The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5166, 12 October 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1877.

In his efforts to form a Ministry Mr. Larnaii has not been happy. This condition of negative grief has arisen from a variety of causes. In the first place the mixture of men who put Mr. Larnach forward as a kind of human catspaw wore certain that the vote of want of confidence carried and their object accomplished, the member for Dunedin, good easy man, would be content to eliminate himself from amongst the claimants for office, and be content with assisting in the formation of a Ministry, in which, however, ho would hold no part. But Mr. Larnach was not content to be so easily snuffed out. The mover of two votes of want of confidence (the latter being successful) was not found ready to forego his position, so the cut and dried arrangement of Messrs. Bunny, Brown, and Sheehan found a most disturbing element introduced into it. Efforts were then made to induce Sir William Fitzherberx to abdicate his Speakership and act as Premier of the new Ministry. No one has over given Sir William, oven when only a plain esquire, credit for being foolish, and he has not now disappointed the public estimate. We cannot, of course, tell the exact words in which he replied to those who endeavored to induce him once more to become an active member of apolitical party; but wo may be pretty sure that those words, whilst courteous, gave a decided negative. So, then, matters stood up to yesterday afternoon, when a caucnsof the Opposition was held and the names of a Ministry were submitted. These names were Messrs. Montgomery (Premier and Colonial Treasurer), Rolleston (Minister for Education), Sharp (Postmaster-General), Larnach (Public Works), Macandrbw (Lands), Sheehan (Native Affairs), with Colonel Whitmore as Colonial Secretary and representative in the Upper House. No sooner were these names announced than there rose from sea to sky a wild shriek. Then we have good reasons for believing that the new and novel plan of electing a Premier by ballot was proposed, and an attempt made to obtain a written guarantee from every member present, pledging them to support the new Government up to the end of the session. Mr. Travers hurried quickly from the apartment in which the caucus was held. He was followed at no lengthened distance by Messrs. Rolleston, Walter Johnston, Montgomery, Curtis, Sharp, Reader Wood, and Gisborne. It would be unfair to speculate on the causes which induced the . abovenamed gentlemen to quit the meeting. For Mr. Travers, however, we may say that he called at the New Zealand Times office last night, and gave us his personal assurance that he had not been offered the Attorney-Generalship. Messrs. Curtis, Wood, and Gisborne held a small caucus on the Queen’s Wharf subsequently, and doubtless discussed the situation, but the result - of their conference did not transpii-e. After the gentlemen named had left the caucus meeting those present resolved themselves into a further consideration of the question at issue, and a resolution was arrived at that Sir George Grey should be Premier. Beyond this, however, nothing was done, except to carry an adjournment until the evening, when assurances were abundantly given that everything would be ■ satisfactorily settled. It is generally understood that the task of

naming the gentlemen who are to form the new Ministry has been left to Sir George Grey, Mr. Labnach being prepared to recommend .whoever may be selected by the hon member for the Thames. ’ Sir George Grey was busily engaged up to a late hour last night consulting the prominent" leaders of, the extreme party, comprising.--Messrs. Stout, BallAncb,' Sheehan, Bunny, J. C. Brown, and Dignan, and we presume that , someting will transpire during the forenoon which will serve as an indication for the announcement to be made in the House in the evening.