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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5096, 24 July 1877, Page 2

mli. De Lautotjxi, when condemning the reference made to the late Sir Donald McLean, in the Governor’s speech, tried to | show that he did so on the broad grounds that it was unconstitutional —that it 'tended to place .the Governor in the position of a partisan—and that if such a notice was allowed to pass unchallenged

a future speech might'contain censure of" some prominent member of the Opposition. We thought -Mr.;, De Lautour’s reasons not good, and his taste bad ; but we believed him to be sincere, though inclined to be cantankerous. " He' will apparently stand all but alone in his condemnation;. for even he cannot think much of Mr. Thomson’s mingled boast of familiarity witli the late Sir Donald McLean, and sneer at,the mention in the speech of the deceased’s services to the ■ olony. Our contemporaries, so far as we can yet “gather, are singularly unanimous in opposition to Mr. De Lautour’s course. We commend to that honorable gentleman’s consideration the following extracts : The death of Sir Di McLean Is of course* a subject that could not be passed unnoticed. The paragraph in which his loss is deplored is worded in terms more undeservedly eulogistic than every one would be willing to admit; hut perhaps not more so than was to be expected and becoming under the cicumstances.— The Press.

The speech contained one satisfactory paragraph that referring to the late Sir Donald McLean.— Lyttelton Times. The reference to the late Sir Donald McLean and his services to the native race is but natural. His bitterest enemies will scarcely deny him some meed of praise forjhis personal qualities, though they may hot bo willing to look upon him as a wise or just administrator.— Otago Daily Times. The second paragraph in the speech records an event that silences criticism. The death of the late Native Minister,, Sir, Donald McLean, has 1 : caused sincere regret throughout New Zealand ; and though his Native policy was, during his lifetime, the object of severe and persistent attack, and the evils of the Native Department seem still as glaring as they ever were, the tribute paid to, the faithful, earnest services of Sir Donald McLean will find an echo in the hearts even of his most uncompromising opponents.— Otago Guardian. ' ' '

- Messrs. De L autquk, and Thomson were known before to have curious notions, of constitutionalism and official propriety. It is to be'desired, perhaps, that neither of them should come to doubt the wisdom of his latest utterance ; for when a man, in order to talk “ tall” about rights and has sacrificed good taste, he is I likely to feel very uncomfortable if he is I forced to. recognise that his talk was , merely nonsense out of place.