Guesses at Home News.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 546, 9 July 1851, Page 2

Guesses at Home News.

[It will be seen of course that the following remarks were written befoie the arrival of the Isabella. But, having them in type, we let them appear, as rather borne out than confuted by the news actually received. J The unsettled position of public affairs in England at our last dates, and the tantalising point at which the intelligence broke off — (just a few hours before Lord John Russell's promised statement in the House on the ministerial crisis) — have necessaiily left us to conjecture as we may respecting the possible or probable in the revolution of events at home. We are far from claiming any special regard for our own conjectures ; but, perhaps, in the absence of definite information, it may not be unacceptable to our leaders that we may as well as we can fill up one of our dreary inter, vals of no news from home by telling them our impressions on a perusal of the last English journals as to what it is not unlikely may be our next news. The topic of primary interest of course is the alleged resignation of Lord John Russell's Cabinet, and the consequences to which a change of Ministry might lead. Now as the worth of " guesses " must mainly depend upon their foundation in fact, the first question must be was Lord John's Administiation really out of office at all 1 Our intelligence does not distinctly state that it was. The Times had indeed # asserted that his Lordship had tendeied his resignation to the Queen, but those who remember how even statesmen sometimes — we will not say maneeuvre — but dip'omalicalhj conduct their matters, will agree with U 3 in thinking that after all his Lordship may have retained place. The only statement on the subject for which Lord John could himself be held responsible was that copi> d into the New Zealander of the 25th ultimo, when in the House on Friday the 20th of Febiuary, he requested that the Committee *of Ways and Means on the Income Tax should be postponed until the following Monday, on which day he would state the reasons why he had made the request. By one of those awkwaid breaks-off in news which we so frequently have to complain of here, we have not received that Monday's satement, and we really have no official account of the resignation of the Ministers. The asseition in the Times n 0 doubt was made on some authority, but it was an authority that might without much difficulty be repudiated. We should not be at all sui prised to learn by the next arrival that Loid John was still Prime Minister, — with perhaps a Cabinet so far modified in its construction as to be fiee — if not from Lord Pxlmehston — at all events from Lord Grey, who, although he is, as he takes care to remind his colleagues, his "father's son," yet (reads so little in the steps of that father's dignified and palriotic statesmanship as to have made himself one of the most unpopular Ministers that England and her Colonies have ever known. But supposing the resignation to have been tendered and finally accepted by Her Majesty, a question of universal interest is, What was the point on which the important case turned? We have already expiessed our belief that it was not on the defeat of the Government on Mr. Locke King's motion for an extension of the Franchise. Mr. Locke King, though atistocralically connected, is really a very small man in the House. Moieover, the House was a thin one — just one hundred and fifty-two members, — and if the Government had deemed this a vital question, their whip-pers-in could soon have mustered an attendance to turn the scale. So far as we can judge from the reports in our files, we think that the real embarrasment of Government arose from the division on Mr. D'lsraeli's motion two or three nights before. There was then a full house,— nearly five hundred and fifty members- and the Government escaped what would have been equivalent to a vote of censure only by the nanow majoiity of fourteen. Ihis was virtually upon the question of Free Trade or Protection. The Protectionists had of course a strong basis in the

Qieiw's speech. When Her Majesty said, "I have to lament the difficulties which are still felt by that important body among my, people who are owners and occupieis of land," she was advised to give utterance to a feeling and conviction which Her Advisers knew strongly prevailed in the nation. Not that we think Free Trade Policy can now be overturned. It has obtained too fixed a hold on the public mind: Modified it may, and probably will be, by an extension of relief to the agricultural interest in the way of either the remission of taxation or the granting of more direct aid ; but the re -imposition of protective duties will nof, we think, be adopted by any Parliament that the English people are now likely to elect. Lord Stanley (who.it was said was " sent for" by the Queen) would come into office of course strongly pledged to " protection " Without now discussing the abstract question of whether that line of policy would be right or wrong, we can scarcely be mistaken in saying that such is not the present popular mind in England We should not wonder if a " coalition" Ministry were to be the result of these fluctuations. Sir James Graham made a speech on Mr. DTsraeu's debate which must have produced a strong effect — if it were only from its power ful and eloquent appeal to the memory of Sir Robert Peel's character and principles. His accession to a re- organized administration would be undoubtedly sought for, and be most influential. Amongst the " guesses" which we have heard fiom various quarters, one immediately affecting our colonial interests was that — in the anticipated event of Lord Gray's retirement from the Colonial Office, — Mr. Fox Maule would not improbably be his successor as Secretaiy of State for the Colonies. It might be a serious loss to the Military Department if that right hon. gentleman were to vacate his position of Secretary at War, in which he has done such efficient service ; but we could not as colonists regaided with any other than joyful feelings the appointment to our colonial bureau of a ruler whose character for steady, uncompromising integrity of principle and purpose stands so high Such are some of our " guesses" as to public affairs at home. There are others which we may take an opportunity of laying before our readers.

Matakana Coal Experiment — A meeting of the subscribers to the Fund for the prosecution of a search for Coal at Matakana was held at the Exchange Hotel yesteiday, to receive a Report prepared by the Committee. F. Wmtaker, Esq., presided. It appealed that Corporal Hyde and the men employed under his diiection had bored to the drpth of 305 feet, without succeeding in obtaining coal : — that this had been attended with an otrtlay of £162 12s.; — and that there still remains to the credit of the Committee at the Union Bank the sum of £107 1 2s. 3d., together with a balance of £7 Bs. 9d, in the hands of the Secietary. After the Report had "been read and considered, the following Ilesolufcio-n was arrived at on the motion of Mr. Connell, — " That subject to certain minor expenses requisite to be provided for, the borings be continued as far as the money subscribed will allow." Thus the experiment is likely to be fuilher tried, — let us hupe with a more favourable issue in the future than has hitherto been attained. The sum of ten pounds was voted to Mr Hansard, for services that he has rendered the Committee as Secretary ; and five pounds to t orporal Hyde, additional to his wages, as a reward for his persevering exertions in the work.

Evangelical Alliance Meeting. — As announced in our last, a Public Meet-rig in order to the formation of an Auckland Branch of the "Evangelical Alliance" was held yesterday evening, in the Wesleyan Chapel. It was very numerously attended, and comprehended a satisfactory .representation of the several Protestant denominations in the town. The Rev. Thomas Buddle, who presided, gave a lucid account of the origin, nature, basis, and objects of the Alliance; after which, Resolutions declaring it desirable to form a Branch Association here, and arranging for a monthly Alliance Prayer- Meeting, and the delivery of Lectures on subjects of common interest, by ministers and members of the Alliance, were respectively moved or seconded by the Rev. J. Inglis (Presbyterian), Rev. J. H. Fletcher (Wesleyan), Rev. A. Maceonald (Independent), Rev. A. Reid (Wesleyan), Rev. R. Ward (Primitive Methodist), and Rev. H. H. Lawry (Wesleyan). We shall give a fuller repoit of the interesting proceedings in our next