Parliamentary News,

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 208, 13 August 1884, Page 2

Parliamentary News,

VOGEL’S CHANCE OF SUCCESS DOUBTFUL. FURTHER DELAY IN OPENING PROBABLE. GREY-ATKINSON COMBINATION. [from our own correspondent.] Wellington, August 12. At a caucus meeting this afternoon Sir Julius Vogel stated that he could not form a Ministry without Messrs. Stout, Macandrew, and Montgomery. A Ministry has been formed consisting of Sir Julius Vogel, Messrs. Stout, Montgomery, Macandrew, Ballance, Whitmore, and Morris. It is not definitely announced who the eighth will be, but Captain Russell is stated as the one. Messrs. Wakefield and Richardson, who it was thought would be members of the new Ministry, are now in the Opposition. It is considered hardly probable that His Excellency will be able to meet Parliament on Thursday, the formation of the new Ministry being hardly completed, and a further adjournment till next week will probably be asked for. Statements are going about to the effect that Sir George Grey and Major Atkinson are working together, and will combine. August 13. 11.5 a.m.—lt has now transpired that Mr. Richardson has a portfolio in the new Ministry as Minister for Public Works. Captain Morris is not mentioned, and an Auckland representative has yet to be appointed. It is doubtful whether the present Ministry will command a majority, and the opinion is it will likely suffer defeat at the hands of the Opposition. It is understood that part of the Ministerial programme will be the establishment of a non-political Railway Board. In the event of such change Mr. Richardson will be offered the presidency. The Ministry will not, in all probability, be sworn in till Friday, owing to the absence of Mr. Stout, and, it is expected, Major Atkinson will apply for an adjournment to-morrow till 2 o’clock on Friday. 11.37 a.m.—l have it on most substantial authority that the Grey and Atkinson parties will coalesce, and have a following of 55. The general opinion is that the new Government will be ousted.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, August 12. The political situation is unchanged. A caucus of the Christchurch members was held this morning and afternoon, but no new facts have transpired. It is, however, probable that when the House meets on Thursday a further adjournment till the middle of next week will be asked, and the formal opening postponed until then. Major Atkinson will move the adjournment of the House to-morrow until Tuesday. It is considered probable that the new Ministry will not be sworn in until after the meeting of Parliament to-morrow. The following is the new Ministry :—Sir J. Vogel (with precedence), Colonial Treasurer, Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Stamps ; Mr. Stout, Premier and AttorneyGeneral 5 Hon. E. Richardson, Public Works ; Mr. Montgomery, Colonial Secretary and Education; Mr. Macandrew, Lands and Mines ; Mr. Ballance, Native and Defence ; Sir G. Whitmore, without portfolio. The arrangement about the precedence, is in accordance with the precedent of a similar course of action when Sir F. Whitaker first joined Major AtkinsonSir Julius Vogel will on Tnursday ask for a further adjournment of the formal opening until Tuesday next.