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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 3630, 16 October 1872, Page 2

Mr Sewell received a very well doserved snubbing from Mr Waterhouse yesterday afternoon. The correspondence of his Excellency the Governor to Mr Stafford upon the question of granting a dissolution has been a perfect stickler for the late Ministry and their followers, and in both Houses the disappointed ones are trying to take out their revenge by having a shy at the Governor. Yesterday Mr Sewell, in a question of which he had given notice, professed to take exception to the following portion of his Excellency's correspondence : —" It seems to be morally certain that the majority of the Parliament and of the people of New Zealand agree in desiring that there may be formed on a wider basis a new administration, strong enough to carry on the Government without further embarassment to the public business." Mr Sewell wanted to know whether any endeavors " of the nature so indicated" had been made, and that if such endeavors had failed, what were the circumstances to whioh such failure was attributable. The reply of the Premier was short and conclusive. He told Mr Sewell that a new administration " formed on a wider basis" had been constructed, and that it commanded not only much greater strength than its predecessor, but was strong " enough to carry on the Government without em* harassment of the public business." If any proof were needed of the wise appreciation of the political position entertained by the Governor during the recent crisis, it is to be found in the fact that within forty-eight hours a Ministry was formed which now commands a strong working majority. This fact is a complete answer to the arguments of those who assert that his Excellency was bound by ordinary constitutional practice to grant a dissolution to Mr Stafford. Those who insist upon this position appear to have entirely shut out from view the arguments used by the Governor in justification of the course he pursued. The question of supply was only a contingent argument — the main guiding reasons of his Excellency's determination being that the differences were more personal than political, that there was no reason to believe that the colony desired a dissolution, aud that he " confidently expected that practical effoct could be given" to the desire to see " a new Administration strong enough to carry on the Government." Tbis expectation has been realised. The Ministry is the strongest the House has seen for some years, and all the efforts

of the Opposition can neither shake the position of the Government nor convince the House or the country that a dissolution would have been a preferable state of things.