THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5078, 12 August 1884, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

[By Telegraph.] [fbom oub special cobbespondent.] WELLINGTON, August 11. How a Cabinet is Made. Cabinet-making, in the comparatively common every-day sense of the word, needs skilled labour to produce perfection. Delicate as are the operations of the practical ordinary cabinet-maker, those the bold and sanguine man who sets up as a political Cabinet-maker has to face are sometimes as difficult. He requires triple skill and dexterity, in the manipulation of his material, time for all sorts of secret dove-tailing and many little " tricks " of the trade which are not patent to all the world — in short, a Cabinet even in an advanced democratic Colony of half a million of inhabitants, cannot be turned out, cut and dried, in two hours and a half by the watch. Crystallisation is a slow process, and it is by a process akin to crystallisation that Ministries are formed. When Major Atkinson made his grim retort on Thursday afternoon he had made a better estimate of _ the time necessary for the completion of the process than had his impatient opponents. Here we are within a few short hours of Tuesday morning, and Sir Julius Vogel's Ministry is by no means ready for public exhibition. If Sir Julius has ready a thoroughly complete, artistic piece of work by Thursday, the day appointed, he may be congratulated on the expedition he has used. As yet, it is only rough hewn, as it were ; satisfactory to all and beyond criticism, it cannot be. No new Cabinet ever was. They are not composed of supernatural elements, nor, unluckily, are they viewed with more than very human eyes, but when the newness wears off and the smell •f the varnish vanishes, and people have forgotten where the joins used to show, and why the manufacturer found it imposBible, with all his art, to conceal them, it will probably meet with as much approval as the last five or six new Cabinets which preceded it and the next five or six that will follow. On Sunday, as your readers already know if they dutifully followed the interesting information provided for them on Monday morning, things remained in statu quo ; at least, most people except Dr Lemon believe so. Dr Lemon has his doubts on the subject, and may well be excused for his scepticism. Telegrams cease from flashing over the wires after about six o'clock on Sunday evening, but last night, at about midnight, the head of our telegraph department was beaten up by a pair of frenzied journalists, who stormed at his door like a hurricane. He same down scudding under bare poles, so the story goes, extremely undignified ; but then the power of the Press is worse tban a pampero if you try to> resist it, and being persuaded, so they say, in his semi-somnolent and airycostumed condition, that some events of national importance had taken place, very kindly signed an order for several rumours to be telegraphed. But putting, aside Dr Lemon, who, as may be seen, is, to a certain extent, prejudicedJ in the matter, common and trustworthy testimony points out that nothing was done yesterday in the way of assigning portfolios, except by the general public and the two enterprising journalists, above mentioned. Their selection not being final, irrevocable, and binding on the free, unfettered inhabitants of these Islands, it . may be as well to state briefly how things : really have gone. Portfolio Probabilities To-day Messrs Stout, Montgomery, and others had interviews with Sia- Julius, and the Ministry has been constructed to suth an extent that five members have been secured almost to a certainty, and their portfolios assigned, more or less exactly as they will hold them when negotiations are finished. The " state of the* poll *' is as follows : — Mr Stout will probably be Premier and Attoxuey-General, Sir Juliu*. Yogel Treasurer, Mr Montgomery Minister of Public Works, Mr Ballance Native Minister, Mr Maeandiew Minister of Lands, and Colonel Whitmore Colonial Secretary. Mr Wakefield is also spoken of as a possible colleague, and he had an interview with Sir Julius. Nothing, however, is decided in his case, while as for Dr Pollen, he seeuis to be out of the running. Mr Macandvew, by the way, is said to be very unwell just now. Sir George Grey's Anger. One of the strange events of the day came to, pass when a deputation, comprised of Messrs Stout and Montgomery, waited on Sir George Grey, ai\d. offered him. r s«at

in the Cabinet. Sir George was decided, and repelled the offer at once, saying, with bitterness, he would not on any consideration support a Government in which Sir Julius Yogel held any position, while Mr Stout, who had insulted the party (?) by bringing him forward, held the leading position. One thing, therefore, has come of this. Sir George Grey has been eliminated, and his alliance with Major Atkinson is now fairly likely ; indeed I have good reason to believe that the alliance was promptly offered and accepted on the spot, but whether even the very oldest and staunchest of his personal following — those, so to speak, who have grown grey in his service — will throw in their lot with him and keep step with this curious advance, is doubtful. However, one effect is thatit indirectly strengthens the hands of Sir Julius very much. Several of the Canterbury members who might possibly, with the Ministry now forming, have found themselves nestling under the welcome wing of the member for Egmont, will shun him like poison, Sir George being their very abhorrence. Supposing, therefore, they had intended to support Major Atkinson before his latest ally has killed all chances whatever of such support, and as things stand now it looks as if Sir Julius Yogel could reckon on upon over 50 votes. As a matter of fact, the Canterbury members, more particularly the newlyelected, hold the balance of power. If Sir Julius secures them he is safe. They are to meet him at his house to-morrow morning, and this will probably be the last move necessary to give him a commanding lead in the race, for there seems little doubt that an understanding will be arrived at. Mr Stout went South this afternoon. His presence as a witness and trustee are imperatively required in the Supreme Court in Dunedin.

[Per Press Association. J WELLINGTON, August 11. Mr Stout left for the South to-day, being called away owing to the indisposition of his partner. He returns on Friday. It is stated that, previous to his departure, it was understood Messrs Montgomery, Macandrew, and Ballance had consented to accept portfolios.