The Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1884.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5094, 30 August 1884, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1884.

Mr Stout and friends have returned Major Atkinson's blow with interest. The Major, *vho .again took office on Thursday afternoon, was defeated in the small hours of this morning. The majority against him though not so large as that which crushed the Stout — Yogel Ministry, ought to be large enough to satisfy Major Atkinson that the Colony will have nothing more to do with the Continuous Ministry. Throughout this part of New Zealand the news of his second defeat will be received with a sigh of relief, for the prospect of another Atkinson Ministry had begun to weigh upon us like a nightmare. Men are now asking each other, what next ? Is it to be a coalition or a dissolution ? At present the signs of the times point clearly to the former. If then a ooalition is arranged, two things ought not to be forgotten. Major Atkinson, the twice ejected, has no right or title to the Premiership. Mr "Wakefield, unblushing place-hunter and turncoat, should have no place in a Ministry at all. If the Coalition which may be formed is not strong enough to hold its own without such a man's aid, then it should not come into existence. This Province should be represented, not misrepresented in the Colony's Government. It tvould be better I for Canterbury to be left out of the Cabinet than to have its name coivpled 'with that of so barefaced a deserter.