MINISTERIAL CHANGES.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 122, 3 October 1885, Page 5

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.

The old rumour as to an impending change in or reconstruction of the Cabinet has been revived the last day or two, and political capital, is being made of Mr Stout's departure for Dunedin in connection with the rumoured recon* struction of the Ministry. It -will be remembered that just prior to the close of the session it was freely rumoured that Mr Stout would resign very shortly after the prorogation. This was denied at the time, though it must be fairly stated that Major Atkinson put the query to the Premier in the House in the course of his speeoh on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, and the Premier failed to satisfy the curiosity of the leader of the Opposition or the House on the point. It is now very freely stated that Mr Stout'svisit to Dunedin is in connection with this question of his | resignation, and that he is desirous of_ discussing the subject with his business partner. This i 3 a common rumour, and as such I am bound to give it for what it may be worth. From all that can be learned from Ministers now in Wellington, however, I am disinclined to believe that there is any fear of the Premier placing hi? resignation in the hands of the Governor just yet. Whatever may be his intention ultimately, he must see that to do so at this juncture would greatly injure his political reputation. Another rumour is to the effect that Sir Julius Vogel is to be disposed of early next year either as Agent-General or as Chief of the Government Insurance Department, and that upon his retirement from the Cabinet, Canterbury is to be further represented by either Mr Garrick or Mr Harper. This also is a very common rumour revived, and needs only to be mentioned to be contradicted. I have made inquiry into the alleged probabilities or possibilities, and am assured by Ministers that no reconstruction whatever of the Cabinet is contemplated, and that the various rumours herein referred to are entirely without foundation,