The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 130, 4 June 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1877.

Is there any truth in the rumor that Ministers took advantage of theirflrst meeting in Wellington since last session to quarrel one with the other? That such was the fact was first stated by the Wellington Arguv which would scarcely have made such a statement without some grounds, however slight they might be. Ministers, however, did not like to be talked about about in this way, and were desirous that they should be still regarded as that " happy family " which Mr M'Lean had designated them at Dunedin, so they made use of the Press Agency to telegraph a contradiction of the unkind rumor throughout the colony. But since then the story has cropped up again, now here, now there, and has called forth more contradictions until it is impossible to know what to beiieve. The Auckland Herald finds itself in this difficulty, but affects to disbelieve the statement, and in a sarcastic manner gives its reason for doing so as follows:—" Some people cannot bear to think that any set of governing persons are enjoying unalloyed happiness; but we have no objection to finding the Ministry j as a happy family, in harmony with one ! another, whatever their relations may be with the cold world outside. We have, however, several reasons to assign for not believing the reports as to disagreements within the Ministry. The members have taken the very be3t possible means during J the recess to avoid anything like a quarrel. | That friends agree best when at a distance j from each other is well known, and Ministers i have had the advantage of separation. They have made it an object, apparently, to be as i far from each other as possible, and of all '< places they have avoided the seat of Government. If they had frequently met and discussed what each wanted to pacify his own locality, and quiet the many deputationists who have been boring him during the recess, these stories about quarrels in the Cabinet would have been current in the colony long ago, and probably with good reason. It is true that all the members of the Cabinet met at Wellington a few days ago, when the programme of the session was settled, butsurely there was no quarrelling on that occasion. They had plenty to do without falling out amongst themselves. They had all the work of the session to talk about. The Attorney-General and his bill-drafting assistants had to be instructed as to what to put in the bills to be prepared. They had to determine what works it would be the besfc policy to go on with; how they were to find ways and means; how they were to cause confusion aud division in the camp of their enemies; how they were to get out of inconvenient promises formerly made. It may be said that they could hardly discuss all these things, without important points of difference arising. It may be said, also, that each Minister is a mild apostle of some special doctrine which is abominated by all his colleagues, and that one in especial holds a belief which, in the opinion of some of his associates in the Cabinet, could only be entertained by men who have no consciences and who are ready to help themselves to other peoples' property. Need we mention in this regard Mr Whitaker and the land fnnd? All this we admit, but we still contend that the evidence against the current statements strongly preponderates. None of the Ministers are quarrelsome men, except, perhaps, Mr Donald Reid, who seems to be rather an " ugly customer," but whose anxiety to obtain office is a guarantee that he will suppress his feelings in order to retain it. We need not go over each Minister's idiosyncracies, and, perhaps, it would be somewhat invidious to do so, but may give as another reason why we do not credit the reports of quarrelling and squabbling in the Cabinet, the fact that the most irascible and contentions among them must be quite aware that abundance of this kind of work looms before him in the not distant future." Our contemporary then goes on to give some very good advice to Ministers anent keeping the peace among themselves, as they will have plenty of quarrelling to do with opponents when the House meets, and none of them is likely to have to trail his coat over the floor for want of an antagonist who is " spiling" for want of a fight. Apart from the question of the condition of the Ministerial camp, the interest in the approaching session is evidently increasing throughout the colony as its commencement draws near, and, judging by the papers that reach us from all parts, there is no little curiosity as to the probable result. Who is to occupy the position of leader of the Opposition is a matter that we imagine has yet to be settled, as we learn from private letters recently received in Nelson that Sir George Grey is in a very bad state of health, and that, whatever may be publicly stated to the contrary, he is not likely to be able to take his seat in Parliament.