Sir Arthur Gordon and New Zealand, 1880-1882

Abstract

FOR THIRTY YEARS Arthur Hamilton Gordon, first Baron Stanmore, served as in various parts of British empire.' A colleague with firsthand knowledge of Gordon's work called him the best Crown Governor of my time; London Times' obituary notice described him as a humanitarian and a strong governor who in his dealings with colonial office was quite independent.2 Gordon's greatest success was as first governor, 1875-1880, of newly annexed Fiji Islands. Though his subsequent governorship of New Zealand proved a failure, it was a failure which added lustre to his name. As chief executive of that self-governing colony he was thwarted in his efforts to protect native population against white settlers' greed, injustice, and wrong. Gordon's first colonial appointment was lieutenant-governorship of New Brunswick, 1861-1866. Before that time he was private secretary to his father, fourth Earl of Aberdeen (prime minister, 18521855) and to W. E. Gladstone. From 1854 until 1857 he represented a Scottish district in House of Commons. From his father Gordon imbibed deep religiosity and sincere humanitarian views; his early associates were exceedingly able members of his father's ministry, Sidney Herbert, Sir James Graham, and W. E. Gladstone. While an undergraduate at Oxford, Gordon started a private correspondence with Gladstone which lasted from 1851 until 1896. Even failure of Gordon to win hand of Gladstone's oldest daughter, Agnes,' did not break off intimate personal relations between him and her father. Indeed, Gordon was one of few persons outside family circle whom Gladstone addressed with English familiar My