CROSBIE WARD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 911, 21 January 1868, Page 3

CROSBIE WARD.

We abridge the following sketch of the career of the lamented Crosbie Ward from the Lyttelton Times: — • Crosbie Ward was the third son of the Hon. and Rev. Henry Ward, rector of Killinchy, County Down, Ireland. He was born in that parish on the 10th February, 1832, and was educated at the Collegiate School, Castletown, Isle of Man, and at Trinity College, Dublin. He was called away from his studies by news of the death of his two elder brothers, who were drowned in Lyttelton harbour ; and arrived in the Stag, on the 17th May, 1852, to superintend their affairs. For three years he was engaged in farming, and his first public appearance was in March, 1855, when he was returned to the Provincial Council by Akaroa. In December, 1855, he stood to represent Christchurch Country District in tho General Assembly, and was defeated. On the Ist July, 1856, he commenced his connection with the Lyttelton Times. On first embarking in this enterprise, which he did with his wonted activity, everything connected with a paper was new to him. But he at once undertook the management of the paper, and till very lately he was engaged in writing for these columns. In October, 1856, he again offered himself to represent the Christchurch Country District in the General Assembly, and was again defeated ; but obtained a seat in that Assembly as member for Lyttelton on the 28th May, 1858. In October of the same year, Lyttelton sent him to represent its interests iv the Provincial Council, when Akaroa had treated him as it has from time to time treated all its best representatives, by throwing him out without any reason intelligible to the outer world. In the first two sessions of the Assembly which he attended — those of 1858 and 1860 — ho took comparatively little open part. He spoke little, and then with embarrassment. His manner was that of a man struggling with a wealth of thought, but as yet unable to take a clear view of the necessities of the occasion ; able, more than most men, to see what was to be said on both sides of a question, conscientiously desirous to do justice, but wanting the experience which was gradually to bring him practical decision. Indeed, it must be said thafc the tendency to balance too long between two sides of a question — a fault certainly not possible to a narrow mmd — tended long to mar his practical usefulness, and to the last was apt to torment him. This is not too strong a word, for he was fully alive to his own failing in this respect, and struggled to overcome it. But while comparatively silent in the House, he was not idle, and he very soon commanded a position in the Assembly remarkable for a man of his age, and second to few in the colony. His first speech in the session of 1858 was against the ballot ; and he at once began to advocate steam postal communication — a subject with which his name will be long remembered in New Zealand. In August, 1861, he joined Mr. Fox's Ministry, as Postmaster - General, — avowedly more as a representative of Southern interests in a Northern Government, than on any distinct political principles. He at once began to display the -adc?ij!ifS±raiiYe_talents which afterwards made him soughT ss a. colleague by leaders of different admin stratiolis. _,His nominal office was that of PostmasterGeneral, but his duties were not confined to the department he undertook. He came to Canterbury after the session, and went on to Otago on business connected with the gold-fields. In January, 1862, he went to Hawke's Bay to arrange disputes between the settlers and natives, and conducted this delicate business with great sagacity and success. It was while on this mission that he suffered his first attack of the acute disease under which he lias at last sunk. His illness, though ifc gradually increased in painfuluess and intensity from this time till his death, never interfered with his activity and inci'easing usefulness. Very few even of his intimate friends knew how he was suffering imysically, even when he was hardest worked. It was a subject on which he said little, and he never complained. In August, 1862, Mr. Fox was turned out of office, and Mr. Domett took the reins. Mr. Ward continued in office chiefly on account of postal business, and early in 1863 left for England to negotiate the Panama service. In March, 1864, he returned to the colony, having been successful in making a contract for the service on his own responsibility. On Mr. Ward's return to the colony, he found the Government of which he was a member turned out of office, and a new administration prepared to repudiate tho contract he had made on the ground that he had exceeded his powers. The expression of opinion on the part of the public generally, and especially in this province, proved how truly he had represented the colony in the action he had taken. In tho next session of the Assembly he hacl the satisfaction of helping to pass tho Act which was to endorse the course he had pursued, and on the formation of a Government by Mr. Weld, he was offered the department of Postmaster-General, in order that he might himself complete the ncgociations with the company and the neighboring colonies. But at this time, unfortunately as it turned out for the permanent establishment of a strong and satisfactory government, Mr. Ward began to hold views on the question of Separation widely differing from those held by Mr. Weld. He refused to take office, and gradually drifted into opposition. Whatever may be thought of the downfall of the Weld administration, and of the ill consequences of that breakdown in the Assembly, it must be admitted that Mr. Ward was following no popular cry nor actuated by any hope of popular favor. But Ihe time was come when all political differences were to sink out of sight in the deep regret felt by men of all parties at his compulsoiy retirement from political life. For when he took the office of Agent for the Province of Canterbury in England, it was felt by all who knew him that his career was nearly over. His disease had got such a mastery over him as to deprive him of rest, and to make his life a protracted torture. By the mail before last we heard of his having negotiated the sale of £150,000 of Provincial Debentures, and by letters thafc have just arrived, dated 26th October, we hear that he was doing his duty to the last with his wonted pluck, although nofc expected to live many clays. Mr. Selfe writes, " Poor Crosbie "Ward is dying — sinking fast. He will never leave his room alive. I think a few days will see the end ; — he is emaciated to the last degree, and suffers much. I saw him yesterday for a quarter of an hour, as he expressed a wish to sco me. His mind is clear, and he bears up gallantly. * * * I could nofc, of course, say much to him in our brief interview — my anxiety being to prevent his being troubled about worldly matters. I begged him to leave to me any business arrangements of the office which he did nofc feel could be managed by others. But his pluck is wonderful, and he will die in harness. He insisted on having an interview with Mr. Lark worthy, the manager of the Bank o£

-yNevr Zealand, and on dictating to the .clerk at the office a despatch to the Super- . intendent." The telegram does not mention the date of his death; but this extract '■from a private letter shows us our old friend dying as he had lived, a brave, unselfish man, doing the work he had found to do in this life with all his might, until death relieved him from his pain and from his labour. Thus it was ordained, for reasons that we cannot fathom, that the promise of an active and useful life should be blighted very soon. But after all, he has left work enough after him for one short life; and he had inspired the public with an extraordinary confidences, his future. Those who differed from him most, respected his soruples and did justice to his industry and ability. How mere differences of opinion appear to shrink into insignificance in the face of death ! How incidental circumstances fade out of sight, and the man assumes his real stature among his fellows, in, our saddened thoughts! Great success, or high position, or extended fame, are not the" true measure of . a man's -claim to be remembered hy his contemporaries with affection and respect. And New Zealand fill find a niche among her, departed worthies for one who, in his short career, had served her so honestly and so well. Because he was just and pure and true in all his dealings — because he was manly and firm in his public conduct, gentle and kind in his private relations ; therefore all love, and honor, and respect — all tender regrets and gentle memories, will gather round the grave of Crosbie Ward.