The Press. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1869.

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1826, 18 February 1869, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1869.

Eveeyone has heard Sydney Smith's description of plucky little Lord John Russell, who, according to the witty divine, was ready at a moment's notice to perform an operation for the stone or to take command of the Channel fleet. Mr Stafford seems disposed to circulate the pluck and versatility of the Whig leader. Hβ can, and does, turn his hand to anything. No business of State is too large, no minutiae of an office too small for him. Whether it be the management of a war or the supervision of a laundry, he is, to use a colonial phrase, " all there." His powers are like those of a ~N"asmyth steam hammer, which at one blow can pound a piece of iron flat and at the next can crack a nut without damaging the kernel. One itour of the day he devotes to writing snubbing letters (and we know with what charming delicacy Mr. Stafford administers a snub!) to the Commander-in-Chief. Another is occupied in the inspection of the weekly washing bills, and in settling, after consultation with the washerwomen, how many towels the state of the finances will allow to be issued during the week in each department. We are really afraid that New Zealand does not half appreciate such varied talent. " A child," sings the poet, *' does not feel like a child till you miss him" j and we fear;that not till Mr. Stafford has been removed from this mortal, scene shall we fully, know his worth, and alas,, too late! what a •treasure we have Jost. But such is the lot of great men. And Mr Stafford is so great, so very great, we almost hold our breath as we think of it. Only conceive what offces .he holds! He is Premier, Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer,, and, as Mr. Hall has resigned his portfolio—positively for the last time of resigning— we suppose he is Postmaster-(General. Wehave heard of three single gentlemen rolled into one ; but fancy three ministers rolled into one! Evefa that is not all. > Great as he is there is something greater still to come. Mr Richmond intends to resign soon, and then Mr Stafford will add to his other official titles that of: Native Minister. Next he will take over the War Department. Lastly, ("let mc play the lion too ") he is to take Colonel WhitmOre's place at the head of the forces, demolish Titokowaru, and show the colony what muffs all former generals have been, and how easily insurgent Maoris can be put down by a man who understands this business. But, our readers may ask, why should Mr Stafford heap sucli labors on himself? It cannot surely be from pure love of work; nor can it be from hope of fame, for he is constantly upbraiding the public for not paying him the respect he deserves. Well, we think we can guess the reason. Mr Stafford is a great student of English history, and loves to repeat in his own career the more brilliant performances of English In 1865- he was the Pitt of New Zealand—such at least was his own modest comparison—holding his ground against a hostile majority whom he was waiting his opportunity to scatter to the winds by a well-timed dissolution. Shfce then he has read how theJDuke of Wellington for some weeks heW all the great offices of State j at once, while waiting for the return! of Sir R. Peel from Italy. Here was another example to copy. Mr Stafford is as great a general as the Duke of

Wellington (we are sure he would tell us so if we were to ask him—see his letters to Colcnel Whitmore), and who shall cay that he is not equally capable of combining in his own person an entire Ministry ? For our own parts, however, we are more inclined to echo the Duke's enquiry— how is the Government to be carried on ? We have every respect for Mr Stafford's talent and the highest admiration for his industry; but we doubt his military genius, and even as an ordinary Minister we don't think him equal to three. If we must have him at the head of affairs, we would rather have him with colleagues than without. Such extreme concentration of government is carrying the thing too far. We should prefer to decentralise him.