THE POLITICAL SITUATION. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1527, 18 April 1882, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Ddnbdin, Saturday. It is understood here on the best authority tliat Mr.- Macandrew will be prepared to co-operate with Sir George Grey, should he undertake the formation of a Ministry, and that Sir George Grey, has been informed 1 to that effect.

- Ghristchurch, Saturday. Information just,received here gives the Grey Ministry as" follows:—Messrs. DeLautour, Macandrew, Montgomery, Whitmore, Pyke, and either Stout or Downie Stewart as Attorney-General.

Wellington, Yesterday. The following is an' accurate account of th-- Ministerial crisis : —A very important member of the Government telegraphed his resignation to<Mr Hall; on 31st ult,, and on the same day Mr Hall received what he supposed to be an intimation that another of "his colleagues would also retire. Mr Hall's health had been feeble for some time and this intelligence, coupled with the excess of illness, led him to telegraph his resignation to the Governor. His Excellency had some months since pointed out his doubts as to whether the Government possessed a majority in the new Parliament, and had urged its immediate assembly for the decision of that point. When, therefore, Hall's Ministry resigned, the Governor felt it necessary, before commissioning any persons to form a new Government, to ascertain more closely the actual state of parties. This information, on the one hand he was able to obtain from Mr Hall, and on the other he sought it from Sir Geo. Grey, the leader of the Opposition in the late Parliament, and the head of the Ministry which preceded that of Mr Hall. Having received full information of the strength of both parties, according to their own estimate, he has come to the conclusion that the parties are so evenly balanced that jt is impossible to say which possebs the confidence of the Legislature. Under chebe circumstances his Excellency thinks that the benefit of the doubt should be given to those in office, and lie lms sent tor the Attorney-General (Mr Whitaker) to re-construct the Government. The Hinemoa leaves to-night to bring Mr Whitaker to Wellington. It is rumoured that the Maranda has received instruction to wait at Lyttelton until his Excellency, the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, is ready to proceed to Fiji. It is further reported that Sir A. Gordon will take his departure immediately after he has,seen the new Ministry definitely installed in office. Ciikistchukcii, Yesterday. Sir George Grey telegraphes to the 'limes, denying the statement that he had fcelegiaphed to a friend in Christchurch to the effect that the Governor had asked him to form a Ministry, and was prepared to do so.

[BY TELEURAPH. — OWX CORRESPONDENT.] Auckland, Last Night. Mi- Whitaker, this afternoon, received a telegiam from Sir Arthur Gordon, asking him to go to Wellington at once, and stating that the Hinemoa leaves Wellington to-night to take him down. Wellington, Yesterday. Sir George Grey arrived yesterday, and had a long consultation .with the Governor. Sir G, Grey is not to form a Ministry. The late Ministers will be reappointed immediately with the necessary re-adjustments.