The Caucus Meetings of This Morning.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5081, 15 August 1884, Page 2

The Caucus Meetings of This Morning.

Atkinson, Grey and Wakefield. The Latest Tips. WELLINGTON, August 15. All the morning the two sides have been engaged in improving the situation. There are two meetings to consider matters. The Atkinsonians are holding one, and' the Goldfields' members another. The result will transpire in the afternoon, if at all. The current of opinion is getting defined, a 9 the result of the morning's work. On the one hand, the party that is going into opposition finds itself getting uncomfortable as the time approaches for fixing upon the man to move the attack. There are claimants in number to that honourable position, with its lucrative reversion in a certain event. Outside public opinion begins to incline towards giving the new Ministers a fair trial. People ask, if the new Government is to be put out, what kind of combination between the Atkinsonians, the Greyites, and Mr Wakefield, is possible for the serious work of Government that is now required? Mr j Wakefield's name, Sir George Grey's, and Major Atkinson's, find their places on the lists of possible movers of a Want of Confidence motion that are being canvassed about. These things all make the path of the new Opposition grow more thorny, a fact reflected in the disturbance of the party's balancing of names. The new Government's position on the other hand is hardening. The West Coast members, about whom so much was said yesterday, have signified their intention to give the new Ministers a fair trial. As I -write, I learn that the meeting of Goldfields' members is postponed till Monday. Mr Stout cannot return to-day, the steamers not suiting. The attempt to have him brought up in the Hinemoa failed by miscarriage of the arrangements, supplemented by the breaking down of the vessel's boilers. In case oi the breakdown of any of the Union Company's system for a day or two, which in Dome quarters is regarded as a not unlikely contingency, the tug Lyttelton is talked of as likely to bring Mr Stout up. Thus it is that he is expected either to-morr»w or Sunday. ! The Press Association's item from Auckland about Mr Fenton as a passenger for Wellington, causes a flutter of enquiring discussion. The party opposed to the new Government boldly say that he is going to. be Native Minister. This, as far as I can learn, is due simply to the fact known to them that Mr Fenton is extremely unpopular in Aucldan«d. I conclude •with, the latest tips on both sides. The new Opposition claim a majority of eight. The new Ministry assert a majority of nine. The non - committal critics declare that the meaning which lies in the middle, is, that from a dozen to a sc'ex-ii of members are riding on a rail.