[FROM THE AUCKLAND " EVENING STAR." O-FrEN and sorely has Mr. McLean's con duct of native affairs been criticised. No thing at times was bad enough to say of him. His treatment of the natives was un-Eng-Ksb and unmanly, and though practical proof was afforded that his policy kept fire and sword from the homos of our settlers, our indignation was invited to boil over because he did not promptly and summarily avenge every slight and wrong at the hands of the native tribes. Now an opportunity is afforded to hia criticisers to make Mr. McLean staud aside, and for themselves to confront tho native difficulty. But no, thank you. They are pi'epared to walk over to the Treasury benches hand in hand with Mr. McLean, but there is a ghost in the closet, and they will not peep in there unless they have Mr. McLean with them to exorcise the dark spirit. Bounce is now stilled. Great is the policy of conciliation, and Mr. McLean is its prophet ; and the intermeddling of any other hands than those of Mr. McLean is regarded as sure to embroil the Colony in a war of races. Such appears to be now the prevalent feeling in the Hous6 of Repre sentatives, and as Ihe party in opposition had an irrepressible craving for the honors and emoluments of the Ministerial side of the House, Mr. McLean was invited to prove traitor to his colleagues and his party, and pass ove" and be a tower of strength to their eiemies. That such a proposal should be entertained in an as semblage of Englislmen, shows how all sense of honour can be obliterated by con tact with the villanies of colonial politics. If Mr. McLean coud perpetrate such an act of treason he would give the lie to his past career, and appear the meanest truckster that has figured in New Zealand politics. It so tappens that the late Ministry was sheltered under his protec tion. But a few months ago he was him self sheltered under Mr. Yogel and his magnificent schemes, with which the whole Colony was then dazzled. Mr. Mc- Lean's colleagues then shared the obloquy which was considered to attach to his pusillanimous conduct of native affairs. Results have proved that the Native Miuister was the saviour of the country. 