MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2501, 13 April 1882, Page 3

MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

[FROM THE “ PRESS.”] WELLINGTON, April 12. Mr Bryce returned to Wellington overland last night. Mr Dick and Mr Johnston arrived to-day by the Hawes from the South. The Governor is expected at daylight to-morrow. The announcement that Sir G. Grey misted his passage by the Wanaka through a “ misunderstanding " was received here with a general “ snigger ” of incredulity and derision on all hands. The ironical remark was heard, “ Poor Sir George, how very unforInnate.” I have not yet met with a single person who credits that story about " misunderstanding.” Everybody knows that Sir George Grey was not born yesterday, and that the three days' delay which ho has thus astutely secured, will be invaluable to him in enabling him to consult his friends and ascertain his position, and what support he could rely on, &0., before meeting the Governor. He cannot now reach Wellington before Sunday, and will doubtless come armed at all points, and fully prepared for the interview. A facetious rumor is already afloat here that he has been in communication with Messrs Moss, Sheehan, Hutchison, Levestam, Turnbull and J. 0. Brown, with the view of securing their co-operation in forming a new Ministry. As several conflicting reports are in circulation as to what took place between the late Ministry and the Governor, I may mention that I am authoritatively assured that what occurred in regard to the late Premier’s recommendation to the Governor as to whom he ihoald send for was ai follows: —On handing the Ministry’s resignation to his Excellency, Mr Walter Johnston intimated that he was the bearer of a communication from Mr Hall, conveying his advice as to who should bo sent for. His Excellency, however, said that haying accepted the Ministers’ resignation, it would be unconstitutional for him subsequently to accept their advice, as he had no longer any official relations with them. Consequently he could only now accept advice from those who, at his request, might undertake the duties of Government, and he must therefore decline to receive formally Mr Hall’s official recommendation, but ho was quite prepared to receive from Ministers any verbal representations on the subject they might deem it their duty to make. On which the Ministerial views were communicated to his Excellency by word of mouth through Mr Walter Johnston. 1 notice that one ultra Opposition journal ingeniously hints at the probability of this recommendation having been to the effect that Sir G. Grey should be sent for, with the object of ignoring the Opposition party known to be forming, and of hardening the dissolving Atkinson following by a fresh application of the old cement, that is to say, the fear of Grey. The report ie sufficiently absurd to refute itself, but perhaps it may as well be stated explicitly that there is not a shadow of foundation for suoh an insinuation. The “ Lyttelton Times,” however, accidentally makes one good shot, although entirely missing its intended aim. It says:—“ It will most probably be found that Mr Bryce, as well as Mr Whitaker, resigned actually before the Premier.” Now, curiously enough, it is an actual fact that this was the case, through an accidental oversight; but in fairness it should be added that so also did Major Atkinson, technically before the Premier, and so, indeed, also did Messrs Hick and Johnston. The explanation is very simple. When it was finally decided that Mr Hall’s resignation was inevitable, and only a question of days, if not hours, the resignation form was duly signed by Mr Whitaker, who also dated it. Messrs Bryce and Atkinson subsequently attached their signatures to the same form without noticing the date, which happened to be exactly one day anterior to that of the separate paper signed by Mr Hall. Still later, Mr Johnston signed the form which bore the names of Messrs Whitaker, Bryce, and Atkinson, and on meeting Mr Dick in Christchurch he obtained the signature of that gentleman, Messrs Rolleston and Olliver each signed a separate document. After accepting all the resignations, the Governor communicated with the two Ministers then in Christchurch (Messrs Dick and Johnston), and drew their attention to the discrepancy in the dates, and to the fact that their signatures were affixed to the document some days after the date which it bore, and which, as I have explained, was signed by Messrs Whitaker, Bryce, and Atkinson. They accordingly corrected the oversight by appending to their own signatures the dates on which they were affixed. This is the true explanation of this trivial affair. [press association telegram.J AUCKLAND, April 12. Sir George Grey has had a lengthy interview with several of the Auckland members, when the relative strength of the parties was discussed, and the number of supporters he would have should he form a Ministry considered.