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Southland Times, Issue 8048, 1 July 1885, Page 2

Everybody was astonished at the mildness of Major Atkinson's attack on Friday evening last. He handled his oppor ent as if he loved him, and not as if he meant to bold him up to the condemnation of the country, or todrive him out of office. The Colonial Treasurer, too, replied in much tbe same tone. There waa none of the bitterness which characterised their wordy combats last session; and it is not surprising that rumour should be busy with the probability of a union between the two combatants. Mr Stout r it is said,*is likely to resign tbe post of Premier for' that of- Chief Justice. In that case a re-co-istruction of the Ministry would be. necessary, and the insinuation is tbat -the Major would then bid farewell to the '• cool shades," and return, onoe more to his old haunts w^.ere " loaves and fishes'' are n^pt unknown. There is very likely not a particle of truth . in the report, though the gentleness of Major Atkinson's opposition to the Government is rather inexplicable. Even although be did hot wanrto^oust them, it was his duty as leader of His Excellency's Opposition to' condemn a little more vigorously and indignantly than he did the proposal to saddle the colony, especially in its present, depressed condition, with additional taxation to the amount of a quarter of a million. Wo "confess his slackness is somewhat* suspicious. But the faot that he would only sign his own political death warrant if h? were to joia Sir JsJ«ib Yogel, seewe

to say that there must be sqm§;more satis- 1 factory explanation of his conduct.. Be that as it may, the preternatural stillness is at-*length broken. Sir George Grey has, • brought forward a' want of confidence "mention.' The Premier, indeed characterises hihj speech as -worse than-w^j'-h^itlwduldf be ' no great * wonder to "see" ther* motion * carried. * Tti6 . "Ministry, never very popular throughou(i|the country, have recently been losing^rqund very fast. Otago*aod-* Canterbury- are no longer enthusiastic in •^jbeirrsupport, While Auckland, add*: other " p^LOTe openly hostile. ' But the ' metio^iiSfewMed "or not Sir George Grey ' deserves "crß^ i for , giv!hg"'a l practiattl \vAxoA to a debate intirhich thfe speakers seeme<| to trifle with %& intei cs l s of the country. '