POLITICAL CRISIS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 427, 10 September 1877, Page 2

POLITICAL CRISIS.

[By Telegraph, from our own Correspondent.] Wellington, September 10. Rumours are rife of serious dissentions in the Ministerial camp. It is confidently asserted that some very angry discussions have taken place in the Cabinet c .amber, and that Mr. Urmond has been guilty of causing the downfall of the Ministry which is believed to be tolerably certain. The state of the division on Mr. Whitaker's amendment to Mr. Rees' motion for a Committee to inquire into the land transactions of landed proprietors in Hawke's Bay with the natives, has caused no little consternation amongst the Ministry and their followers, who believed they had the power to do pretty much as they liked. T.;e Mail breach of privilege case, and the firm stand taken by Mr. Jones, will it is thought have the effect of pn cipitating an ample inquiry into the many excessively "queer' dealings in native binds whic'i have been going on for years, as members seem fully determined to get to the bottom of the whole affair. The result is that the Govtrnment is excessively angry, and instead of lead.ng the House quietly, that august assemblage of wisdom now partakes of the daracter of a bear g irdeii. Much of t .is state of affairs is attributable to the conduct of Mr. Ormond, who, allowing his temper to eet the better of his discretion, made a violent attack upon Sir George Grey and other members of the Opposition. His conmction with the ll'ahi Maori libel case hits also been the means of turning man} 7 previous friends and supporters of the Ministry into opponents, while others are not backward in blaming him for the position of the Government hi ing imperilled. Altogether, fie House is in a most disorderly and disorganised state. The Ministry litis lost all control over its hitherto large majority, and the House is without a leader, Major Atkinson being incapable of leading members during such a critical state of affairs. A change of Ministry or a dissolution is becoming imperatively necessary, it is impossible for the affairs of the country to receive proper attention in a House utterly demoralised and lacking a proper organisation of parties. It is expected that •:■. few days will see some attempt made to bring matters to a direct issue, when the fate of the Ministry will be seith.Mt, and there is little doubt that a change of Miu': try will be the result.