ABSTRACT
One minute Gorst seemed to be employed by the Governor on some task and the next it was the turn of the colonial government, in the shape of William Fox, the Premier, to use him. This must have been confusing to say the least, and Gorst himself observed: ‘I became an official of the British Government, whether of the imperial or colonial government was never exactly settled, and was employed in attempting to carry out their schemes for restoring confidence and peace’. 1
