AUSTRLIAN SUMMARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 84, 9 February 1903, Page 3

AUSTRLIAN SUMMARY.

FIB PRESS ASSOCIATION, Milboubhk, February 7. A sensation baa oacurred in political circles over the rearrangement of the State Ministry, csnsequent on Mr Rsid's election to the Federal Senate in placa of the lata Sir F. Sargood, and en the resignation of Mr McKenzie, Minister for Lands. j Under the new arrangement, the number of Ministers has been reduced from nine to seven, the number fixed by the Reform Bill. Ur Divies, Solicitor-Genera', becomes Minister for Education in place of Mr Reid, the Premier taking over the SolicitorGeneralship. Mr Bent retains the: portfolio of Railways, and has alas; been given tho Health Department, j Mr Taverner takts Ljeds in addition; to Agriculture. i Surprise is expressed at Mr McKen-I qie being excluded from the Ministry j before the committee appointed to ! inquire into the charges against hira,! has made its report. j Peters has been ordered to be de-j tained during the Governor's pleasure : in connection with the assault on ; Sibbald. j Three doctors testified that Petnrs was insane at the time of the assault, ■ but that he was now quite well. Loudon, February 6. Mr Copelaod, Agent General for New South Wale?, speaking at the Ddinburgh Chamber of Commerce dinner, said tiut colonial repreceuta-: tion in the Imperii) Parliament was a 1: present absolutely imp >ssible, as Australians would not ul'ow half a dozeu representatives to commit them to a ■particular policy until the whole people had been consulted.