Evenng Post. FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1879.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 4 July 1879, Page 2

Evenng Post. FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1879.

THE MINISTRY. Wb mentioned yesterday that one of the vacant seats in the Cabinet bad been offered to the Hon. W. Gisxornb, and to-day we are in a position to state, on authority, that tha offer has been accepted by him. Mr. Gisborne has consented to join the present Ministry, taking the portfolios of Lands, Immigration, and Customs. We understand that Mr. Gisborne, sympathising strongly with the principles of the Liberal party, felt that it would be a grave misfostude were that party to be broken up or split into factions merely because personal diiforanfes had arisen among certain individual members of the Cabinet. In the hope, therefore of once more consolidating the party, and enabling the Government to have a fair chance of placing fully before the country tha Liberal policy which they havo announced, and by which they have declared their determination to stand or fall, Mr. GI3BOKNE, we learn, has decided to cast in his lot among them. It is no secret that when the present Ministry first took office Mr. Gisbornb was str.jiik-ly urged to accept a porttolio, and on a subsequent occasion a like offer was earnestly pressed upon liim. It is certain that just at the existing juncture of affairs there is no other member of the House of Representatives, whose accession would so greatly have strengthened the Government, and so materially have weak-ned the Opposition. Sir Gborge Grey well may exclaim: "Out of thi3 nettle Danger, I pluck this flower Safety!" Mr. Gisboknk will bring to the aid of the Government all that extensive departmental knowledge and experience in which . lie ha» «no rival, and in which the^ grejent Ministry always has "been so conspicuously .deficient. It was for this reason that in 1870 Mr. GisßOaws, then Under- Secretary for the Colony, was offered by Mr. (now Sir William) Fox Jand accepted a seat in the Legislative Council and the Cabinet as Colonial Secretary. Sir George Grey evidently noted, with his usual astuteness, the success of this experiment, and took advantage of tbe present opportunity to offer, tor the third time, to Mr. Gxsbojcnb a place in the Ministry. The result is that the ill-effects of Mr. Ballanck's resignation have b en more than neutralised by Mr. Gisborne's acceptance of office, and this in more way* than one. It is not only that his ability, experience, and departmental knowledge will be invaluable just now, although that in itself is no small matter. Mr. Gisbokne's accession to office means more than this. It is, we believe, the first time that the West Coast has ever been represented in tbe Ministry, and Mr. Gisborne has done such good service to bis Totara constituents, that the West Coast people may not unnaturally look forward to their interests being well cared for by a Government of which he is a member. In view, therefore, of an approaching general election it is highly improbable that the other Wtßt Coast members will incur tbe infallible loss of their seats by voting against the Ministry sow that he has joined it, and it is far more likely that they will give a block vote " straight " . on the Government side. This in itself means an important increase of strength** ,aad if, as reported, Mr. Bunny is to be the Government candidate for the Chairmanship of Committees, his adhesion may be deemed certain, wh le it is believed that the newly-elected member for the Hutt w'll be fuund on the same side. It is said to be definitely decided that the remaining Ministeriai,facancy shall be filled if possible by an Otago member, and several names havo been hinted at as likely ones, including those of Mr. Thomson and Mr. Vincbkt P*kb. We have reason to believe, however, that the- selection will be narrowed down still more closely, and that an endeavor will be mada^o induce ono of the meihters for the City of Dunedin to accept the seat vacated successively by Mr. Larnach and Mr. Stout, both of whom represented that city. Mr. Macandkbw already is in the Cabinet. Mr. Stout's seat is now vacant. By a simple process of elimination this brings us to Mr. Oliver, and to him we believe the remaining portfolio is to be offered. There is'/ also a rumor that if Mr. Maoassby succeed in securing the ssat in Parliament vacated by MjT. Stout, he would inherit also that gentleman's mantle, as Attorney-General, but this is not regarded as a Very probable contingency. Whatever may be tbe fate of the second vacancy, it is quite certain that the Premier has scored a great p int by his success in filling up the first, and the Ministry may fairly be congratulated in having secured a valuable accession of strength in Mr. Gisbornb.