Numb. 14.
153

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
EXTRAORDINARY.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1873.

Memoranda relative to the Resignation of the
Honorable Mr. Waterhouse.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 4th March, 1873.

THE following Memoranda, which have passed
between His Excellency the Governor and
the Honorable Mr. Waterhouse, are published for
general information.

WILLIAM FOX.

Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor.

MR. WATERHOUSE has the honor to place in His
Excellency's hands the Honorable John Hall's re-
signation of his office as Colonial Secretary.

This resignation, which was altogether unforeseen
by Mr. Waterhouse at the time he joined the Minis-
try when formed by Mr. Vogel, so materially affects
his own position as Member of the Legislative
Council, and also, indeed, as Minister, that Mr.
Waterhouse feels compelled, as already stated to His
Excellency, to place in His Excellency's hands his
own resignation of the seat he holds in the Executive
Council, and of his office of Premier.

As it is not the wish of Mr. Waterhouse, nor is it
that of his colleagues, that his resignation should be
regarded as involving that of the Ministry, Mr.
Waterhouse would venture to hope that it will be
similarly regarded by His Excellency; at the same
time, he does not presume to dictate to His Excel-
lency as to the course to be followed.

Mr. Vogel, who was honored by His Excellency's
commands to form the Ministry, is expected to
return from Australia in a few days. With a view
to preventing any inconvenience to the public busi-
ness, Mr. Waterhouse is prepared, with His Excel-
lency's permission, to continue to discharge his minis-
terial duties until Mr. Vogel's return to the Colony.

Mr. Waterhouse has no reason to anticipate that
Mr. Vogel will experience a greater difficulty now
than at the period of his originally forming the
present Ministry, in nominating for His Excellency's
approval a suitable person to the office of Colonial
Secretary.

G. M. WATERHOUSE.

Wellington, 20th February, 1873.

Memorandum by the Governor.

THE Governor has carefully considered Mr. Water-
house's Memorandum of the 20th, submitted to him
in its present shape on the 27th instant,-also all
the circumstances connected with the case.

The Governor is compelled to differ with several
of the statements made or implied in the Memo-
randum; and, in common with Mr. Waterhouse's
colleagues in the Executive Council, he fails to per-
ceive any sufficient ground for the action which that
gentleman proposes to take. The resignation of the
Prime Minister must, in accordance with constitu-
tional usage, ipso facto dissolve the existing Ministry.

It is hoped that Mr. Waterhouse's sense of public
duty will prevent him from persevering in so grave
a step at a moment so inconvenient to the public
interests of the Colony,-that is, on the eve of the
departure of the Governor, and of the temporary
assumption of office, as Administrator of the Govern-
ment, by the Chief Justice.

If Mr. Waterhouse should persist in his proposed
course, it appears to the Governor that it would
become the duty of Ministers to advise the sum-
moning of Parliament at the earliest period practi-
cable. Sir George Arney would thus be enabled to
have recourse to the advice and assistance of the