RESIGNATION OF MR BALLANCE, COLONIAL TREASURER.

Kumara Times, Issue 865, 9 July 1879, Page 4

RESIGNATION OF MR BALLANCE, COLONIAL TREASURER.

The following account of the “ row ” which led to Mr Ballance’s resignation is from the Wellington Chronicle, Mr Ballance’s own organ, so it must be received cum gram salis : —“ln preparing the estimates the Treasurer removed the salary of Mr Fox from the Treasury Department, because Mr Fox did not work especially for that department. Mr Fox is Secretary to the Cabinet as a whole, and also Secretary to the Premier. The Treasurer in drawing up his estimates, charged the salary of Mr Fox under its proper head. When the estimates were forwarded to the Premier for revision he sent for the Colonial Treasurer, and asked him in a very rude way why the alteration had been made. Mr Ballance then told him be made the alteration because he thought that every item should be charged to its proper account. The Premier said that Mr Ballance persistently insulted him, that he made him “ blush,” and went on to indulge in very opprobrious language to the Colonial Treasurer, Mr Ballance calmly replied that he had never intentionally insulted the Premier, that he had drawn up the estimates in the way he thought best, but that he was perfectly willing to make any alterations the Premier wished, as that was only the rough draft of the estimates, and it had yet to be revised in the Cabinet. The Premier had now completely lost his selfcontrol, and he continued to rave at the Colonial Treasurer in the most offensive manner. Mr Ballance being then put on his mettle, told the Premier that the matter was purely a departmental one, not a question of policy, and that he being responsible for his own department claimed the right to manage all purely departmental matters in his own way. The Premier said he could not hear of such a thing. He must have absolute control of every item in all the departments, and that he wanted the Treasury “ for himself,” Mr Ballance said if that were so, he must resign—that was the only solution of the difficulty. Sir George Grey said, “Do so, and I’ll resign too. We must both resign.” Mr Ballance said, “ Be it so,” and tnrned to leave the room. Just as he was getting near the door, Sir George Grey shouted out in the most offensive tone—“ Leave the room sir.” Hearing himself addressed as if he were the mere lacquey of the Premier, the Colonial Treasurer turned back, and looking firmly at Sir George, said—“ I will not leave the room till it pleases me,” The Premier pointing to the door, again shrieked—- “ Leave the room, sir.” Mr Ballance still refusing to go, the Premier shouted out—“then I will send a for messenger and have you turned out.” “I do not care if you send for twenty messengers,” replied the Colonial Treasurer, looking calmly at the enraged Premier. Sir George then siezed his hat and rushed out of the room. The messenger did actually come to eject the Colonial Treasurer, but was met at the door by, Mr Sheehan, who ordered him off. Two minutes later Sir George sent his private secretary to see if Mr Ballance had vacated the chamber. Mr Ballance was still there, however, talking over the strange conduct of the Premier with the Native Minister, who had been present the whole time. Half-an-hour before he was sent for by Sir Geo, Grey, he received a telegram from Colonel Whitmore, who was in Auckland, stating that one of the Auckland papers had just published an “ extra” containing sensational news about a disruption of the Cabinet, Mr Ballance telegraphed back to Colonel Whitmore, telling him to give an unqualified denial, as there had been no disagreement in the Cabinet. This shows that Sir G. Grey’s insulting conduct to Mr Ballance was pre-arranged, and that he had given intimation of what was “going” to happen. Sir George Grey has, moreover, been in the habit of receiving anonymous letters from all parts of the Colony complaining of the action of his colleagues. This is wholly unconstitutional and unprecedented. We understand the Minister for Public Works and the Native Minister have both threatened to resign. Mr Ballance having relieved himself of his dutiesas member of Cabinet, will once proceed to Wanganui to attend to his private business till a day or two before the opening of Parliament. ”

T hc foUflwing description of the breaking up of the hull of the Kadina in the Port Biver, Adelaide, by means of successive small charges of dynamite, is taken from a local paper The undertaking was nlaced in the hands of Mr Burt, the Adelaideagent for the Melbourne Explosives Company, who carried it out very successfully on Friday morning, June 6. The wreck was lying close to the beach at the North •rm in the Port .River, and although there was in it only about a foot of water at the time of the experiment, at high tide it was completely covered It was therefore necessary in order to prevent the loss of the copper bolts and other parts of the wreck of any value, to fire only comparatively small charges of dynamite at once. Mr Burt placed charges of 22 lbs, 10 lbs, and 20 lbs of dynamite in the fore, middle, and after part of the wreck respectively. They were fired at intervals, and the effects in each case were highly satisfactory. By the first change the whole of the bow of the vessel, weighing some four or five tons, was senarated and turned completely over. The second charge P art , of the wreck away, and the last divided- the remainder in two. In each case the timbers were loosened’ and split, and the results highly pleased all thote who witnessed them. Comparatively speaking, little noise was made by the explosion but the dynamite seemed to be very powerl. fa!* as some of the timber was thrown to a great height; one piece, weighing over a quarter of a ton, being blown out and driven with great force Into the mud through three feet of water.