His Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G, Governor in and over the Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, comes of a very old Scotch family. He traces his descent back to one Alan, who was “Dominus de Kelburn” in the reign of William the Lion of Scotland in 1214. Although this ancient family had belonged to the gentry of Scotland for many centuries, it was not ennobled till 1699. At that time David Boyle was a member of the Convention Parliament for Bute, and in recognition of his services, as one of the commissioners for effecting the union with England, was raised to the rank of Earl in the Peerage of Scotland. In 1733 he was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl, and the title remained in this family until 1890, when the present Earl, the seventh from the creation of the peerage, succeeded to the honours of the elder branch of the house. Previously to this, His Excellency was David Boyle, of Shewalton, Ayrshire, and fourth in descent from the second Earl. From 1815 to 1890 the holder of the title possessed a seat in the House of Lords by the title of Baron Ross, of Hawkhead. This privilege, however, lapsed with the extinction of the elder branch in 1890. Before assuming the important functions which he now so ably discharges, His Excellency had seen much of the world. Born on the 31st of May, 1833, he entered the Royal Navy at the age of 12, and served till he reached commander's rank. In the Russian War he served in the White Sea, and in the war with China in 1857 he again saw active service. While engaged in the subject of war, it may be mentioned that the present Earl is not the first of his family to distinguish himself in the service of the State. During his career in the Navy he naturally abstained from taking much part in politics. Nor did he after his retirement from active service seek parliamentary honours. In 1873 he married the eldest daughter of Sir Edward Hunter-Blair, Bart., of Blairquhan, Ayrshire, by whom he has a family of five sons and three daughters. For many years after his marriage his life was spent in taking his part in county business. This has rendered him eminently fitted to discharge his functions as Governor of New Zealand, where he soon showed he was fully capable of understanding the duties of his office. When the resignation of Lord Onslow was announced, there was much speculation in the Colony as to his successor. The names of many notable candidates for the governorship were suggested, but when it was known that Lord Glasgow had been chosen by the Imperial Government, general surprise was expressed, as that gentleman was little known in English politics. That the choice, however, was a wise one has been abundantly proved by subsequent events. Before leaving for New Zealand, Lord Glasgow had formed a high opinion of the Colony from the reports he had heard at Home, and on his arrival his expectations were more than realised. He sailed from London with his family and suite in the early part of 1892, and landed in Sydney, en route for New Zealand. An offer having been made by the Premier to convey his Lordship from Sydney to Wellington, the Government steamer “Hinemoa” was despatched to Sydney for the purpose. Before his arrival in Wellington, arrangements were made for his reception. A public holiday was declared by the Mayor, and the citizens presented themselves in force to meet their new Governor. It is estimated that upwards of 20,000 people assembled on the wharf and along the quays to welcome him. On landing from the steamer he was escorted through Jervois Quay to Cuba Street, and thence back to Government House by way of Manners Street, Willis Street, and Lambton Quay. These streets were decorated from end to end with bunting, and every available spot on the balconies and at the windows was filled with spectators eager to obtain a glimpse of their Governor. Lord Glasgow was much pleased with the welcome of the citizens, and the citizens have had every reason to be pleased with him since his arrival. His functions, which are chiefly social, have been discharged in a way that has given satisfaction to all, and the wish of the people of New Zealand is that his days may be long in the land to which he has come. The Countess of Glasgow, as already mentioned, was married in 1873, and is of an old Ayrshire family.

Viscount Kelburne, the Governor's eldest son, was born on the 18th June, 1874. After a two years' course as naval cadet in H.M.S. Britannia, he joined the Navy in 1889 as midshipman, and was promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant in July, 1894.

His Excellency's Staff, on assuming office in 1892, were:—Colonel P. Boyle, late of the Grenadier Guards, Private Secretary, Captain R. S. Hunter-Blair, Gordon Highlanders, A.D.C.; and Lieutenant E. F. Clayton, Scots Guards, A.D.C.

Colonel Patrick Boyle is a first cousin of His Excellency, being the elder son of the late Admiral Boyle, of Sundrum, Ayrshire. He served in the Grenadier Guards, and was Military Secretary to General Sir John Michel, who was Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Ireland, after which he retired from the service. Colonel Boyle vacated his appointment as Private Secretary in March, 1894.

Captain R.S. Hunter-Blair, sixth son of Sir E. Hunter-Blair, and brother to the Countess of Glasgow, was born on the 18th of November, 1861. Educated at Windlesham and Fettes College, he joined the Gordon Highlanders as Sub-Lieutenant in 1881, served in the Egyptian War of 1882, and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1891. He resigned his appointment as A.D.C. in January, 1894, and is now Adjutant, 3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders. Captain Hunter-Blair was married in New Zealand in 1893 to Emily, daughter of the late Robert Heaton Rhodes, Esq., of Elmwood, Christchurch.

Captain R. S. Hunter-Blair.

Lieutenant Edward Francis Clayton, Aide de-Camp to His Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Glasgow, is the son of Mr. N. G. Clayton, of Chesters, Northumberland. Born on the 21st of August, 1864, near Newcastle, and educated at the famous old school of Harrow, Lieutenant Clayton entered the Imperial Army (Scots' Guards) as second lieutenant, in the month of May. He was seconded for service on His Excellency's staff on the 9th of April, 1892, and arrived in the capital per s.s. “Rotorua,” on the 1st of June, 1892, having sailed from London per s.s. “Austral,” to Sydney

Lieutenant Edward Francis Clayton.

Major E. H. M. Elliot, Private Secretary to His Excellency, vice Colonel Boyle, was born in India on the 30th of November, 1852, and is the only surviving son of the late Sir Walter Elliot, K.C.S.I., of Wolfelee, Roxburghshire, Scotland. His mother was Maria Dorothea, elder sister of Sir E. Hunter-Blair, Bart. Major Elliot was educated at Windlesham and Harrow, and joined the Army as Lieutenant, 82nd Regiment, in 1874. He became Captain in 1884, was transferred to the 40th, now South Lancashire Regiment, in 1888, and was promoted to the rank of Major in 1894. Major Elliot was appointed in January, and took up his duties in the Vice-Regal Household on the 1st of March, 1894.

Major E. H. M. Elliot.

Captain S. H. Johnston-Stewart was educated at Harrow and at Cambridge. He joined the 20th Hussars in 1874, and retired in 1893. He married, in 1883, Helen Constance, third daughter of Sir E. Hunter-Blair. He was appointed extra A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor from October, 1893, to October, 1894.

Captain S. H. Johnston-Stewart.

Captain Robert W. P. C. Campbell-Preston, Extra Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency the Governor, is the eldest son of the late Rev. W. C. Campbell-Preston, of Valley-field, Fifeshire, Scotland. Here Captain Preston was born on the 17th of June, 1865. Educated at Eton, and at Christchurch, Oxford, he joined his regiment, the third Battalion Royal Highlanders, in 1884, as lieutenant. Five years later he was promoted to the rank of captain. In 1891 Captain Preston was appointed by the India Office Equerry to His Highness Kumar Shir Chattra Singhji, of Rajpipla, during the visit of that potentate to England. On the twenty-fifth of July, 1894, the subject of this notice was seconded for service on the Vice-regal staff. He accompanied the Countess of Glasgow on her return journey to New Zealand by the Canadian-Pacific route, arriving in Wellington on the 17th of September, 1894. He is a Justice of the Peace for the Counties of Perth, Fife, and Argyle.

Captain Campbell-Preston.

The Hon. Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, who was gazetted temporarily as Assistant Private Secretary on the Governor's staff in May, 1895, comes of a noble family. He is the eldest son of Lord Medway, and grandson of the Earl of Cranbrook. Born on the 18th of December in the year 1878, he was educated at Eton and at Christchurch, Oxford. He is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Kent, England.

The Hon. Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy.

Sunset—Mana Island.
Photo. by Mr. T. M. Hardy.