MR WATERHOUSE SENT FOR. Wellington, 3 p.m.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 66, 6 September 1884, Page 6

MR WATERHOUSE SENT FOR. Wellington, 3 p.m.

The Governor did not ask for Major Atkinson's advice, and, acting on his own responsibility, has sent for the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, a member of the Legislative Council.

Press Opinions on the Crisis. Dunedin, August 30. The " Star " denies that the Ministry contains any of the elements of the Continuous Ministry, which had fairly adjusted provincial representation. As a prima facie cxse, the interests of Otago would be neglected. It declines to say whether it will support the Ministry until they show their policy. It is neither fair nor reasonable they should be condemned because they succeeded a Ministry of whom great things were expected, or because certain popular favourites of the House were not in the Cabinet. It advocates that they should have fair play and a full opportunity to disclose their policy. Should the motion of no confidence be carried, which is not by any means impossible, the Governor may consider he has exhausted the available political resources of Parliament, and may on his own responsibility dissolve the same as impracticable, and call another. The "Times " says :—"The broad fact is the Continuous Ministry has degenerated into second childhood by the junction of the head with the tail. There is just a sufficient sprinkling of Southerners to save appearances. It is the old Atkinson regiment with privates and corporals holding commissions. Mr Bryce is a serious loss, and we look in vain for any particle of enterprise or originality in the Cabinet. The supremacy of Major Atkinson will beabsolute enough among colleagues so distinctly inferior to him in experience and capacity. With the exception of the Hon. George McLean, who will Drobably be as wax plaster in the hands'of the Premier, the

Ministry is Atkinson, pure and undiluted, although a large majority of the constituents declared last month that they wished to get rid of Major Atkinson. A very strong objection to the Administration is that it is dependent for existence on the support of Sir George Grey, who is now in the position he has so long coveted, of the maximum of power with the minimum of responsibility, The Opposition are doing right in wasting no time in attacking the Ministry. If they are to be turned out, the sooner the better. Whatever may happen, all hope of a satisfactory Government is at an end. Nevertheless, a Stout-Vogel Government could be organised which v ould bo preferable to the Atkinson Ministry.

An Otago Member on His Dofenoe. The following letter from Mr Ross has been published :—" I see by the papers that it is intended to burn in effigy those Otago members who voted against the Stoutcuin Vogel Government. Well, this may have terrors for some people, but not for your humble servant. I did not give the vote I did without anxious and careful consideration, and the long and continuous friendship which has existed between Mr Stout and myself rendered my position a somewhat disagreeable one; buthaving,asl said, made up my mind that the course chalked out for myself was the correct one, I gave Am vote as I w ould have given it even if doing so had involved the burning of the eriginal instead of the effigy. I am not afraid that I shall be able to justify my vote to my constituents, and w 11 certainly not try to conciliate the tag-rag-and-bobtail whose intelligence does not rise above burning in effigy those who may differ from them in opinion or action. I cannot in this letter explain or detail the reasons (and they were many) which prompted my action, but this much I will say, that I looked upon the Ministry as I would look upon a botched piece of mosiac work, the combination of whose colours had been made so inharmoniously, and whose component parts had been arranged so unartistically, that in its whole it presented not one lineament of c a thing of beauty,' and from the imperfect workmanship in its construction, showed no evidence whatever of pormancnt durability."

Wellington, September 1. MR STOUT SENT FOR. The report that the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse and Sir Wm. Fitzherbert had been summoned by the Governor on Saturday was found to be incorrect. The Governor took the opinion of several prominent men on the situation, and at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning sent for Mr Stout, and had a long consultation. He did not, however, then ask him to undertake the formation of a Ministry. His Excellency appeared to favour the idea that some member of the Legislative or a neutral person could best facilitate the coalition necessary for the formation of a Government. Mr Stout submitted his views on the subject, and the Governor requested him to attend again in the evening. Mr Stout again saw him last night, when His Excellency entrusted him with the formation of a Ministry.

Will a Dissolution Follow ? The " Times " to-day says His Excellency also gave Mr Stout the promise of a dissolution in the event of failure, but this statement lacks authentication.

Mr Stout as Cabinet-Maker. Mr Stout is now engaged in the formation of a Cabinet. He will make some proposals of coalition with the Atkinson party, but not such as are likely to be accepted, and the Ministry is nearly certain to be formed out of his own and Sir George Grey's sections. Mr Tole is pure to be offered a portfolio, but as Mr Stout takes the Attor-ney-Generalship,it is impossible that he can hold such an important office as he might have done in the Atkinson Administration. The Grey party arc favourable to giving the new Ministry sufficient support to carry them on, and the fear of a dissolution will influence many.

The Next Ministry. The "Times" to-day mentions Messrs Vogel, Stout, Larnach, Richardson, Whitmore, Ballance and Tole, as probable Ministers, and says such a Government should be put out at all risks.

The Governor's Action Criticised. The "Post" of Saturday night says:—" It is stated that His Excellency has communicated with Hon. G. M. Waterhoase. Why he should have done so we are utterly at a loss to imagine. As the acknowledged leader of the majority by which the Ministry were rejected from office last night, Mr Stout's advice should, we think, have been first sought. It is possible, however, that through Mr Waterhouse's mediation a coalition between the parties may be brought about; but it is very unlikely, as, notwithstanding the professions of the leaders on both side 3 la.st night, it is understood this morning that the difficulties in the way of reconciling existing differences so as to lead to a combination have become intensified rather than soothed over. This is much to be regretted, as failing coalition, a dissolution appears inevitable."

Canterbury Wants an Atkinson Coalition. The position seems no nearer settlement than ever. The Canterbury members met yesterday. They were strongly opposed to Mr Stout's proposals, and urged upon Sir Julius Vogel that he should form a coalition with Major Atkinson. A very angry feeling, however, still prevails among the supporters of the latter on account of the failure of tho coalition negotiations on Friday night. They declare that they were shamefully "sold."

Mr Stout's Views. — He Consults with Major Atkinson. Mr Stout's own feelings aro understood to be most favourable to forming a Ministry, if possible, out of bia own followers and the Greyites, trusting to obtain a majority of the House. He, however, had a consultation with Major Atkinson to-day on the subject of coalition.