RESIGNATION OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 13

RESIGNATION OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

In consequence of the verdict of the Ward-Christie Committee of the Legislative Council, Mr Hislop tendered his resignation of the portfolios now held by him? It is understood that Mr Hislop’s intention is to also resign his seat in the House, with a view to appealing to his constituents. At present, however, he declines to give any information on the subject. It was rumoured that the Premier would not accept the resignation. We understand that nothing has been decided upon as yet, but that the probability is that M!r Hislop’s resignation will be accepted. During Monday afternoon and evening Mr Hislop occupied a private member’s seat in the House. Mr Hislop’s friends assert that the Committee have committed a breach of faith, having given an undertaking that they would sin ply lay the papers on the table and not make any report. It is contended that the Committee should have either followed that course .or made the inquiry a complete one. Later, As the Governor has not returned from Nelson, the Executive Council have not yet considered Mr Hislop’s resignation. As soon as possible after his Excellency’s return a meeting of the Council will be called , at which the resignation will be dealt with. The probability is that it will be accepted, and that Mr Hislop will at once resign his seat in the House and offer himself for reelection. It is pretty certain that he would not meet with any serious opposition in the Oamaru district. In the**meantime Mr Hislop takes no part in the administration of government, of course, having, to all intents and purposes, severed his connection with the Ministry. A number of gentlemen have been mentioned as probable successors to Mr Hislop, of whom the most noteworthy are Sir John Hall, Messrs Fulton, Whyte and Macarthur, and Captain Russell. In some quarters it is confidently asserted that Sir John Hall will be asked to take office, but ■so far as can ‘be ascertained the general feeling of the party is in favour of Captain Russell. The services of the member for Hawkes Bay to the party are, of. course, to be considered, in addition to his high standing in the House. When the present Government was formed in 1887 Captain Russell was expected to be a member of it, and there seems to be very good ground now for classing him as exceedingly likely. The matter has not yet been considered by the Cabinet, but the present intention is said to be not to fill up the vacancy this session. It is said that the Opposition intend to make an effort to fix responsibility for the Ward-Hislop correspondence on Mr Fergus, on the ground that he should bear the blame, as Minister of Justice, for anything that has been done. This would probably have been done on the motion to go into Committee of Supply on Wednesday had there not been a very thin House at the time. The voting in the Ward-Hislop Committee of the Legislative Council on the report subsequently presented was as follows: Ayes, 6 —Messrs Buckley, Shepherd, SwanBon, Wilson, Pollen and Reynolds. Noes, 2—Messrs Stevens and Oliver.