THE NEW MINISTER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5210, 8 November 1883, Page 2

THE NEW MINISTER.

The Herald gives the following particulars concerning the negotiations leading up to Mr Mitchelson's appointment as Minister of Public Works: — "The appointment, we believe, lay between him and Captain Morris, the other Auckland members of the House of Representatives being considered ineligible for various reasons. Indirect negotiations have been going on since Tuesday last, and on Thursday night Major Atkinson had an interview with Mr Mitchelson on the matter. Yesterday morning, at half-past nine o'clock, Major Atkinson made an informal tender to Mr Mitchelson of the portfolio of Public Works ; and about two hours afterwards Mr Mitchelson intimated his acceptance. The Premier informed Mr Mitchelson that in offering him a seat in the Cabinet he did so with the full concurrence of his colleagues, whom he had consulted by telegram. Mr Mitchelson goes to Kaipara to look after some businesg matters there, and on Thursday week proceeds to Christchurch, where His Excellency will be at that time, for the purpose of being sworn in. He will then go to Wellington to assume the duties of his office. We are quite prepared to see, on the part of the southern papers, comiderable dissatisfaction expressed with the appointment of an Auckland man to the position of Minister of Public Works, as up to the nomination Mr Johnston's office had been quite regarded as belonging $o Otago or Canterbury. There ia no reason, however, why it should not go round, and it comes to Auckland appropriately at a time when the work of settlement is being carried on here more rapidly and extensively than in any other part of New Zealand, and when we expect, within a few months, to determine on a commencement of the main trunk railway for the North Island. The office has, however, at the present time, peculiar difficulties. Money is not abundant, as it was in the first years of the Public Works scheme.and yet the clamor for new Jine3 is as strong as ever. The traffic returns, especially of the South Island Trunk Railway, haye 1 shown a heavy decline, and the Minister of Public Works will have to see how this arises, and remedy it if possible. The recovery of the country from the weight of debt which presses upon it rests in no small measure upon a pood administration of the Public Works Department during the next two or three years. There is to be a general reorganisation of the Civil Service, and Mr Mitchelson will have to take his share in that not very agreeable work. During the time he has been in Parliament, he has not shown himself ambitious of the fame of a glib talker who delights to air his motions before the Souse on every occasion ; but while supporting the Minittry, he has gained general esteem as a sensible and discreet man. who, when he spoke, always had something to say. Mr Mitchelson, we believe, served his apprenticeship as a carpenter, and thus has the advantage of having a mechanical training. He has succeeded in business, managing concerns of magnitude." Mr Mitchelson's career as a Minister will be watched with keen interest by Aucklanders. He will carry with him into office the best wishes for his success, not only of the people of Auckland generally, and of the supporters of the Government, but of the great majority of the House, who esteem hiu for his quiet, unobtrusive manners and his straightforward character."