POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7981, 27 September 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

THE PREMIER'S FATE.

The Wellington correspondent of the Auokland Herald of Saturday says :—: — Attention here is fixed upon the contest for Dunedin East. The i'rionds of Sir Robert Stout now admit that nothing can be known until " the numbers are up." The members of the Opposition believe they can defeat him by a lar^o majority. I met a member of the Legislative Council this morning, who told me he had information from Dunedin to the effect that the betting was 2 to 1 on Mr. Allen. Such long odds would indicate tb.at Sir Robert Stout's chances have considerably' diminished during the last few days ; but I heard also to-day that there was considerable sympathy with the Premier. In a very solect society in Otago the defeat of tha Premier is looked upon as a shocking issae to a career that carried with it Bo much of prestige and future promise. The political status of the Premiership in such society carrieß with it a special claim to respect and deference. It is thought that the prestige of the office and a personal liking for Sir Robert Stout will save' bis election in the last resort; but heavy odds are against him in the estimatiun of those whose business is to turn chances into money.