DEATH OF SIR DONALD McLEAN.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2497, 6 January 1877, Page 2

DEATH OF SIR DONALD McLEAN.

It is with very sincere regret we learn that Sir Donald McLean is dead. For some time past Sir .Donald has Been in bad health. . During the late session of Parliament he was. often absent from the House, and on the prorogation of the Assembly the deceased gentleman had to remain some time in Wellington, being so ill that he could not be removed. Subsequently an improvement in SirlDofjaTd's health took place, and he was removed to his home in Hawke's Bay, The illness, however, appears to have returned with more unfavorable symptoms* and a few days ago a private telegram received in Auckland prepared Sir Donald's friends for the worst. It stated that there was little hope of his ever being able lorise from his bed, which has proved to be correct, Sir Donald having expired at four o'clock yesterday. Sir Donald McLean bad been many years in New Zealand, and'had raised himself from obscurity to a forest most place in the colony. He _haU> ' achieved wealth and position by his own unaided exertions, and was not so very, long ago honored by the Queen's bestowing the order of Knighthood. As Native and Defence Minister Sir Donald McLean proved himself an able and successful^ministrator, and although his policy, has evoked bitteropposition and condemnation from a section of the press and some hon. members of the Legislature, on the whole it has been approved, especially by politicians in the Middle Island, who could recognise the difficulty of maintaining friendly relations with the Natives, and were prepared to give praise to the man who did this. Sir Donald McLean's death will be very Touch regretted by his late colleagues, and by none more so than - j by Sir Julius Vogel, the Agent General, i who on many occasions paid "a high tribute to the zeal of Sir Donald in I his official capacityV'aml> expressed hia [ regard, forhis personall character. Sir ! Donald had only lately resigned the office ' which he held for so long in the Government, the principal • cause being failing health. Only a few months ago he received the appointment of District Grand Master of Freemasons of England from the Prince of Wales, and ,his Masonic brethren will probably accord him the last honors to be paid to an eminent, departed brother. Some further particulars regarding the last illness and death of Sir Donald, appear in our telegraphic col* umns.