A STRONG MINISTRY FORMED AT LAST.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1756, 21 August 1862, Page 2

A STRONG MINISTRY FORMED AT LAST.

The leader which precedes this was in type yesterday, and wus intended to couipiise all the comment that we proposed to insert iv our present issue, merely adding au outline of the debate which was expected to have takeu place on the Seat of Government question. But the circumstances which took place last evening require tiilit' we should not let this opportunity slip, of saying that the limited support, we have above expressed ourselves as willing to give the preseut Miuistry, will now be veiy considerably increased. The entire reconstruction of the Ministry announced last evening, coupled with the circumstances which led to that reconstruction, has given assurances to the colony that a strong Ministry —the strongest ever formed in this country — is now. at the helm of affairs ; and a Ministry, moreover, which we.houestly believe not only intends well to the colony, but will do even handed justice to the individual provinces of which the colony consists.

The recast of the Ministry resulted from the following motion introduced by Mr. Fox.

That before proceeding further with the business of the Session, it is expedient that this House should have more information as to the composition of the Ministry, particularly in reference to the offices of Colonial Treasurer, Attorney-General, and Post-master General. And also — That full information should, be given to ifc by tho Uoverninent aa to the particular plan or scheme ou which it is proposed to establisn frontier settlements, for which purpose the Government has intimated its intention of asking this House to authorize the raising of a loan ot One Million Pounds sterling.

Mr. Fox pointed out the weakness of the Goveruraent and urged that the offices of Treasurer, Attorney-General, and Post-master General should be filled up at once. He did so iv a caadid and temperate speech, which called forth from Mr. Domett one equally candid. He admitted the Ministry was weak, still it was the strongest he was able to form, aud assured the House he would be only too glad to (ill up the above offices permanently if he could get men to accept them. This brought up Mr. Fitzgerald and Mr. Moorhouse, who strongly uvged Mr. Fox, to accept a seat iv the Ministry, on his doing which the remaining vacancies would at once find occupants, aua the Government become consolidated. Mr. Bell thereupon showed how impossible it was that this could be,— that it was impossible for them now to oiler Mr. Fox a seat, that gentle.nan having assured them finally that he would not accept a subordinate position. A Minute by Mr. SeweU was read, detailing the whole of the negotiations between the late aud present Ministry ; a Minute which we trust will be published, as the negotiations therein described, and the reasons which actuated the negotiations, are creditable in the highest degree to all parties concerned —to the meinbets of the late and* present Ministry alike

Mr. Fox's reasons for not taking office under Mr. Domett commend themselves as most manly, and will command the approval of friends and foes. The adherence of the late Ministry to their chief is such as will ensure for them a political status, which any member might honorably envy, and will effectually silence those who may seek to detract from their usefulness by imputing a fondness for place, salury, or power. Mr. Crosbie Ward went over the same ground, and stated that as the question on which the late Miuislry had goue out was now settled, and as the present Ministry were identical in the great points of policy, he should be prepared to accept his old office if it were oflered him next day— an offer which Mr. Domett immediately made amidst loud cheers from all sides. There was a general call for Mr. Wood who rose and followed Mr. Ward's example, to which Mr. Domett and the House again responded. After a few minor speeches, from which we learn Mr. Sewell will to-day be Attorney-General Mr. Fox rose and made a speech which sent the House away still more delighted than before Mr. Fox told the House that what had hap ened had not taken him by surprise, since, his late colleagues had made him their confidants throughout; bore testimony to the high sense of honor which bad actuated them in office and since they had been out of it; and expressed himself rejoiced that Sir George Grey, of whom he said he coa\d not speak too highly, would vow have the counsel of a Ministry strong in the confideuoe of all parties. Mr. Fox recalled the circumstances of his return to public life in 1860, after omit ting to attend the session of 1858. He had done so in the hope that he inijjht help to prevent bloodshed, which then threatened the whole Island. After two sessions of unliiil work, he and his friends triumphed, and were able to prevent the commencement of the con templated war at Waikato, which wouid have laid the whole country, except a small part of Auckland, in ruin and reduced it to beggary. It was a noble and masterly speech. He had accomplished the work he undertook ; his mission for the present had ended; aud we may truly cay of him, that " Nothing in his official life i ' <• Became him like the leaving it." Rejoiced as we are that the Colony now possesses an earnest and able Minis try, and still more rejoiced that it possesses the full con

fidence of the Wellington Members, we think we may safely anticipate a modification of policy such as is alluded to in the previous article; of which indeed some intimatiou was made iv reply to the lattei portion of Mr.Fox's motion. VVehave only one regret,and that is in the retirement 'of Mr. Mantell We should like to see him in the Cabinet, even though only an unofficial member ;but we fear it cannot be. He did good service to the Fox Ministry in their hour of need. He has done good service u> the Domett Ministry in theirs > aud the abnegation of self, of which his retiring from office affords evidence, will ensure him even a still higher character than he has always enjoyed.