POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8273, 4 June 1890, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TKT/TORAFH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. I am in a position to state upon authority that Ministers will meet Parliament as they stand, and that Sir Harry Atkinson will read the Financial Statement. What may happen after that no one can tell, not oven Ministers themselves. The result of my inquiries tend to confirm the rumours I have already forwarded to you, that Ministers will stand together as long as possible, that if a reconstruction is to take place, they will not seek any outside alliance, that cither the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson or the Hon. Captain Russell will be the future Premier if Sir Harry Atkinson should decide to retire. I need hardly say that everyone speaks of the occasion and cause of Sir Harry Atkinson's possible retirement with profound regret and sympathy for him. So far as I can gather, the tendency of reliable opinion at present favours the idea thai; the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson is the Minister likely to succeed Sir Harry Atkinson as Premier of the colony. The rumour that Sir John Hall will be called on to aid the conduct of the Government is not believed here. His support will no doubt be very acceptable. '1 is believed that if he were in the position of controlling the policy A of the country "ancient political sins" would rise "gainst him through the activity of hi political enemies, so that, an alliance with him would be a isoiirce of feebleness to the Government. The rumour hat the Hon. Mr. Bryce would be. sent; for is discredited, for the reason that the former Native Minister s so rigid and unyielding in nil matters of opinion, that he would be quite uncertain as an element of strength in the Cabinet or Parliament. Both Sir J. Hall and Mr. Bryce are, of course, the foremast men in the House and the country. The fact that the exjwnso of a second session will be savod by the present Ministry holding together is a retrenchment to the extent of some £20,(KM). It is said that Mr. Mitchelson has not an enemy in the House nor in the country. This counts for much. If it bo objected that he is deficient in debating power the objection is abundantly answered by the statement that his capacity for business is undoubted. Of course, the Hon. Captain Russell has many friends, and is very popular on all sides. The present labour agitation that is going through the country must count for something, and some people say that Captain Russell, as one of the very large landed proprietors in the colony, would not command the confidence of tho mass of the electors throughout the colony. Tlio above represents fairly the present tendency of political thought in this city. Tin: LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. There are now two seats vacant in the Upper House. People are busy speculating on the probable successors of those who have departed. The only names 1 have yet hoard as likely are those of Air. Fulton, tho member for Taieri, and Mr. Walter Johnston, of this city. CABIN MKKTINO. Ministers sat in Cabinet the whole of the forenoon. Report has it t hat the discussion was somewhat lively. The subject was the Hon. Mr. Fergus's Queenstown speech. The criticism is said to have been very free and outspoken.