PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 913, 6 October 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[By Telegraph.]

A caucus of the Government supporters was held on Saturday, which lasted two hour 3. All the 42 members were present. The members were very reticent as to what took place, beyond stating that a resolution was passed, and that very generally an opinion was expressed outside the Auckland phalanx that if Sir George Grey would retire the Liberal party would be able to command a large majority under any other leader. The Greyites said they wero anxious if Sir George Grey retired to give Reader Wood the task of reconstructing a Ministry, but the party would not for a moment stand it. The general opinion seemed to be that it would be hopeless to attempt to reconstruct a Ministry under Grey, or to carry on a successful Opposition under him, but that if he would retire there wonld be no difficulty m 'forming a strong Ministry under Macandrew which would include Sheehan, Ballance, and Gisborne, and that Grey's retirement m favor of Macandrew would render it impossible for Mr. Hall to form any Ministry. As however, the House has ' approached the Governor direct by address, declaring its want of confidence m the Ministry, it is not likely that the Governor would accept advice from Grey to send for any one but Hall. The resolution passed at the caucus was as follows :— " That the members present are determined to take all steps necessary to preserve tho Liberal party and will resist a coalition." Yesterday it transpired that after the caucus Sir George Grey positively pledged, himself to retire from the leadership of his party m favor of either Macandrew or Montgomery, and that on that understanding Messrs Pyke, Bryce, Masters, and Whyte had given their absolute assurances that they would vote with the party under either leadership, which of course would give the" party a fair majority with every probability of its being increased. To-day the new leader will be chosen, and then Grey will tender his resignation to the Governor and m all probability advise Mr Hall to be sent for ; but should he form a Ministry it will be immediately met with a no confidence motion. The charge against Mr. Hall, offering to make To Wheoro Native Minister, is explained as having arisen through a misapprehension either on the part of the natives or of the interpreters. Te Wheoro was asking whether the new Ministry, if a new one was formed, would appoint a Native as Minister, and at the same time complained that Hbani Nahe had never been consulted by Grey while the former was a Minsiter. Mr. Hall replied that a native would be appointed Minister, and* that he would always consult all Ministers.