MR M'LEAN'S DISMISSAD

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 671, 8 April 1869, Page 2

MR M'LEAN'S DISMISSAD

(Wairarapa Mercury,, 26tE Maxell,) The disaiissal of Mr M‘Lean, as Government agent on the East Coi has produced: various expressions opinion from the press throughout Colony, -and has been generally ( demned as being a mistake on the p of Mr Stafford. However much may regret that the circumstance 1 occurred, we cannot refrain from ( pressing our opinion that justice 1 not altogether- been done to Mr Si ford.

The duties of the Colonial Secret) appear to be thought too little We might ask the question to any ( —rich and poor —who would perfj his duties and incur his responsibly If anything turns out well, the pra is given to the subordinate officer, anything goes wrong all the blame laid on Mr Stafford.

It seems only fair that in the pi sent position of the native rebel! the man who is at the head of the Q vernaient should be allowed to sell his own agents, and although as i observed before, it is to be regrett that Mr M Lean has ceased to be o t still it is too critical a time for one .do anything but support the Govei ment in its endeavors to suppn the rebellion.

With regard to the particular ci cumstanees which have occurred, at which we believe causfed the autborii he has hitherto exercised to be wit drawn we have no desire to speak, J if there is to be one head governme in whose liands the colony has e trusted the power of directing the ci ryiag on of the present war, then ti head must be supported, and if thi who are more competent to afford i sistauce only thwart their desigi then the services of others must obtained, although perhaps not valuable.

Experience has shown that the ot great advantage we possess over tl Maoris is that we can move 01 forces by means oh steamers from tl East to the West Coast, and therel double their efficiency at a triflii cost.

Mr M'Lean with all his good qual ties has been known as a lover of tl sugar and blanket policy, and an ad mirer of the Maori character; perbaj with his leaving the Government se vice, these two features will be di continued in its policy towards tl Maoris. If so, it will be a subject it great congratulation.