THE MYSTERIOUS MINISTERIAL JOURNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6201, 1 October 1881, Page 5

THE MYSTERIOUS MINISTERIAL JOURNEY.

[BT TELEfiEAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. The Premier and Major Atkinson are expected back to-morrow. Nothing has transpired to dispel the mystery- attending their sudden departure, or to reveal the real reason. It is still stated positively that nothing new in regard to native affairs has caused their hurried departure from Wellington. Failing any information on the subject, public curiosity has busied itself in devising all sorts of far-fetched and imaginary theories to account for the " great Ministerial mystery," as the Post calls it. One of these theories connects the .Ministerial movement with the absence of the Governor, and with sonic impending change, but the favourite theory is that that dreadful Ministerial vacancy is again at the bottom of the whole affair. lam really ashamed to revert ouce more to this trite and worn-out subject, but, as a faithful chronicler, it is my duty to record that rumour attributes the Ministerial movements to pressure being brought to bear to secure the portfolio for Mr. "Wakefield, and a highly imaginative story has been framed that Mr. Hall wishes to give Mr. Wakefield the portfolio, but that Mr. llolleston will resign if this is done, and that, as Mr. Wakefield is threatened with opposition for Geraldine, it is a case of " now or never," and that accordingly two senior Ministers have gone up to soften Mr. Rolleston's obdurate heart in a personal interview, su that Mr. Wakefield may enter the battle with Ministerial prestige. This is the imaginative report which has got about. It does credit to the ingenuity of its author, whoever he may be, and I simply give it for what it is worth. It is sure to be published by some of the papers.