WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 365, 13 June 1884, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT. THEY DECLINE TO RESIGN.; [BT Telegraph]. : (From our own Reporter,) Wellington, June 12, 8 p.m. Everyone is talking about the defeat of the Ministry. It was not expected to take place , last night. Messrs Moss and Pilliet did not vote at all ; they disapproved of a coalition with no known leader. It is generally thought that it was bad taste to prevent Majojr Atkinson speaking unless he spoke at once,\rhen too ill to do himself justice. It ' is thought now. that the best thing, for' him to do \frould be to resign, bub some of the Ministry j wi!i> : stick to office as long as they can"' and i will : appeal to the country .first. , ~■ , i ' To-day Mr *H.' B; Smith,' a local racing man, announces himself as a candidate for South Wellington at next election.) Mr' I Hutchison is thus double-banked by Messrs,: Fiaherand Smith, and' will have no chance of getting in again. - ] It is likely the Government Insurance' j Department will be reorganised and made 1 ' part of the Post Office Department. ; The management of the insurance business, jte generally condemned, and the office is! said' to be quite in a muddle, with all the best agents left or leaving. j It is expected that the Premier will at* once state this evening 1 whether he will: resign or not. : . • . ; . . : , . Later. The House was crowded in every part on meeting this evening. The' .Premier made, a statement to this effect, that if the amendment had been proposed by a; well known leader such as Sir George Grey he might have felt bound to recognise it, but otherwise , with, ali respect to Mr Steward, he could only treat it as any other ordinary motion. He asked what there was id their vague apology for an indictment, and was proceeding to reply to his opponents and j discuss the situation generally when the ' telegraph office closed.