The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 6, 6 January 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1877.

It is with deep and sincere regret that we announce to-day the death of Sir Donald M'Lean, which took place at his residence at Napier yesterday afternoon. Ever since his arrival in the colony thirty-two years ago, Sir Donald had taken a deep interest in the Maori race, by the leading chiefs of which he was looked up to with respect and affection. In all his dealings with the Maoris his actions partook of the suaviter in modo, for titer in re. His manner with them was friendly aud conciliatory, but behind it was a determination which the natives soon learned to acknowledge, and for which, the more they became acquainted with it, the more did they respect the man by whom it was displayed. For seven years the entire control of the Native Department has been left in his hands, aud although from time to time charges of needless extravagance have been made against him, the result of his administration has proved its wisdom, as the country has enjoyed peace during the whole of that time, while the mutual relations between the Europeans and Maoris have been year by year becoming more and more friendly. ,As a private gentleman and a warm-hearted friend, he was most highly esteemed by all whose privilege it was to be on intimate terms with'him, and as a statesman he has left behind him a name which will always occupy a prominent and honored position in the history of New Zealand. In this brief obituary notice it may not be out of place to quote a short extract from a recent article, in which the Lyttelton Times commented upon Sir Donald's resignation. " We wish," said our contemporary, " for a time at least, farewell to Sir Donald with regret, and a sincere sense of the enormous —we use the word advisedly— public services which he has rendered. We trust that his health, which, we are sorry to hear, is the immediate cause of his retirement, may soon be re-established. He may well laugh to scorn the contemptible attacks made on his general public career. As a public man, measured by the value of what he has done, he dwarfs every one in New Zealand. As a private man, he takes with him the hest wishes and esteem of a host of friends." Some interesting particulars of Sir Donald's last days will be found in our telegrams.