THE EARL OF ONSLOWasked the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for the Colonies (having given him private notice of the question) whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to agree to the proposition which it was understood had been made by the Colony of South Australia, to the effect that no successor to the present Governor, the Earl of Kintore, should be appointed, but that the functions should be discharged by the Chief Justice of the Colony?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Marquess of RIPON)My noble Friend the Earl of Kintore, has, I am glad to say, consented to prolong his stay in South Australia. Some time ago I heard, to my surprise, that the Earl of Kintore thought his term of office was only five years, whereas, as the noble Earl knows, the office of Colonial Governor is held for six years. When I heard that I have communicated with my noble Friend, representing to him the strong desire of myself and the Government that he should remain the full term of six years, and assuring him of the confidence of Her Majesty's Government and of their recognition of the ability with which he has discharged his duties. I am happy to say that at considerable personal inconvenience the Earl of Kintore has consented to remain until the expiration of his full period of six years, and, in these circumstances, therefore, the proposition of the Government of the Colony falls to the ground.