THE NEW MINISTRY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1321, 23 October 1872, Page 2

THE NEW MINISTRY.

The Wellington correspondent of the Nelson "Colonist" thus sketches the character of the members of the present Ministry who, in this Colony at least, are new to office : —

Mr Yfaterhous,e, who holds no ports folio, and who also declines to draw any salary as Premier, is a gentleman of reputation and, wealth. He acquired for himself a good name as a respected, cautious., and judicious politician in South Australia, whence he came to New Zeai land nearly three years ago. He is a man of liberal spirit, careful thought, and considerable reading, somewhat reserved in manner, .or rather, I should say, "selfcontained ; " evidently very earnest ; perhaps apt (but I am judging in thi| point from mere outside appearances— the cjfserji&Je of the man]— perhaps apt to be more particular . in ' matters of mere form and routine than may always be found expedient in a Colony ; but, I do not think he will permit himself to be bound by the bands of red tape.' He is held in high estimation, and although the Premiership is a new office to him, he is not new to office, having led the Upper House last year, but resigned in consequence of ill health. His position at this moment is one of which any man might be proud. Only three or four

years in the Colony, and already ita first Minister. It is a high honor. Mr Bathgate, the new Commissioner of Customs, is a banker and lawyer, of good education, and possessing a good deal of canny Scotch penetration, a fair logical argumentative speaker, and one who has the respect of the House. Mr O'Rorke is also a lawyer, but, I believe, he does not practice, although he has been called to the bar. He is Chairman of the Committees of the House of Representatives, and Speaker of the Provincial Council of Auckland, and has gained very great credit for the manner in which he haa filled these offices. He does not speak mucn, nor often, but what he does say is always to the point, and whatever he takes in hand, he carries into practical effect wherever that is possible. He is well liked by the House, and is veiy popular in Auckland. Of Mr Richardson, who will succeed Mr Ormond as Public Works Minister at tho end of the session, all that is necessary to say is that in him is combined the knowledge of a practical engineer and of a large contractor of railways and such works. He, too, seldom speaks, but he possesses a master's acquaintance with the details of works of the kind in which the Colony has entered, and particularly of railways, thoir construction and prohable cost. His short speech on the first noconfidence debate contained facts and arguments respecting the Brogden contraots, the accuraoy of which was not attempted to be denied, and which subsequent events have confirmed. For the practical administration of a new and important department, it is considered that he will make an efficient successor to Mr Ormond, who retains his Superintendency, and will only take office temporarily because he is so well acquainted with the business of the Public Works Office, and will thuß bn able to make ex-

(For continuation of News, see 4th page.)

planations to the House, and be of service in aiding his successor. It should be added hero that Mr Richardson had important engineering dnties committed to him in connection with Victorian railways, and was the contractor for the Ohrißtchurch and Lyttelton line, with its celebrated and successfully formed tunnel.