafts of his enemy were of no avail to injure him. Whatever may have been Sir George Grey's grievance against the Marquis of Normanby, he can have none against Sir Hercules Robinson, and we protest against the attitude the Government are assuming towards our new Governor. The people wish neither to to be the sycophantic admirers of any Governor or of any Premier, but they wHi the lvepre sentative of the Queen to be treated with proper respect, aodjthey desire to treat with all due courtesy auy gentleman who has given them no cause for

offence, and who brings with him a reputation for those qualities which should put anything like rudeness to him out of the question. With Parliament out of session, the Premier can pursue t'te course he has undertaken for a little while, but we are much mistaken if the House of liepresentatives does not show very plainlv, and without reference io party, that they are no sympathisers with the indignities that have been practised against the lat'> Governor, and are now threatened against our new oue. Prom wh.it we learn of Sir Hercules Robinson, we believe that he is of a temperament that will not easily put up with any acts of vindictivenes3 on Sir George part, and that he is quite able to suuff the great procodsul out, but whether this be so or not, no one coming as he should he treated as be has already been by the (3-overnment and the press that serve them.