THE LATEST. [BY TEEEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1888, 12 August 1884, Page 2

THE LATEST. [BY TEEEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

The New Ministry. Wellington, Monday Night. The names of the Ministry have not yet been officially announced, but it is pretty generally known by this time that Messrs Stout, Macandrew, Ball.mcc, and Montgomery have agieed to take office in Sir Julius Vogel's Government.

Mr Stout to be Premier. It is understood that Sir Julius Vogel has given way in the matter of conceding the Premiership to Mr Stout, partly owing to the physical inability of the former to undertake the arduous duties pertaining to the leader of the House, and also because it is alleged that one of the conditions demanded by Mr Montgomery and Mr Macandrew in joining the Ministry was that Mr Stout was to be Premier. It i> also said that even Mr Stout himself, although he had been suppmtmg Sir Julius Vogel so heaitily all through the present situation, refused to join hi^ Ministry unless Messrs Macandrew and Montgomery weie included in the Cabinot.

How the Canterbury Members Like It. The prospect of Mr Stout becoming Premier has, <>n the other hand, gi\en great otfence to Sir Julius Vogel's Canteiburv suppoiter*>, and they are .is yet hardly reconciled to the proposals. They are also said to be incensed at the idea of Mr Montgomery holding a seat in the new Ministry, and I hear to-inght that a caucus of Sir Julius Vogel'h supporters is to be held to-morrow, to consider, amongst other matters, these two vexed questions. The difficulty as to the appointment of the Auckland member to the Cabinet has not yet been surmounted.

Sir George Grey Refuses to Join the Government. A deputation, consisting of Mr Stout, Mr Macandrew and Mr Barron, waited on Sir George Grey this morning, and offeied him the vacant seat in the Ministry, but he absolutely lefused to join any Government that included Sir Julius Vogel. He was then asked to name an Auckland member for the poitfoho, but this he also declined to do.

Sir George Grey and Major sonIt is stated that since then Sir George has been throwing out feelers for a coalition with Major Atkinson, but the Major is not desirous of a coalition, and would, in fact, prefei to stand out altogether for the present. Major Atkinson's paity are also favourable to this course, and they confidently state that he will be back on the Treasury benches with a much larger following, if not during the present session ceitamly before another one has closed.

Mr S bout's Departure. Mr Stout left for Dunedin this afternoon on urgent private business. A conference was held after his departure at Sir J. Vogel's residence between Sir Julius, Mr Macandrew and Mr Montgomeiy, and a sauisfactory lesult was at lived at. One or two points weie to be refeired to Mr Stout at Lyttleton, to-moriow, by telegraph and if satisfactoiy replies are received from the new Premier, the foimation of the Cabinet is said to be assuied.

The Auckland Member. I hear that one of the matters to be referred to Mr Stout is the name of the Auokland member who is to be asked to join the Cabinet, and in the event of failure on this point, it is rumouied, as I have pieviously informed you, that Captim Russell i-> to be asked t) become a membei of the Mimstiy. I understand that Capt. Russell's name has been suggested by the Canteibiuy members, who informed Sir Julius that his accession to the Ministry would be most popular with the House.

Personnel of the Cabinet. The new Ministry will probably be as follows:—Mr Stout, Premier and AttorneyGeneial ; Sir Julius Vugol, Colonial Treasurer ; Mr Macandrew, Alinister for Public Workb; Mr Montgomery, Minister for Lands, and probably Colonial Secretary ; Mr Ballance, Postmaster-General. Sir George Wlntmore, I hear, is to conduct the Government business an the Council, without portfolio, and the vacant seat is likely to be filled by an Auckland member. Hopes are still entertained by the Vogel party that Mr Oimond may see his way later on to join the Ministry.

The Future Policy. I understand that Sir Julius Vogel's original policy, as sketched out to Mi Montgomery and Mr Macandrew on Saturday, was one of the most staitling charactei —so much so that even Mr Macandrew was faiily staggered by it, and this statement implies a good deal. It is stated that the policy involved the expendituie of about ten millions of boirowed money, and included 1 ail ways for all paits of the colony. Sir Juhua has had to modify his views in many respects before Messrs Montgomery and Macandiew consented to bocomo his colleagues. I hear they particulaily specified that hi.-, bonowing powers should bo consideiably diminished, and he consented to this rather than lose their co-operation.