New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5105, 3 August 1877, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1877.

T}hat lying jade rumor has of late been particularly busy with stories as to the retention of office by the present AgentGeneral for the colony. The matter has at last culminated in a direct question to the Government, of which Mr. Maoandrew has given. notice, • and which inquires whether it is the intention of the Ministry to retain , the services of Sir Julius Vogel as Agent-General. _ It is now, therefore, worth-while noticing an affair which we have hitherto passed by without comment, as merely involving ohe of the ordinary falsehoods that it seems to be the business, as well as the pleasure, of certain people, to disseminate in New Zealand. Having to notice the subject now, however, it may be as well to trace its history. Not long ago ah article appeared in the Press in thorough consonance with the literary traditions of ...that paper. The article had about it a smack of superficial ; cleverness in its language, was an imitation of terseness and perspicacity, and its tenor was that .there never had been a worse Agent-General than Sir Julius : ."Vogel, and that there never might," could, should, or would be such an AgentGeneral as the Hon'. E. W. Stafford. It is as well,to y say at .once that .it would be 1 an insult to a gentleman of Mr. Stafford’s position in the country, and professing to entertain such nice notions of honor as he does, to, -imagine Jor a moment that he was anxious to intrigue for the office now held by his old political rival. It would be hard indeed if Mr. Stafford were he}d responsible for -everything that might appear in a Canterbury newspaper ; but, apart from this even, we could not entertain so revolting an idea as that Mr. Staffed had anything to do with'the suggestions made by, our Canterbury contemporary. But to’ resume the thread of our narrative. The next phase! of this ('affair; was in connection with Wellington journalism. In an article which/combined .'the' (politeness of a prizefighter with ,the language of a larrikin, a Wellington newspaper roundly abused Sir Julius VopBL, and suggested that Mr. Stafford should" be appointed Agent-General in his stead. Then another newspaper, in a sanctimonious Ideal, professed , holy : horror at. the mere notion of such a thing, but half hinted that-., the. Government were not averse to the proposed change. Following' ( this iwe.’ Kaye ,'Mri KMLfdAlsrDREw’s question as noticed above. Now, without the > least professing to’ be in the confidence of the Government, we may as well state that we know the following to be facts. In the first place, Ministers have not had the smallest cause for complaint; on the contrary, have grounds for expressing their satisfaction with the manner in which the present AgentGeneral has' carried but his duties.'/’ .Not only have directions been attended to and savings where indicated" effected—as may be seen from. correspondence laid. uppn the table "of the House;—but" Sir Julius has exerted himself in every possible direction which might be of benefit to the colony, and, has not neglected a single duty that might seem c by implication to appertain to his’ office. " There does not then-exist the Smallest desire,on the part of .the Government to' dispense with the service's of Sir Julius Vogel ; on the contrary,; the desire is to retain those services. Of qourse neither tfie. Government nor .the Agent-General can guard against malicious ' falsehoods, and therefore cannot prevent the publication of .such untruths , as those we have noticed; but when a question like Mr. Macandrbw’s gives them the opportunity of contradicting these untruths, they will not hesitate to do soj and'will ho doubt doit in a manner which will enable ,us ,to say something further on the subject.