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Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2379, 8 October 1887, Page 2

Tub New-Zealand Parliament was opened by commission on Thursday, and after the customary formalities, which took place in the Legislative Council Chamber, the members of the Lower House, having taken the oaths, elected Sir Maurice O’Rorke to the Speakership. He was proposed by Mr J. D. Lance, member for Cheviot, and supported by Major Atkinson and Sir Julius Vogel in eulogistic terms. The late Colonial Treasurer moved the adjournment of the House, and in doing so took occasion to express his regret at the absence of Sir Robert Stout. Major Atkinson made a statement to the effect that he had been requested by His Excellency the Governor to form a Ministry, a task he had accepted. He informed the House he would consult those members returned in Opposition to the Government, and thought he would be in a position to announce, when the House meets next Tuesday, that he had succeeded in making up a strong Cabinet. A caucus of the Opposition, or the party who support Major Atkinson, was held shortly after the House rose, and was attended by forty-eight members, besides whom nine others were accounted for Major Atkinson expressed himself strongly against any notion of joining forces with Sir Julius Vogel, or having

anything to do with him in any way whatever. He is too well aware that the feeling of the country is entirely antagonistic to such a step. The proceedings of the meeting wore of an encouraging nature, for there was an absence of selfish interests or grasping for office; on the contrary, the honourable gentlemen present exhibited a praiseworthy desire to lend all their energies towards extricating the country from the critical state it has fallen into. Major Atkinson himself displayed ready willingless to stand aside should his party deem it expedient that some other leader should assume the position of Premier. In the matter of policy nothing definite has yet been decided upon, except in one important particular, namely that of rigid retrenchment, and on that all were of one accord. Sir George Grey lent his aid by giving Major Atkinson an unqualified promise of his support. That gentleman’s position has gathered additional strength from his alliance with Sir Fredrick Whitaker, who may not see his way to accept office in the new Ministry, but can give Major Atkinson valuable assistance and advice, in which his long experienced and reputation in New Zealand politics qualify him. Sir Julius Vogel’s efforts to ingratiate himself in the good graces of the incoming party, particularly those he has attempted to establish on the strength of some mysterious, and as yet unexplained “arrangements” he claims to have made to the' “ great satisfaction ” of the London Stock Exchange in connection with the North Island Trunk Railway Loan, have apparently missed fire. The ardour of his alleged party appears to be cooling off, and we think it will be found that his supposed' following has become attenuated to a very insignificant proportion. There does not seem much probability of Sir John Hall being in the new Ministry ; in fact, it is understood that he has no wish to take office. Looking at all the circumstances of the situation. Major Atkinson's chances of success seem very promising, and what is of far greater importance to us, there is a confident assurance that the Ministry will bo a strong one, ami capable of giving effect to those reforms and retrenchment in the cost of administration, for which the country has made such an uumistakoabie demand. It would

be futile to attempt any of the usual predictions as to who will obtain portfolios ; that will be known in the course of a few days.