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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1308, 8 October 1872, Page 2

With regard to the prospects of a coalition Ministry, the following was written in the Lyttelton Times while the shortlived Stafford Ministry was still in office. We must, explain that the Canterbury Press had asserted that Mr Yogel had shown an anxiety to join Mr Stafford, and the Times replied as folio wa :— "Mr Yogel, it is roundly assorted, has shown himself particularly anxious to join with Mr Stafford, but Mr Stafford has never cared to join with Mr Yogel. And the reason assigned for this alleged reluctance on the part of Mr Stafford is, that he was doubtless aware of, or suspected, the real state of the case with regard to the finances of the colony, suon. veal state being, in our contemporary's estimation, what Mr Gillies described on Friday last. It is not our intention, in the absence of Mr Vogel's reply to Mr Gillies— till, in

fact, we have heard both sides— to inquire into the alleged financial blunders and ignorance of the former. Our object on the present occasion is simply to point out that tho Press is making an entirely incorrect statement when it says that Mr Yogel showed himself particularly anxious to join with Mr Stafford, but that the latter has never cared to join with Mr Yogel. Exactly the reverse is the true state of the case. Mr Stafford and some of his principal supporters angled for Mr Yogel from the very commencement of the no-confidence debate to its' close. They repeatedly, and as if they had an object earnestly in view, praised his ability, zeal, and honesty of purpose, and acknowledged with marked emphasis the many great services he had rendered the colony. The only thing he wanted was some one to keep the brilliancy of his imagination in check, and that was the very thing they could supply. Nothing could possibly be plainer than their object in all this, and nothing was more conspicuous than their failure to detach the late Treasurer from his colleagues. Mr Yogel made no attempt to bring about a coalition, and he has said nothing that we are aware of which would justify the inference that he wishes to coalesce with Mr Stafford. Why should he ? His position with the House and the country is in every respect better than it would be if he had gone over to the other side."