THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JAN. 8, 1863.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 80, 8 January 1863, Page 2

THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JAN. 8, 1863.

A Fit EE discussion of public matters is the bulwark of British freedom, and the impartial report of those discussions by the press is of the utmost importance to the vitality of that freedom. We are led to make this prefatory remark in reference to the proceedings at the Country District nomination, held on the 27th ultimo, at Mr. Tiffen’s Farm, Green Meadows, a report of which proceedings, copied from, the Herald, appeared io our last week’s issue ; in which repart, owing to some unaccountable cause, we find a most important question put by Mr. Bousfield characterised as of a private nature. To that view of the case we demur, and with reason, as will appear from the nature of the question, which was as follows: What is the reason why, having acted as the practical administrator of Native affairs in this Island for more than fourteen years, you have withdrawal from the administration of those affairs at this crisis, to take part in the comparatively insignificant politics of this Province ? —A most important question, truly, and one which, to every person interested in the prosperity of New Zealand, carries with it a vast significance. The answer contained, of necessity, matter befitting the importance of the question, and was to this effect, — I have been eighteen years actively engaged in the public service, and during that time have never relaxed from the performance of my duty ; but being attacked by a severe fit of illness, I obtained tw r o and a half years’ leave of absence, to which, under the circumstances, no reasonable objection can be made. It was my intention to return to England, but in consequence of the unsettled state of Native affairs, I determined to defer the visit to my native land until those affairs had assumed a more T promising aspect. I therefore determined to remain here in this Province, which has ever had my warmest regards, to watch over her interests and to be at hand in case of emergency. That such a question and such an answer can be viewed in the light of a private nature appears to us, probably owing to the absence of that astuteness which is the leading feature of our f’nntpmnnynrv to rnrrv O ~ *1 ' * J ? j

private matters a great deal too far into that class of affairs coming under the head of public business, which course of procedure we conceive to be eminently dangerous, as to suit the purpose of a party a considerable eoiiiUSion between the two would presently make its appearance, and jeopardy the free-' dom of discussion. Without at present entering into the discussion of Mr. McLean’s administration of Native affairs, and its effect as at this time felt throughout the Colony, it bears very much upon the interests of this Province for the electors to know the reason why that gentleman has retired from the high position which he has so long filled, and at a time, too, when, above all times in the history of New Zealand, his services, if ever of value, are the most valuable, and when all persons—we say advisedly all persons—having any influence with or knowledge of the Natives are only too much wanted to get the state coach out of the mire. We are not by any means disposed to admit Mr. McLean’s answer to the question put to him relative to the Native Laud Purchase Ordinance as satisfactory, for it would seem by the explanation given by Mr. Bousfield of this important transaction, which will be found in another column, that the Chief Land Purchase Cornu* issioner was fully aware of the breach of that Ordinance creeping slowly but surely on, and admitted, in fact, that it had had great effect upon the Native mind, and had materially retarded the acquisition of land from them. Why, therefore, that being the case, was not the officer whose duty it was to lay informations under this Ordinance required to act, and that too without regard to persons or places ? It appears to us that Mr. McLean, as having, intimate control over all matters appertaining to the management of Native laud, and being specially deputed by the Colony at large to watch over them, is very much to blame in this mattei’, the consequences of which have proved fatal to the expansion of the resources contained within this Province in particular, and materially affected the development of the lauded wealth of the whole of this Island. We cannot conclude our remarks upon the subject of this nomination without adthe extreme shortness of the notice given to the electors, which we look upon as a very serious matter. As long a notice of this sort of thing should be given as circumstances will permit, in order that the merits of the candidates for election may be fairly discussed and duly ventilated, by which simple arrangement the side-winds of scandal would be diverted from blowing upon the proceedings. While we are but too glad to join in the feeling, which appears pretty general, of satisfaction at Mr. McLean’s advent as a provincial politician, we must confess to an inability to do so with that enthusiastic warmth which has so completely roused our contemporary out of his usual cool and cautious line of conduct.