SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 508, 16 September 1857, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

We have received intelligence from Ade. aide, to the 15th August.

The Ministry hsd resigned, in consequence of their "defeat in the Electoral Bill, the PosUl Bill, and the Roads Bill.-

The * Register' supplies us with the following particulars of the resignation of the Ministry, and ot" the steps taken for the organization of the new cabinet. Both' Houses of Parliament have adjourned for a week, in order to give time for the completion of the necessary arrangements :— The members of the late Ministry met their friends on Tuesday, before proceeding to the House of Assembly, in pursuance of the circular invitation addressed by the Chief Secretary to those members who were supposed to have given a general support to his Administration. The business introduced by the Chief Secretary was, we understand, simply to thank those gentlemen who were present for the assistance which had been rendered by them to the Ministry, and to state that, in consequence of their inability to command majorities in the House of Assembly, they had placed their resignations in the hands of His Excellency. It was proposed by some members present that an address should be presented to His Excellency, requesting him to decline to accept the resignations of Ministers ; but this proposal was promptly

negatived bj the majority of the meeting, and by some members of the Ministry themselves. SCENE IN THE ASSEMBLY. A few minutes after the time appointed fur the commencement of Tuesday's business in the House of Assembly, the Chief Secretary rose to inform the House of the fact that the Government had tendered their resignations Jto ljis Excellency, and thaf

they were do longer responsible to the !; country. In making tins slatenient the '£ hon. gentleman instanced in particular tlie '1 di feat of the Ministers on the Electoral Bill, the Postal Bill, and the Bonds Bill. '; Referring briefly to each of these measures, „j the Cliief Secretary defended their general ] '. policy, and inveighed bitterly against the j>: opposition they had encountered. The lion, gentleman characterised the opposition as a\ "factious," and he said that the nature of //, certain Ministerial measures had been '• wil- I 1} fully misrepresented." Imputations of I p "discourtesy were applied to individual |i \ members; arid at length, the pent-up excite- | - ment of the opposition broke forth 'in aft rtmonstrance by Mr. Waterhouse. The *\) speaker ruled that the language of the * \ Chief Secretary was unparliamentary, and t the offensive expressions were withdrawn. t ' When the Chief Secietaiy had concluded his statement Mr. Waterhouse rose to protest against the language held by that gentleman. The hon. member referred in a strain of subdunl but cutting reproof to the ungracious exit of the leading member of the Government, and expressed his hope that as that was the first instance of such a mode of retirement so it might be the last. Mr. Hughes followed in the same track, disclaiming the imputation of the "factious opposition," and retorting upon the Ministry their own disunion upon important public questions. Mr. Duttou anticipated the possibility of a compromise being attempted, and exhorted the Government to stand firm to their resolution, and to leave to the Governor the

constitutional duty of framing another administration. The Treasurer regretted the tone the debate had assumed ; and, in the course of his remarks, repudiated the idea that it was the duty of a responsible Government to conform iheir views to the wishes of the country. In like manner, the Treasurer argaed that it was not desirable for unanimity to prevail amongst the members of the Administration, but that it wculd 'be better for the colony to allow a margin for Ministerial differences. The Treasurer, on his own behalf, denied that he had personally embarrassed the Governi ment, or that he was in any degree responsible for the alleged xwant of coherency in the Administration. The lion, gentleman also entered into a defence of his financial management, and congratulated his successor, whoever he might be, that at the commencement of the year there was an aggregate balance of £210,000 from all sources, of which about £98,000 at present remained to the credit of the colony. In. reference to the demand made in this journal, that the Government should give up their estimates and all other public documents to their successors, the Treasurer said that this would be done, and that he should consider any other course as highly improper. The Attorney-General complained that the Government had not been defeated in a straightforward manner; and he described the policy which he should be prepared to adopt when in opposition. After a few words of further remark the debate concluded, and the house adjourned for a week.

THE NEW MINISTRY. We understand that His Excellency the Governor has communicated with Mr. Waterhouse on the subject of the formation of a new Ministry ; but that gentleman, it appears, adheres to this determination not to take office at present. It is said that Mr. Waterhouse has suggested that Mr. Hanson would be capable of forming a Ministry that would not only command a majority in both branches of the Legislature, but that would also be able to setlle the dispute now pending between the two Houses. His Excellency will, doubtless, however, take his own course, and accordingly a messenger has been despatched to the Goolwa to request Mr. Younghusband's presence at Government House. Such, at least, is the latest rumour. But the head of the Executive "is no doubt frequently , indebted to public rumour for the knowledge of his own intentions.