New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4360, 11 March 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1875.

The Hon. William Fox has withdrawn from the leadership; -of •; the; political party with which he was for so years connected ; he has also, for some' time at air events, : retired from public life altogether. -This latter step.is occasioned by his contemplated visit to/the United States and Europe, accompanied -by Mrs. Fox. It is no mere affectation on our part to say that we sincerely regret both events. Mi\ Fox retired from the leadership of his party at a time when its triumph was assured. He did not leave it without the active aid of his guiding mind in a season of doubt or difficulty. On the contrary, he stood by it loyally to the very • last, and on the resignation of Mr. Watekhouse, during the absence from the colony of Messrs. Voobl and Reynolds, he again temporarily took the helm, and succeeded in consolidating the Government and its supporters, transferring to his successor the lead of a party more united and zealous in its work than it had been at any time subsequent to the accession of Mr. Watermotjse to power.

The first event—the resignation by Mr.' Fox, of the leadership of his party—has been again prominently brought under public notice by the formal presentation yesterday, at the General Government Buildings, of the address adopted on that occasion by the political supporters of the lion, gentleman, being members of the House of Representatives. A report of the ■ proceedings appears elsewhere; The presentation was quietly and unobtrusively made, but it was most significant nevertheless. It was an attestation of the highest kihd_ to the private worth and public services of an old colonist, —one of the pioneers, indeed, of New Zealand,—by gentlemen who had, in their various capacities, abundant opportunities: of estimating these at their true value. Mr. Fox may well feel proud of such a testimonial. It should console him at times . when the voice of detraction reaches him,. while engaged in the heroic work of social reform, to which he has devoted his splendid faculties aud the remaining energy of his life. It is a thankless task at best to attack social abuses, or to arraign at the bar of public, opinion those vested interests which spring up, ' strong and vigorous in their growth, having .'their roots deep in the rank soil of social degradation and crime. Mr. Fox has undertaken that thankless task. He has had to encounter the raillery of some, the sneers of others, and the coarse abuse .of those to . whom detraction is-congenial. But his opponents on the public platform have found the Social Reformer precisely the same man that his political opponents' had to deal with in the Legislature. He has never once turned his cheek to the smiter ; and we trust he never may. If a cause' is worth advocating, it is worth contending for ';' and if a public man's reputation is of any valued he should be prepared to defend himself-at all times with the utmost vigor. Mr. Fox'belioves in the merits of total abstinence principles which he ' advocates ; and believing in them, h'e'is'.fully. justified in the course he has pursued, because.no sensible;man can suppose that a different tone of argument would have led to more favorable results; and Mr. Fox's reputation, being not only, dear to himself, but precious also >to the colony as the common property of ! his fellow-citizens, whom he so often represented in. the highest Executive offices which any man could fill under''free representativeinstitutions, he is'alsp'j listened !at all times in resenting, attacks upon it, from whatever quarter those attacks may, proceed. ■.■..,, ■,„■> .Indeed, if we look back at the career of Mr. Wm. Fox, even those who oppose him most strenuously must admit that he is one of our representative men- of iwhom New .Zealand* has reason to be proud. : Arriving here amongst./the, pioneers of colonisation, under the New Zealand Company's scheme .of .'settlement, -Mr. Fox was called upon early to take an .active aiid leading part : in tlie-manage-' 'ment of the Cook's ! Strait Settlements. |The Wairau massacre having deprived the iNelson settlement of the services of Captain Wakefield, at a time .of. unexampled idifficulty in its affairs,.'Mr:' For 1 was ap-' pointed resident".agent'' therej and succeeded in restoring confidence, among the 'settlers, and diffipult, and. irritating questions' at issue Between the* Company arid the'landowners. ' These l services were recognised by the Cbmipany and the local -Government. On the'death of Colonel Wakefield, the' principal agent Of the' Company; Mr. iF6x was appointed his successo'r;' and it is needless to, say ;that,he,., brought the same' business, habits_ to bear in tliis irioro} responsible position jthat had been so conspicuous.,in his management of the Nelson settlement.' As one of the founders of New Zealand, Mr.. Fox, amongstthe few survivors, may certainly lay claim to the foremost place. He also took an • active part in the struggles which resulted iri obtaining the Constitution Act; arid since representative institutions were granted to the colony, lie"has alwaysheld'a leadingpoaition. This will appear from, the following Parliamentary record, which we. extract from the iven rZealand Blue Book for 1874. Thus;— Hon. William Fox : 1856—AttorneyGeneral and Premier. 1861-62—Colonial Secretary and Premier; also AttorneyGeneral for a time. 1863-64: Colonial Secretary. 1869-72—Premier. 1873 Premier. ' .

This record is sufficient to show that Mr. Fox is no ordinary man. a considerable period, after retiring from office in 1864, Mr. Fox was abroad, and ceased to hold a seat in the Legislature. If he had remained in New Zealand, there is little doubt tho course of politics would have flowed in a somewhat different channel; but he was not idle while he was in England, as he found time to write and publish a very clever history of the New Zealand war. In taking leave of Mr. Fox, we have only to echo the expressions of good-will which fell from the Hon. Mr. Reynolds, on behalf of the deputation and gentlemen signing the address, as well as the hope that he may soon return to take part with his fellow-settlers in carrying oat the great work of colonization • in which they are actively engaged. Of Mrs. Fox, it is not too much to say that she will be mißsed by those engaged in charitable and educational efforts, as she was foremost in every good work.