The Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3819, 21 May 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1875.

Mr Bastings will not succeed. Mr Eeid has declined to join any Government that may bo formed. It may be taken for granted that any wh© follow Mr HeiD, whose services would be of the slightest utility to Mr Bastings, would also decline office. It is said Mr Reeves has declined the Treasurership, Had he accepted it he would have brought no strength to the Government beyond his own vote. In the absence of a conjunction of parties, even if the twenty-two who voted with the Opposition all prove loyal to their leader, and adhere to him, we do not see any prospect of a Government formed exclusively from among themselves standing through the session. Mr Bastings as Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Works, with MrFlSH.asOommissionor of Railways, would be satisfactory enough, but neither Mr Sumpter nor Mr Wood could bring any support to the Government; indeed, it is quite possible the appointment either of those gentlemen would be found to bean immediate source of weakness. Mr Bastings and Mr Fish alone could not obtain the confidence of the Council. Who, then, is available for the Treasurcrahip and for the Lands department I The difficulty of the position is not one whit m re capable of solution than it was. if Mr < si-- chooses to rest on his oars, no one can blame him. J t would be very u just if he were to be forced into a coalition which was repugnant to him. A coalition certainly must be he. ultimatum arrived at ; but if Mr Reid is in it—which is very doubtful—it will have to be entirely of his own making.