New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4817, 30 August 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30.

As will be seen by our Parliamentary report, the sufficiently long-expected Ministerial announcement on the subject of the Agent-Generalship was made last night. Shortly put, it amounts to the resignation of the present Ministry, in consequence of the acceptance of the office of Agent-General by the Premier, and the entrusting of Major Atkinson with the formation of a new Ministry. Sir Jonus Vogel stated at some little length the reasons which had induced him to accept the position, and there is no object in repeating them here. It must be notorious to everyone, however, that by taking the office he provides that it shall be filled by one capable above most of conducting it in the immediate future to the best advantage of the colony. It is useless to shirk the fact that the completion of the Public Works policy and the placing of the colony in a position which shall render that policy directly remunerative cannot be brought about without a corresponding increase of our national debt. In other words, more money will have to be borrowed. Few will be found to deny that under these circumstances Sir Julius Vogel in London as the Agent-General of New Zealand will be the right man in the right place. He will take care that our credit shall not suffer at the hands of detractors, and he will be in a position to deal with all matters as one knowing thoroughly the affairs of the colony. Some dissatisfaction was expressed by Messrs. Rolleston and Andrew last night with what we suppose must be called the political situation as brought about by the resignation of his portfolio by the Premier. But the tone of the House was altogether with Mr. Stout when he deprecated the discussion of the subject until Thursday evening, the period at which Major Atkinson promised he would announce the result of his commission to form a Ministry. And so far as Major Atkinson is concerned there need be little to fear. His conduct of the Colonial Treasurership last session showed that he was quite capable of holding his own even when laboring under the disadvantage of supplying the place of the most prominent and remarkable Colonial Treasurer New Zealand has yet seen. Major Atkinson’s conduct throughout this session has but heightened the reputation which he gained last year, and there is little doubt but that to-morrow evening he willl be able to announce the formation of a strong Ministry, fully deserving the confidence of the House and the people. It is pretty well understood that in forming a Ministry Major Atkinson is quite unfettered, but it may be presumed, at the same time that most of his former colleagues will join him, and that such new additions as will be found necessary will not impair the general policy which the former Ministry represented, whilst at the same time they may be so arranged as to give fair consideration to moderate opposition. We have not alluded beyond mere mention to the reasons given by Sir Julius Vogel for the step which he has taken, as they are quite sufficient in themselves to satisfy anyone. At the same time we may point out that whilst recondite references were made last night to the appointment of Ministers as Agents-General, and to precedents of English Ministers, the only precedents really in point were carefully overlooked. From the first appointment of AgentsGeneral for the Australian colonies, the office has been regarded as of the highest importance, and it has generally been filled by Ministers. For New South Wales there have been two Agents-Gene-ral. The first, Sir Charles Cowper, we believe, vacated the Premiership to take it. Ho was succeeded by the Colonial Treasurer of the time being (Mr. Forster.) For Victoria, Sir G. F. Verdun was appointed by the Government of which he was a member, after they had decided to retire, we believe, on an adverse vote. The appointment was virtually the last act of tho Government. Within the last six months tho Premier of Queensland was made by his colleagues the Agent-General; and to go no further than Now Zealand, Dr. Featherston was a Minister when ho was appointed Agent-General. In shore, of all the Agents-General tho majority have been Ministers, and some Premiers immediately previous to their appointment.