POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2676, 5 September 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(by TKt.l'X; U.V I'll, —OW.V ('OK KKS PON DENT.) W i'.r,l.r s(;t<• N, Wed nesday. THE MINISTERIAL VACANCY. Tiikhh is nothing definitely settled as yet respecting Mr Hislop's resignation, which will not tie ollicially accepted till after the Governor's arrival from Nelson to-night. I understand tho vacancy in tlio Cabinet is not likely to be filled up till after the session is over, but as usual the names of several prominent Ministeralists are mentioned, as the probable successor to the Colonial Secretary. Amongst others Sir John Hall, Mr Orinond, Capt. Russell, Mr J. B. Whyle, and Mr Fulton aro spoken of as the most likely men from which tho choice will be made, and I hear, on tho i.ther hand, that the portfolio is to bo actually offered to Mr Ormond it being considered that Sir John Hall's state of health will prevent his accepting office, and that in the event of tho member of Napier declining tho appointment, Captain Russell will very probably receive the portfolio, if he consents to take the responsibility. MR HISLOP'S RESIGNATION. The only reference that was made to the Colonial Secretary's resignation to-day, occurred when Mr Ballaoce called the attention of the Government to the fact that a report had been laid on the table of tho Legislative Council yeterday, affecting a member of the House, and ho wished to know whether they proposed to lay that report on the table of the House. The Premier simply replied that they did not intend doing so, and nothing further came of it. THE OPPOSITION CHECK-MATED. I understand that the Colonial-Secre-tary's resignation came on the Opposition as quite a surprise; they had intended to move on the motion of going .into Committee of Supply as a sequel to the hostile report of tho Legislative Council that the Repoit be adopted by the House in order to asseit tho dignity of Parliament, If such was their intention, the Government, under the circumstances, would be bound to accept the proposition directly censuring one of tho Ministers and Mr Hislop would then be practically forced out of the Cabinet, instead of retiring voluntarily as he has done. It is still reported that the Opposition intend if possible to force Mr Fergus' resignation also, on the ground that tho Minister of Justice is equally entitled to blame for the Ward-Hislop correspondence with the Colonial Secretary. Mr Fergus' fiiends, however, consider that he has come very well out of the whole affair, inasmuch as he has quietly submitted to all the abusi heaped on him merely because of his loyalty to his colleague, the Colonial Secretary, and his desire to shield Mr Hislop from t.he consequences of a line of action which the Colonial Secretary himself admitted might have been injudicious. WARD-HISLOP COMMITTEE. I find the voting on the report of the cominit'ee censuring Mr Hislop was six for the report, and two ill favour of Mr Hislop. Tile six were as follows: —Messrs J. N. Wilson, Buckley, Reynolds, Pollen, Shepard and Swanson, while Messrs Stevens and Oliver votjd against the report brought up.