POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4537, 1 September 1876, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[By Telegraph.]

Wellington, August 31st.

The Hon. Major Atkinson will inform the Houae this evening that Messrs Whitaker, Ormond, and Hall have joined the Ministry All the present members, except Sir J. Vogel, will retain office. As these additions will exceed the number authorised by law, it is pro. bable that Messrs Ormond and Hall will not hold portfolios or receive salary. None of the new Cabinet have yet been sworn in, and Major Atkinson will move the adjournment of the House till Monday. (from otjb own cokrespondtsnt.) The new Government seem pretty generally regarded as strong, and likely to last the session. Its' policy will be substantially the Bams as the late Government, and its declaration of policy next week will in the main be merely a statement of what it proposes to go op with this session, aad what it will postpone till the next.

Mr D. Reid was not asked to join. It was thought better not to do so yet, but it is understood that either authority to appoint an additional Minister will be askel, or that Sir Donald M'Lean or Mr George M'Lean will retire at the end of the session and make room for Mr Reid if he will take office.

On the House meeting this evening, messages from the Governor covering Bluff, Wangariui, and" Timaru HarboMr Board Bills were received. Sir J. Vogei moved they be considered at once, Mr Rolleston objected, saying it was a most extraordinary course to bring down Buch messages after it was known Ministers had tendered tneir resignations. He moved that the messages be consideied a week hence. Mr Stafford appealed to him to withdraw the amendment. The House laughed a good deal when the Timaru and Wanganui Bills were mentioned. Mr Stout urged Mr Rollesten to press his amendment, and said it was the first duty of Parliament to furnish His Excellency ■vrith constitutional advisers. He objected to three Bills out of a large batch being thus sent down in the middle of a Ministerial crisis. The dignity of the House was at stake. Why was not the North Otago Harbour Board Bill sent down ? Sir J. Vogel explained that these three were the only ones which had yet passed the supervision of the law officer; the others would all come down in due course. He would consent to the postponement till next sitting <?ay. Mr Rolleaton eaid his objection was entirely on copstitutional grounds. Sir G. Grey asked in what capacity Sir J. Vogel brought messages down, as he had resigned and was a candidate for office ? Sir J. Vogel replied he was still Premier, and acted as such. Mr Reid is now speaking. It in certain that Messrs John Hall, Whitaker, and Ormond have joined. All the members of the late Ministry will be in the new one except Sir J. VogeL Two of them will not draw salary till the end of the session, when Dr Pollen and Mr Richardson will retire. This will be the substance of the announcement tonight, and after the names are stated the Government will ask an adjournment till Tuesday. It is said that the Opposition will urge that the House sit on Monday, and that the Government will consent. The feeling about Sir Julius Vogel's appointment as Agent General is still very strong, both in the House and out of it