MR WAKEFIELD AND THE VACANT PORTFOLIO.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2663, 3 October 1881, Page 2

MR WAKEFIELD AND THE VACANT PORTFOLIO.

The “ LytteltonTiir.es ” correspondent at Wellington wired to that journal on Friday night as follows : Subsequent events which have transpired, tend to confirm the accuracy of the conjecture to which I referred last night, that the object of the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Mr'Hall and Major Atkinson for Opunake was connected with the filling up of the vacant portfolio. The greatest reticence is otill maintained in official circles as to the reasons of the Ministers’ departure, What I shrewdly expect to have taken place is this. Mr Wakefield finds himself threatened with serious opposition at Geraldine, and has pressed his claims to the vacant portfolio on the Government, intimating that his chances of being reelected depend very largely on its being promptly announced that he is to be the new Minister. The Premier and Major Atkinson are believed to be favorable to his appointment, while Mr Eolleston is strongly opposed to it, and has in fact intimated that it will lead to hisresignatien. The matter having assumed a pressing shape, involving the necessity of its being settled forthwith, the Ministers named have deemed it expedient at once to have a personal interview with their colleague with the view of again talking the matter over with him.

The correspondent of the “Otago Daily Times ” also wired to that journal to the effeat that this explanation of the Ministers’ journey was current in Wellington.