POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4083, 22 August 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGKA.rH. J

(From our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Wednesday.

Mr Thomson did not let tho grass grow under his feet long, for no .sooner had he received the commission from His Excellency than he placed himself in communication with Sir George Grey. There will be much information cusily got in tluit quarter, but it will require to bo taken cum grano sails very much, as I am very suspicious of what is easily got. As to its reliability you may judge of that when I tell you I was credibly informed yesterday that when MiThomson was sent for lie had suggested to the Governor that Mr Ormond should be sent for, and I accordingly telegraphed to you to that effect, but was fortunately able to contradict it later on. Last year that genial individual Mr Sheohan dubbed MrjShepherd "a hatter and a party of one." I wonder -what he would have said of the present House, in which nearly every unit is a party unto itself, and in which there is no party cohesion properly so-called at all. The plain fact of the matter is, tho House is full of members with grievances, and each man wants something big and substantial for his district. It is a pleasing little game of grab, and that tended to wreck the Stout Ministry! Members have no objection to individually receive a good many thousands for their constituencies, and the speech intended to do that, but when the collective amount was visible members stood aghast at the total, and though they had no objection to their individual, wants being attended to, it was another matter altogether when these were added up and exhibited in their total depravity and enormous proportions. The man that can consolidate a party out of such elements >vill have achieved a -wonderful task.

Sir George Grey, Major Atkinson, and Mr Thomson have had a conference, but the astute Major, T fancy, has a different game to play to anything that could be inferred from the above.

Thursday's Tost says:—"Last night's division brought the curtain down on the first act of a comedy of political confusion which Aye hope yet to see end happily for all parties, as comedies usually do. The second act will commence to-day, and it is pretty sure to develop fresh and amusing complications. Whether the plot will then be cleared up, and everything end as it should do in the third act, or whether fresh intricacies will bo developed, to be put right in a fourth act, no one can yet say. We do not suppose that Mr Thomson, if sent for, will attempt to form a Ministry. That would be rather too ridiculous, but whoever forms one it is very improbable that the new structure will prove much more durable than the one just destroyed. It will, however, like that one, have its uses, no matter how intrinsically weak or objectionable. It may bo, with its exit, the opportunity of forming a really stable and powerful Administration will be afforded, and will, we trust be taken advantage of. Such a Government should include Sir Julius Vogel, Major Atkinson, Mr Ormond, and Mr Stout. There really exists no good reason why all these gentlemen should not unite as Mr Service and Mr Berry have united in Victoria in carrying out a sound and reasonable policy calculated to promote the real welfare of the community."

A Stout-Vogel caucus was hold last evening, when of course active opposition was decided on against the what we may term incoming men. There was a lively passage of arms between little Shriniski and Mr. Steward.

The idea of the combination with Sir George Grey and Major Atkinson, which I wired some days ago, is strengthening , . Some say the understanding will be tlr.it neither takes office, but so far as Major Atkinson is concerned that is not likely to prove correct. Another idea talked of is to have a combination of entirely new men. Such a policy woidd be extremely dangerous, but it is quite evident that the team will be a mixed one in more senses than one, and will contain three or four new men at least, and if the combination should prove a strong one it is quite possible that it might last for a time. At any rate, a collective Opposition will require organising, and a strong Opposition cannot be at once made to order.

At the Vogel caucas last evening the members were released from their pledges. This must not be taken to mean that there is no longer a Vogel party, but that those who were pledged to his Ministry are now free to follow the bent of their inclinations, and should office bo offered to them in the new team they are free to accept it. There is but little to be learned this morning, the Press gallery having , been busy all the morning in getting photographed in a group, which is now an annual affair, and this is the second one of the sort this year. The group consists of some twenty-five as against eleven last year. The attempt at forming a Ministry by Mr. Thomson seems likely to end in failure, as Messrs Ormond and Atkinson, as well as Sir George Grey, have all declined his overtures, expressing their minds pretty freely that lie was " not the man for Galwiiy." Mr Thomson's mission has practically failed, and he either has or will advise the Governor to send for Sir George Grey.