THE WATERHOUSE-HALL TELEGRAMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1617, 26 April 1879, Page 2

THE WATERHOUSE-HALL TELEGRAMS.

The following correspondence has been sent to us for publication : TO TUB EDITOB OF THE PHEBB. Sir, —I have hitherto abstained from taking any public notice of the excitement that has been got up about a telegram sent to me by the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, and my telegram in reply. In the first instance I looked upon the importance given to it as a mere joke, and since the matter has assumed a more serious aspect I have felt obligi-d to keep silence until I could communicate with Mr Waterhouse and obtain his sanction fo the publication of his message to me. Having obtained this, I now request you to publish the telegrams, from which it will be seen that the whole story of Mr Waterhouse having suggested to me the materials out of which a Ministry could be formed to supplant Sir GK

Grey’s Government, and of my having pro* posed an altered list of names for the same purpose, is a complete fabrication from beginning to end. The signature to Mr Waterhouse’s telegram was Whithouse, which I perhaps hastily mistook for Whitmore. In print the two words bear but little resemblance, but in the hurried writing of a telegraph clerk, Whithouse may be made to look at first sight like Whitmore, and in this instance it was so. Hence my mistake in sending to Colonel Whitmore a reply to the telegram sent to me, as it afterwards turned out, by Mr Waterhouse. Your obedient servant, John Hall, [copy of telegrams.] Hon. J. Hall, Christchnrch. Ministerial crisis seems impending. Grey persistently refuses to sanction Luckie’s appointment. Other Ministers unanimously insist upon it their honor being involved. Little probability of compromise. Opinion prevails that Grey wishes to compel his colleagues resign as to form Ministry entirely responsible to himself. G. M. Whithouse. Hon. Col. Whitmore, Wellington. (Private.) Thanks for telegram just received. Concur as to Grey’s object. Confident such Ministry would not he supported either by House or country. Stevens concurs. J. Hall.