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Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 136, 24 November 1866, Page 2

Ouit teJ'cgj'apliic news fvom Clnisfcclmrcli informs us that a Ministerial crisis lias occurred, occasioned by "an adverse vote on the "We&tland Estimates. Our particulars ai'e so meagre as to, i|aake it ditiiculfc to ascertain the ])recise| giouiuls of the opposition which 1 appears/ have- been successful, but We' arc in- 1 clinetlSto 'think that the objectionable item is'|jsiie providing for the ereotion of a'* bridge over the Tereniukat&rov some other larsje river. W^ave riot surprised : -wfBP • ■ i ' at the opposition of ''the Qjuncjl to any extraordinaiy expeuditure^i the West Coast. -^Ye have been fully aware that; a feelirig^pyeyails on the other side that ijtfjjjiii Westland District is over-exacting %f its demands, and that nothing but the most^conclusive arguments from its' members suffice to convince the House of the wisdom as well ;fts. the necessity of. a. liberal expenditure' oil the West Coast. Our telegram does not state that any -of the Westland members made a defence of the policy of the Government further than their votes,, and we are inclined from this fact to ' infer' that they contented l themselves with silent voting. It is not surprising that new; members, quite .unacquainted with the details of the general finances,, of the Province, should thus act, because the reasons adduced by the Opposition' are " p'rima facie " good ones. Stiir there is nothing in the. financial position of the Province to prevent a well T nd vised and liberal scheme of- expenditure! on the West Coast beiilg^ feasibleand recoricil- : able.with &xistingcircurnstauces.v .W.e/can understand the desire of the Council to javoid the dangers and difficulties of embavra.snients, but we also' think it. was in the power of the Wesfe land members to make out a good easel for the: proposed expenditure, _and sFbw_. 'that' it would be reproductively "profitable, i We are soifiy that, from Avhateyei' cause this liaslnot been done, and that the Gdverument Inive thought fit : to accept the voteitof Uic. Council as con-

elusive'of its determination to limit tlie liberal scheme,- of expenditure which was proposed Avith^regard to. Westland. New "and probably' reduced Westland Estimates are to be brought forward, and a new Ministry is spoken of, consisting of men whom it is not desirable for the interests of Westland to see in office. Mr Stewart is expected" to retain the portfolio of Secretary of Public Works* which office is less a political than a departmental one ] and perhaps it is convenient that he should do so. But we certainly cannot regard Messrs Williams^ Jollie, and Montgomery as gentlemen from whom liberal treatment to West, land mny be expected. It is a thousand pities that Mr Moorhouse's programme of action should bo embfth'assed- at : the outset, and we can only trust that he may have sufficient influence over his I new Executive to carry out some of the liberal measures we know his Honor contemplated.