OTAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1226, 23 April 1864, Page 5

OTAGO.

[from ouk own cokkespondenx."] Dunedin, Wednesday, April 21. We are now in the thick of a political crisis. The Ministry have resigned, and there are no materials to make a new one. It is altogether a most absurd affair. Your readers shall have the pith of the whole matter in a few lines. The Government, when the last estimates were passed, had so much money voted them to spend. Without any authority they exceeded the amount allowed by £71,000, and then when the Council opens in session they ask for a bill of indemnity. The Provincial Treasurer offers no explanations how the money has gone, or why it was expended. In fact, lie either did not know or had not been able to ascertain. But with the honorable gentlemen that was neither here nor there. His demand was that the House would just be good enough to pass the Indemnity Bill without asking say questions. Information might perhaps be furnished by and by. At any rate, no objection would be raised to members finding as much out as they could for themselves. Now there was about as mild a protest raised against this proceeding as well could be. Mr. Vogel, as leader, requested that the Indemnity Bill should stand for a week, that members might have a little time to look into the various items of expenditure which went to make up the seventy-one thousand pounds. This surely was a reasonable demand, but the~ Provincial Treasurer " objected." So of course other ministers did the same. Mr. Vogel's request for a week's postponement, which was put in the shape of an amendment, caused the house to divide, when the amendment was carried by the casting vote of the speaker. Those who went with Mr. Vogel (and this gentleman entertained the same feeling I am sure) did not fatend to place the ministry in a fix by refusing their assent to the bill, nor did they wish to* convey a censure on ministers. Still less did tliej mean a " want of confidence " amendment. It was simply this. Members looked down the items of unauthorised expenditure, and they saw large sums expended upon services and for works which they thought required explaining. For this purpose they seasonably asked fcr seven days to make a few eaquiries. So upon this the ministry have resigned. Mr. Vogel was "sent for." That I believe is the Parliamentary phrase. The honorable member 'was asked to form a Ministry, but most emphatically declined. The reason is well known. Mr. Vogel would make an excellent treasurer and not a bad secretary, for there can be no doubt that his ability as a financier is of a very high order, and he is most pains-taking, inquiring, and industrious. But he lacks the confidence of the Council and the people. Any ministry he could get together would be ousted at their first sitting. Why such a prejudice should exist I can scarcely expiain. One reason, it may be, is that he has a monopoly of the newspaper press; another, that he is a successful man, whose rise in the social scale men envy. Many dislike him on the score of his religious creed; others /or the change he has made in his political principles—radical in Victoria; conservative in Dunedin. These, and other reasons which I need not dwell on, go to make the member for Waikouaiti a most unpopular man. Mr, Vogel may successfully lead an opposition. He will probably do much service to the province, but he must never hope to hold a portfolio. It is supposed ministers will re-accept office. The Council has been adjourned until to-morrow. The escort arrived yesterday afternoon with the following returns; —

The rivers still keep low, and all digging operations are proceeding very satisfactorily. Flour is firm at £25. Meat has fallen one penny per pound. Trade dull. Yesterday the Licensing Bench granted eightythree publicans' licenses. The Auckland Government has sent an officer down here to recruit for sailors and volunteers for Taranaki. Ido not think there will be many found to accept the terms offered, which are anything but liberal.

oz. dwts. Queenstown ... ... 6817 10 Arrow Hirer 2229 0 Dunstan 4479 6 Manuherikia ... 1689 10 Mount Ida 617 0 Mount Benger 887. 15 Hamilton's ... 2717 0 Tu&peka 2230 0 Waitahuna 287 10 "Woolshed ... ... 259 10 Total 22,214 0