THE VOGEL MINISTRY. ITS CONSTITUTION AGREED UPON. AUCKLAND LEFT OUT IN THE COLD Wellington, August 13.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 63, 16 August 1884, Page 6

THE VOGEL MINISTRY. ITS CONSTITUTION AGREED UPON. AUCKLAND LEFT OUT IN THE COLD Wellington, August 13.

At a caucus yosterday afternoon, the portfolios in the new Cabinet were fixed as follows : —

SIR JULIUS VOGEL, Colonial Treasurer, Postmaster-General, and Commissioner of Stamps (with precedence). SIR STOUT, Premier and Attorney-General.

HON. E. RICHARDSON, Public Works.

MR MONTGOMERY, Colonial Secretary and Education.

MR MACANDREW, Lands and Mines.

MR EALLANCE, Native and Defence.

SIR GEORGE WHIT MORE, Without portfolio. There is still one seat to fill, and it is understood it will be re-served for an Auckland member. It is also believed that Mr Richardson will retire and take the post of Chairman of the Middle Island Railway Board. His retirement will mako room for another member, who should also be an Auckland man.

Tho Course of Negotiations. At the meeting of the Canterbury supporters of Sir Julius Vogel yesterday after tioon, which was lorgely attended, Mr Wakefiold strongly urged the objections before advanced to Mr Stout\s Premiership. Other members supported him for a time, and the discussion was discursive and unsatisfactory. Sir Julius gradually overcame the most of the objections, and Mr Wakeh'eld was finally left alone in his opposition. Pie still urged that the Ministry was unfairly constituted, and could not command the confidence of the country. He finally entered a protest., and declared that he could not approve of such a Government. Mr Richardson was added to the Ministry. Some say that his selection was intended as a concession to the Canterbury objectors ; others, that it was the only nomination really made by Sir Julius Vogel, all the others having been dictated by Messrs Stout and Macandrew, and that Mr Richardson owes his presence in the Cabinet to the fact that lie is a director of the New Zealand Shipping Company.

The Question of "Precedence." Sir Julius Votrel is accorded precedence in iMinhtvy, after tho example set by Mr Wlptuker in IS7U.

A Very Secret Caucus. After the meeting Sir Julius Vogel came to the House, and a caucus was held in the whips' room, all the now Ministers being picsent. An amusing incident occurred in connection with thatmeeting. A loud knocking and kicking at the door was heard in the adjacent lobby, and on going to investigate, an oflicer of the House discovered that tho whole party were securely locked in, and could not get out again. Attei an ineffectual attempt to burst open the door, a locksmith was let in thiough the window, and succeeded in effecting the .elease of the imprisoned Ministers. Another conference wu.=, held, at which portfolios were iinally settled as above.

The North Deliberately Left Out. Several of Vogel's Canterbury supporters are still dissatished with the Cabinet, while others say Mr Wakefield's opposition arose chieily through not being allotted a portfolio. All, however, admit that it is a South Island Ministry, pure and simple, I and fairly carries out the advice offered in strong phraseology by one prominent Southern member here: "Fill up all the portfolios with Southern men, and let the North go to the devil. We can outvote them." Mr Ballance is not accepted as representing any section of the North, and is considered a poor substitute tor Mr Bryce in the Native Oilice. He has no special qualification for it, whilst Sir George Whitmore, who is the embodiment of New Zealand Toryism and Squatocracy, is thrown in as a make-weight to the predominating Radicalism. The Auckland Minister.

A rumour was prevalent that ex-Judge Fenton would be called to the Upper Houso and given the vacant portfolio, but I have been told by one of the new Ministers that this report has mo substantial foundation. At present it is intended, however, to give the portfolio to somo Auckland man if it is possible to obtain a suitable one to accept it. A Constitutional Difficulty.

Owing to Mr Stout's absence in Dunedin, it is doubtful, he being Premier, whether tho Ministry can bo sworn in until after his return on Friday. Mr Richardson's Retirement,

Mr Richardson only holds the portfolio of Public Works until the end of the session, when bo is to become Commissioner under tho ' -w Railway Board, which is part of tho Ministerial policy to be submitted to tlie House. The So.-ength of the Government.

The supporters of the new combination claim from 50 to 55 votes, but members on tho other side, after carefully pricking the card, declare their inability to see where they are to be found, and rely on an early division to prove that they are purely imaginary. Backsliding Vogelites.

It is rumoured that two defections have occurred from the Vogel party in consequence of tho announcement of their Government. Swearing-in of Ministers.

Members of the Ministry will interview the' Governor to-day to ascertain when they can be sworn in. The West Coast Members.

The West Coast vote is still uncertain, and it will not be known definitely how it will go till tho arrival of Mr Guinness ; but it is anticipated they will go into Opposition.

Expected Defeat on the Address-in-Reply. The leaders of the Atkinson Grey party are confident of putting tho Ministry out on tho Address-in-Reply.

The Auckland Member of the Cabinet. I have reason to believe that the choice of an Auckland Minister has been narrowed down to two " eligibles." These are Mr F. D, Fenton and Captain Morris. There are admittedly difficulties in the way, but Vogelites seem confident that one of these gentlemen will be induced to accopt office.

Tho Names Submitted to the Governor. Sir Julius Vogel submitted the names of the Ministry informally to the Governor last night. They will be presented formally to-day, and probably sworn in, no i legal difficulty re Mr Stout's absence being anticipated.

The Governor's Speech. On Thursday the Governor will not meet tho House, but Sir Julius Vogel will announce the formation of tho Ministry and ask for a further adjournment till Tuesday, when his policy will be submitted in the speoch.

"Precedence." The question of precedence is merely a social one, not affecting the constitutional position of the Ministry. It is provided for in the Civil List Act, the Governor being therein empowered to determine tho precedence of Ministers at Government House. Mr Whitaker's case is the only instance of its being exercised.

The~Railway Board Proposals. Sir Julius Vogel's proposals for railway management are boards at Auckland and Christchurch. The railways at Wellington will be managed by the Central Department. In appointing Mr Richardson President of the Canterbury Board, it will

be necessary to amend the Disqualification Act, which prohibits a member of the House from accepting a paid Government office within twelve months of his retirement from the Legislature.

Grey-Atkinson Jubilation. Major Atkinson and Sir George Grey aro reported to be both jubilant over the names of Ministers finally announced.