6 MARCH 1858, Page 18

!Mug In Iir titur.

LORD MULGRAVE'S COLONIAL APPOINTMENT.

Bra—Being a New Zealand colonist, I have read with great concern your two articles on the appointment of Lord Mulgrave to the Governorship of Nova Scotia. I think you greatly mistake the feelings and interests of co- lonists. The object of the Home Government should be to send as Colonial Governors the men best qualified for the office, and most acceptable to the co- lonists, irrespective of the claims of old servants of the Crown. The most important qualification for a Colonial Governor is a practical knowledge of Parliamentary government and the possession of courteous and concilia- tory manners the want of this knowledge has caused most if not all the squabbles between the Governors and their subjects—the Governors claiming Irresponsible powers, and the representative bodies those of the British Par- liament. An English nobleman, from his Parliamentary experience and knowledge of society, would have no difficulty with his Ministers, and give a tone to the society of a colony, quite out of the power of a man of colo- nial extraction. Administrative abilities are of no more value to a Colonial Governor than similar talents in a British Sovereign ; and any attempt by a Governor to meddle in the political affairs of a colony is resented with greater vigour than similar conduct on the part of the Queen. The accept- ance of a governorship by a nobleman of historic name would be gratifying to any colony, while the appointment of a colonially-bred statesman would be barely tolerated. If the Royal Family were banished the countr-,, would not any Member of Parliament have difficulty in maintaining Um Royal dignity though the crown were voted to him by a majority of both Houses ? Colonists have similar prejudices. There are many obvious reasons against the selection of Colonial Governors from colonial statesmen, which I will not trespass further on your space to specify ; but will only assure you that, as far as I can judge, no colony will welcome a Governor taken from a neigh- bouring one, nor support a public man suspected of looking for promotion to the English Government.

Mar correspondent no doubt expresses one view taken by some colonists, but it is a partial view. He has overlooked an important point which we had in sight. Practice in House of Commons strategy—the tactics of the Lobby—are not a real school even in Parliamentary government. The ap- pointment of Lord MnIgrave was a violation of a rule that had been laid down, to the injury of a senior servant of the Crown in the same career. If Lord Mulgrave--supposing him specially qualified, of which the public have no evidence—had been appointed to the corps of Colonial Governors, it should have been as ajumor.—En.)