THE ERA OF EXTRAVAGANCE 289 



division showed 55 ayes to 35 noes, and on the 5th of November 

 Mr. Gillies handed over the seals of office to Mr. James Munro, 

 who had in the interim formed a fairly strong Cabinet. In virtue of 

 his prominent connection with various financial institutions, Mr. 

 Munro took charge of the Treasury, and his colleagues in the 

 Assembly were Mr. Shiels, Attorney-General; Mr. Langridge, 

 Chief Secretary and Minister of Customs ; Mr. Allan McLean, 

 Minister of Lands ; Mr. John Gavan Duffy as Postmaster-General ; 

 and Messrs. Wheeler, Graham and Outtrim in the minor offices. 

 In the Legislative Council he was fortunate enough to secure the 

 services of Sir Frederick Sargood (recently knighted) for Minister of 

 Defence and Mr. J. M. Davies as Minister of Justice, two gentle- 

 men who enjoyed the fullest confidence of the Chamber in which 

 they sat. To broaden his foundations Mr. Munro added to his 

 Cabinet the unusual number of four honorary Ministers, two in 

 each House. All the Ministers were re-elected, and they got into 

 recess on 29th December, Parliament not reassembling until 23rd 

 June, 1891. 



The measures passed during that session were chiefly amending 

 Acts of small public importance, but a very large portion of its time 

 was taken up by lengthened discussions in committee on the draft 

 bill of the Commonwealth of Australia. Mr. Munro succeeded 

 in holding office until February, 1892, when he gladly shook off 

 his responsibilities to take the position of Agent-General in London, 

 in succession to Sir Graham Berry, who had just returned to the 

 colony, and who re-entered Parliament at the general election in 

 April, 1892. The translation of Mr. Munro, which occurred during 

 the recess, necessitated the reconstruction of the Ministry, and Mr. 

 Shiels assumed the leadership as Premier and Treasurer. They lost 

 the services of their four members in the Council, and Mr. Duffy 

 resigned the portfolio of Attorney- General with a view to contest 

 the chair. After the general election the Premier transferred the 

 duties of Treasurer to Sir Graham Berry and took up those of 

 Attorney-General. When the new Assembly met in May, 1892, 

 there was another contest for the Speakership. The names sub- 

 mitted to the House were Sir H. J. Wrixon, Mr. John Gavan Duffy 

 and Mr. Thomas Bent, all of whom had seen considerable service 

 VOL. n. 19 



