MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 35, 15 March 1873, Page 2

MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

OFFICIAL _CORRXSPONDiEECE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LATE PREMIER. WELLINGTON. —The iror-wqrk for the bridges on the Upper Hutt line, and on the branch railway to Wanganui through the Manawatu Gorge, has been ordered from England. The Zadepeadiatf says that the resignation of Mr. Waterhouse was chiefly owing to Mr. Vogel committing the colony to fresh monetary obligations in Australia without the approval of his colleagues.

Mr. Clayton, Colonial Architect, has re* signed. Mr. Waterhouse has received a telegram from Mr. Vogel, per Tararti, in which Mr. Vogel states lie will remain in Australia for the present. March 3. The official correspondence between the Governor and Mr. Waterhouse has been placed at the disposal of this Agency. On February 4, Mr. Waterhouse wrote to Mr. Vogel saying that he intended to resign, as he was only the nominal while Vogel was the real Premier. Mr. Vogel advocated the new policy, while Mr. Waterhouse administrative reform. On February 20, Mr. Waterhouse wrote to the Governor stating that Mr. Hall’s resignation affected his position so much that he must resign ; he did not wish the Governor to think this would involve the resignation of the whole Ministry. On February 28, the Governor replied that he failed to see the reason of his resignation which would ipxo facto dissolve the Ministry, and he suggested convening Parliament, and urged Mr. Waterhouse to reconsider his decision. March 1, Mr. Waterhouse wrote expressing his dissatisfaction at the Governor conferring with the reSt of the Ministry, and said the Governor need not visit Auckland; it was not the duty of Ministers to summon Parliament ; he regretted that while refusing his resignation the Governor ignored him in the Government of the colony; the Governor was endeavouring to induce another Minister to publish the correspondence which was tantamount to accepting his resignation. March 2, Mr. Waterhouse wrote to the Governor saying that he was not justified in affording him (the Governor) the means of leaving the colony, and he therefore had in* structed the Luna not to leave Wellington without the Premier’s express authority. March 2,’ the Governor replied to the memorandum and expressed his surprise at Mr. Waterhouse’s remarks regarding communication between the Governor and his Ministers when the subject of that communication was to dissuade Mr. Waterhouse from resigning; he accused Waterhouse of refusing to attend on the Governor when summoned by an Aid-de-camp, thereby obliging the Governor to confer with other Ministers; Mr Vogel on his return would be requested to become Premier; he desired that the correspondence should cease. March 2, Mr. Waterhouse replied that he was equally anxious the correspondence should cease. The Governor wrote on the 3rd inst., that after Mr. Waterhouse’s action it was imperative upon him to accept his resignation. It is believed in well informed circles that Messrs. Waterhouse and Vogel differed about the prorogation speech, Mr. Vogel having written it and not using another previously written by Waterhouse. The Governor left in the Luna to-day. It is rumoured Mr. Peacock (Lyttelton) will resign and that Mr. Moorhouse will stand for his seat. March 5. Reliable authorities here consider the prospects of the San Francisco service bad, and its early collapse is expected. A correspondence shows that after Mr. Waterhouse resigned, three Ministers addressed a strong memorandum asking him to reconsider his decision, and stating that the Cabinet always deferred to his opinion, and urging him, on patriotic grounds, to retain his office.

March 3.

AUCKLAND. March 7. Flour, £l2 to £l5 per ton; maize 4s. per bushel; oats, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d.; bran, Is. 3d.; butter, lOd. per lb.; cheese, 5Jd.; wheat, 6s. 3d. per bushel. Monday, March 10. There has been considerable rejoicing over the success of the Northern Volunteer representatives. A public reception will be given to them on their return. Great preparations are being made, especially at the Thames. The recently formed “ Political Union ” has collapsed. The brig Surprise, late Carl, has arrived from Fiji. She reports H.M.S. Dido as having arrived there on the 14th February. Burnes, a settler on Bau, was tomahawked by a band of mountaineers, about 200 in number, while calling his laborers together to defend the premises. The natives then attacked his house, and brutally murdered Mrs. Burnes and three children, and destroyed everything in the house. One of the laborers escaped to a neighboring plantation, the two overseers of which, with forty armed followers, arrived just in time to prevent the bodies from being devoured. The Government is straining every nerve to muster all the forces at its disposal, and is calling out volunteers to protect the lives of the settlers.

CHRISTCHURCH. March 7. Wheat, 4e. to 4s. 2d. Several large producers are making arrangements to ship to England rather than sell in the local markets. Oats, 2s. per bushel; flour, £ll per ton; barley, scarce, 6s. 6d. to 6s. 9d. per bushel; rye grass seed, much wanted, at 7s. per bushel; butter, in demand, at 7id. to Bd. per lb.; cheese, scarce, 6fd.to7d.

NELSON. March 7. Hoskins (Thames) won'the champion belt with 181 points; Stone (Thames), is the second highest aggregate scorer, making 176; Richardson (Otago), third, 166, with one shot to go; Thompson (Thames), fourth, 160. Fifth match for Infantry- (200, 500, and 600 yards).—lst prise, £l2, Hoskins (Thames). 70 points; second prize, £9, Stone (Thames), 69.

In the match North v. South, the latter made 597, the former 572; the South thus winning by 25 points. The following are the names : — South Island.—Richardson, 69; Henderson, 65; Clode, 65 ; Rom, 62; Buchanan, 60; Adam, 58; Thompson, 56 ; Douglas, 54; Wilson, 53. North Island.—Grundy, 69; Grey, 60; Pell, 60; Renouf, 55; Blake, 54; Oates, 53; Shand, 52; Hoskins, 52 ; Gray, 47 ; Stone, 44. Ranges, 200, 500, and 600 yards; seven shots.