DUNEDIN. (From our own Correspondent.) May 18th, 1864.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 13, 19 May 1864, Page 5

DUNEDIN. (From our own Correspondent.) May 18th, 1864.

The past week has been, in every respect, one of excitement in our little metropolis. Both our social and political affairs have been thrown out of their usual course. The Pelorus still draws our life-blood in the shape of shipload after shipload of stalwart miners ; and the resolution of the Provincial Council not to vote the supplies for more than six months, has resulted in a Ministerial crisis, which, after stopping public business for a week, was, last night, ended by the formation of a new Executive out of materials which, a week ago, no one would have supposed could cling together. On Tuesday night (the 9th inst.) Mr Vogel's motion, affirming the desirability of passing the Estimates for six months only, was carried in Committee of the whole House, by a majority of 17 to 11. The motion had received the pointed and strenuous opposition of the Ministry, on the double plea of the impossibility of preparing any well -digested j echeme of departmental retrenchment during the short interval proposed, and of the incon- i venience which a second session of the Council within the year would cause. Mr Dick appealed in the strongest manner to the House for a displaying of its confidence in the Executive ; so that no one but Mr Vogel expressed any surprise when it was announced the next day that he and his colleagues had resigned. Mr Vogel was, of course, sent for, but made no attempt to form a Ministry. He adopted the course he had pursued on a for-

mer occasion of a similar kind, and invited all the members of the House who had voted with him to meet and consult as to what was to be done. The result was, that Mr Paterson was sent for next day, and, very much against his will, made a faint attempt to form a ministry, which failed. When he threw up the commission, it was placed in Mr John Cargill's hands, who, after a little consideration, also declined it — when your representative — Mr Miller — was " sent for," This gentleman, with the assistance of one or two others, succeeded in overcoming Mr Cnrgill's scruples. These were merely of a business character ; for, though a zealous politician, he is one of the busiest men in Dunedin, and as partner — Mr E. B. Cargill — is also a member of Council, and otherwise engaged in public affairs, perhaps few men could less easily spare the time for such an undertaking. On Saturday night it was known that a Ministry had been formed, including Mr Cargill, Mr Miller, and other gentlemen whose names I have not learnt. On Sunday morning the Scotia returned from Picton, bringing with her Mr Cargill's " big brother ;" and on Monday, the new Executive fell to pieces at once through his secession from it. Great credit is due to your worthy representative for the pains he took to construct an Executive which would give effect to the vote of the Council in reference to money matters ; and I belies e the Ministry which has in the end been formed, owes its cohesion, »n a great measure, to his spirited exertions. It had been predicted all along, very confidentl}', that the Council would have once more to eat humble pie, and undo what it had done, in order to allow Messrs Dick, Mos<<, and Gillies to return to their seats around the very ugly table-cloth which covers the " Ministerial table." When it became known on Monday that there was still no new Executive formed, those Avho had made thce predictions became still more confident. I confess that, in common with a majority of the public, I looked forward to such a denouement as the only possible alternative, since a u demolition" is a remedy for political deadlocks which is hardly attainable under the present constitution of our Provincial system of government. And, on Monday afternoon, when Mr Reynolds, who had supported the late Government, announced that His Honor had placed the formation of a Government in his hands (after Mr Miller and, subsequently, Mr Adam, had declined the task), matters seemed to be rapidly reaching a finale. Mr Reynolds was, at any rate, very straightforward in the way in which he intimated to the Council his o*n opinion on the subject. He expressed very little confidence in his own ability to perform the ta«k so many had shrunk from, and declared that he would only attempt it on one condition — namely, a reversal of the vote of the House in reference to the fix months' supplies. lie gave a notice of motion for jesterday to this effect, and employed himself in the endeavor to form a Ministry, until he received a private intimation that if he cliose to throw the thing up, someone else would take it in hand. Mr Reynold's notice of motion had shown the late Opposition whither they were being drifted by their want oi cohesion, and Mr Adam, especially, had been aroused to make the attempt he had before shrunk from. The result was communicated to the Council yesterday by the Superintendent, in a Message, which announced the following appointments :— Mr James Paterson, M.P.C., Provincial Secretary ; Mr Henry Clapcott, M.P.C., Provincial Treasurer; Mr Henry Jolin Miller, M.P.C., Secretary for Public Works; and Messrs John Cargill, M.P.C., and James Adam, M.P.C., without office. In making the usual explanations, Mr Paterson stated that the only point on which they were agreed as a Ministry was the financial one, which had caused the crisis. Such a state of things does not augur any very long life for the Government, unless it is modified by minor changes hereafter, but I am inclined to think that Mr Paterson's remark is somewhat of an exaggeration of the actual fact. It is only on the Land question that the Government can be seriously divided, and that is a subject not likely to be brought undtr discussion at present. It is, at any rate, to be hoped, for the sake of the public business, that it will hold together for the rest of the session.