Summary of the Month.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4604, 6 October 1883, Page 4

Summary of the Month.

The chief item of the month has been the resignation of the Premier, which of course necessitated the retirement of the Cabinet, as a matter of form ; and His Excellency immediately seat for Major Atkinson, Colonial Treasurer, who undertook the formation of a new Ministry. The reconstructed administration was simply a redistribution of portfolios ; no new blood was infused to take the place of the able Minister who resigned,— therefore the present Cabinet is very much weaker than the last, and, although it is ' very easy, and a common practice, to say, if such thing had occurred, so and bo would have been the case ; there is little doubt that had the Government been . . deprived of the Hon. F. A. Whitaker's ' experience during last session of Parliament it would have been at all events less bounceable than it was, and would have felt it's way cautiously, in- , stead of acting in the off-handed manner it did ; which, of course, was through it's feeling itself on firm ground. Some rumors are current as to the probable resignation of Sir F. D. Bell, our AgentGeneral, and his likely sucessor, The pre- . Bent Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. W. Johnston, has been mentioned as a candidate. .The Colony would notgain much in the exchange .between Sir F. D. Bell and Mr Johnston ; but when the latter ; gentleman's family connections are. con- " sidered, it is probable that it would lose little. One of the smartest feminine politicians—we might almost say—of the age, is allied to the Minister, and besides being a bright conversationalist, a clever woman, and—unfeminirje though the quality may appear—a shrewd tactician, the lady we write of is socially much sought after, and a great favorite. One or two small native troubles have agitated the Native 'Department; a survey has teen stopped by a chief in connection . with the Muturoa block in this > Island. A warrant has been issued .' for the arrest of the offending chief. The .' other matter was $. more serious one.i The *, native Monarch, Tawhaio, whoscMtnove- •'• - ments have been of a somewhat inexpli-

cable nature during the last few months,

appears to have instigated the destruction .- .of certain beacons in the newly surveyed -harbor of Kawbia. The native chief who superintended the work of damaging . Government property, when informed that ho would be required to re-erect the beacons destroyed, replied that he would have to see the King first, as he was acting under instructions. The Native Minister, and a force of Armed Constabu-

lary are have arrived on the scene of - the trouble, and, as is, usual in such cases the wily Maori will doubtless succumb to the influence of superior force, and, as , he often does when in a rebellious state,

and cannot help it, he will submit to the rules of law and order. Some encouragement is about to be given by local bodies in the way of providing water for motive power, and thus enabling manufactories ■■ to be established in our midst. For some time past jealousy has almost eaten away the bonds that should exist between the ' two bodies which locally govern us, but this has almost disappeared and amity is new sworn between them. This hopeful feeling has made people interested in the. ~'.rdk>iogs of these important bodies, less ■ iipxious and excited than, they < have bAtfcerto been. The question of Pacific •niAcation is one likely to cause some trouble yet, unless the matter , be speedily- attended to. , The colo- ;,, nies unanimously ask for some law -'■ , saving them from the scourge of - criminal invasion at the least, and were even that danger removed, there is every advantage to be derived from an amalgamation of interests in the Southern •, Islands, which could not but relieve England from a deal of anxiety and responsibility in looking after her present southern possessions.