MINISTERIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5435, 27 March 1889, Page 3

MINIST E R I A L .

DISSENSIONS IN THE CABINET. RUMORED RETIREMENT OF MR FISHER. Wellington, to-day. The Press states that serious dissensions of an unprecedented character have arisen in the Cabinet, caused by a. difference of opinion between the Hon. Mr Fisher, Minister of Customs, and his colleagues, regarding the prosecution recently instituted for breaches of the Beer Duty Act. According to the Press, the whole of the Cabinet nre against Mr Fisher except Sir F. v - hitaker, whose opinion has not yet been given, and it was to ascertain that that Mr Fisher went to Auckland. If Sir F. Whitaker upholds the others, it is hinted that Mr Fisher will re sign. Parliament will meet about June IS. The Colonial Secretary leaves for South about Thursday next. At the Wellington R.M. Court on Wednesday last two charges were brought by H. M. Customs Under the Beer Duty Act against the Junction Brewery Company and Owen M'Ardle, Secretary of the company, for the offence of neglecting to make true and exact «ntry of material (iSO sacks of malt) recui . c i »nd purchased for use in the brewery. Oa Friday Mr Robinson, R.M., ruled that the imputations of fraud were not sufficiently made out. There were other informations in which the same defendants were accused of failing to make entries of 50 sacks of ni.tU »nd some sugar and hops, but he had not hud time to consider them, though he was of opinion that the imputations of fraud had not been met in one instance by defendants. The matter was adjourned until l Oth April, when cases against Hamilton Gilmer will also be heard.