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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4819, 1 September 1876, Page 2

The little breeze in the House which last night preluded the Hon. Major Atkinson's statement, is scarcely worthy of notice. A good many members, as usual, made much of the constitutional aspect of a message introducing a couple of Harbor Bills or so, though in truth there was nothing constitutional involved in the matter. However, after some unseemly wrangling the difficulty was got over, and Major Atkinson notified that his Ministry would be composed of Sir Donald McLean, the Hon. John Hall, Dr. Pollen, Messrs. Bowen, G. McLean, Richardson, Whitakbb, Ormond, and himself. This, of course, will involve the holding of place by some member without portfolio or pay, but at the termination of the session this will be remedied by retirement. The offices will be—Major Atkinson, Treasurer; Mr. Whitakeb, Attorney-General; Mr. Ormond, Minister for Lands and Immigration; the Hon. John Hall, Colonial Secretary, at the end of the session. The remaining members of the Ministry will retain their old portfolios. It seems to be pretty generally conceded that Major Atkinson has got together a Cabinet of exceptional excellence, and the declaration of their policy will be looked forward to with interest, though there can be little doubt but that so far asjabolition is concerned their policy will coincide with that of their predecessors.