SECOND EDITION LATEST.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2827, 17 April 1882, Page 3

SECOND EDITION LATEST.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

[Bt Telegraph.] Wellington, April 17. The following is an accurate account of .Ministerial crisis A .very important member of the Government telegraphed his resignation to Mr Hall on the 31st ult., and on - the same day Mr Hall received what he supposed to bean intimation:that another of his colleagues would also retire. Hr Hall s health had been feeble for sometime, and this' intelligence, coupled with excess' of illness, led him to telegraph his resignation to the Governor. His Excellency had some doubts whether Government possessed a majority in the new Parliament, and had urged its immediate assembly jfor decision of that point. When, therefore, Mr Hall’s Ministry resigned, the Governor felt it necessary before commissioning any person to form a new Government to ascertain more closely the actual atrehgth of parties. This information; on the one hand he was able to obtain from Mr Hall, and on the other hand, he sought it from Sir George Grey, leader of the opposition in the late Parliament, and head of the ministry .which preceded that of Mr Hall. ■ Having received full information ofjthe strength of both parties according to their own estimate, he has come to the conclusion that parties are so evenly balaneed as to render It impossible to say which possesses the coUfidehce of the Legislature. Under these circumstances, His Excellency thinks that the benefit of the doubt ehould.be given to those in office, and he has sent for the Attorney-General, Mr Whitaker, to reconstruct tho Government. The Hinemoa leaves to-night to bring Mr Whittaker to Wellington,