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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 230, 9 October 1879, Page 4

Mr Hati Las been five (imes a Miaister of the Crown. He was in the Fox Mioistry of 1856. in the Stafford Ministry of 1866, in the Fox Mioiatry of 1872, in the W.uorhou3b Ministry o< the snnie year, and in the Atkinson of 1876. But he wa3 in none of these Ministries more tbnn a few months, except in the S'.afford Ministry of 1866, of which he wub a member for Dearly three years. As he left no Ministry of which he became a member from political disagreement, and as it cannot be sail with truth that iv joining any Ministry he eacrifbeJ his principles, his Ministerial career would show that there was no distinctive policy in those timea on either side of the House. There was no doubt one exception in the case of the Stafford native policy of 1869, as compared with that of Mr Fox. But the events which had taken place between 1869 and 1872 obviated any possible objection on that ground to the accession of Mr Hall to the Cabinet of Mr Fox in 1872. A mao would have been mad who iv that year advocated a return to the war policy. Mr Hall was not less able in departmental than in Parliamentary affairs. He had a remarkable faculty for the despatch of bu*ine.-3, for methodical arrangement 1 and for organisation. His chier attention was devited to the Postal and Telegraph Departments, and he brought both to a atiite of great efficiency. The Telegrapb Department he created, and in the fact; of trying difficulties it soon became eminently creditable to Mr Hall's administrative ability. Mr Hall is an excellent judge of character and qualification, and is very successful in the selection of public servants. That 19 a gift essential to good administration. As a m-jinber of the Canterbury Provincial Council, and in the Provincial Executive, Mr Hall has been zealous, able, and useful. It would be difficult, take him all in all, to nod a better type of politician."