THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1043, 14 April 1882, Page 2

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

Christchurch, April 11 It is now positively known that the Oovernor has sent for Sir George Grey. The Governor leaves for Wellington about noun to-day The Li/llclton Times this morning in an article commenting upon the resignation of the Ministiy says:—“A report which is current says that 11 is Excellency has sent for Sir George Grey We have strong reason t < believe that lie has done so, and that both he and and >Sir George will he in Wellington shortly. The object of their meeting is, as far as we can see, not necessarily ihe appointment of Sir George to the Premiership A conference as to the state of parties is, we would say, the most likely object of His Excellency-” Auckand, April 11. Sir George Grey has been sent for by the Governor and arrived in Auckland at a late hour last night. He proceeds to Wellington by the Wanaka to-day at one o’clock The Rose Casey left yesterday morning for Waiwera with a number of excursionists, and after landing them she proceeded on to Kawau with Mr Furby, officer in charge of the Auckland Telegraph Department, who had an important missive for Sir George Grey Immediately on receipt of this, Sir George embarked in tho steamer for Auckland where he arrived. Sir George appears in good health. Endeavours were made by the Telegraph Department to charter a steamer on Sunday to proceed to Kawau, hut the astute skippers, sniffing that there was important Government business on baud raised their terms to such an extent that the negotiations fell through. Mr Furby therefore availed himself of tho excursion trip of tho Hose Casey to Waiwera to accomplish his mission. Sir George has been sent for by the Governor, who asks him to proceed to Wellington Beyond that Sir George is n -t aware of anything which tho public do not know. Mr Hall, in sending in his resignation, did not accompany it with any advice ; and tho Hon Walter Johnston, who was the hearer of tho communication, could not offer any on behalf of the Premier Later Sir George Grey missed his passage to Wellington by tho Wanaka through a misunderstanding. Ho leaves by the Arawata on Thursday. Wanganui, April 11 The IVani/anui dir raid, in an article on the resignation of the Ministry says : “If it. i“ trim that Sir George lias been sent for ho would have no difficulty in forming a Ministry, which would probably be met in the circumstances with a disposition on tho part of the majority to show it fair play.”j Wellington, April 11 It is now definitely known that Sir Arthur Gordon has sent for Sir George Grey, hut doubt is entertained whether it is with tho intention of asking him to form anew Ministiy, it being quite competent for a sovereign or governor to scud for any

member of Parliament of note to confer ■with him relative to the strength of (parties or any other pertinent matters There is no reason to doubt but that the Ministry did make the usual recommendation to His Excellency as to whom it was advisable to send for, but as yet the name has not transpired

The news embodied in the foregoing telegrams (culled from our Dunedin contempo raries) cannot in any sense be called new, neither can it be a surprise, as it has been apparent for some time past that the Hall cum Atkinson cum Dick Government have not been a remarkably happy family ; and moreover, the bulletins anent the illhealth of the Premier must have prepared the public mind for a change in some shape or other The very exceptional course, however, of Ministers not accompanying their resignation with the customary advice of naming a gentleman as most likely to form a good working Government is’more than a surprise, as it goes the more to prove that the Ministry were a very dis-jointed body and less in accord with each other than it was generally supposed. The fact of His Excellency sending for Sir George GVey is not in the least surprising, nor do we view his action as in the least an infringement of his prerogative. The result of all,' however, is yet to be learnt, therefore to offer any opinions as to the probable result, the more especially placed as we are so far from the scene of action would be as so much stabbing in the dark Excepting as to the late policy of Sir George Grey on the Native Question, but that queston may now be fairly said to be settled, we have every faith and confidence in his honesty of purpose for the well-being of the country as a whole, and should he be called upon to form a ministry, though it does not necessarily follow that that is the object of the call, wa have no boubt bat that he would be able to obtain as his colleagues gentleman in whom the country and the House would have confidence As we said, the resignation of the Ministry is no surprise, the surprise would have been if they had dared to meet the strong opposition that was prepared to meet them