THE COALITION RUMORS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1770, 22 October 1879, Page 3

THE COALITION RUMORS.

[By Teleqbaph.] WELLINGTON, October 21. Some of the Wellington papers have lately contained statements that a coalition was being arranged, but they do not stand on any good foundations. I expect that they were based on the following conversation which occurred in the lobbies between a sub-official Greyite and a non-official Hallite, whom I will call G. and H., which may be worth publishing, as it lets a certain cat out of the bag G. —“ So you see you can do nothing without us ?” H. —“ No! It does not require much brains to obstruct all the business of the House.” G. —“ You ought to agree to a coalition with Macandrew.” H. —•* Well, what coalition would suit you?” G. —“ Well, we would be willing to take in Bryce, and if we cannot help ourselves, we might put up with Rolleston.” H. —“ But would you not take Hall ?” G. Hall at any price.” H. —“ Oh it is Grey we have got to deal with. I thought it was Macandrew.” On the same subject, the Wellington correspondent of the “ Timaru Herald ” telegraphs on the 20th : —“ Both sides repudiate any negotiations for a coalition. The truth is Mr J. O. Brown and Mr Sheehan invited the Hon. Robert Campbell to meet them at Mr Sheehan’s house with a view to coming to some compromise. They proposed that Mr Rolleston and Mr Bryce should join a Ministry (with Mr Macandrew, Mr Hall being laid aside owing to Sir George Grey objecting to him. Mr Campbell flatly refused to communicate any such proposal to Ministers. Mr Sheehan and Mr Brown then suggested further appointments from the Government side, but it came to nothing. The affair was probably only a try-on to see if the Government were firm.”