290 A HISTOKY OF THE COLONY OF VICTOKIA 



as responsible Ministers. Sir Henry Wrixon was in a minority of 

 three, and the final choice of the Chamber fell upon Mr. Bent. 

 The work of the new Ministry had unfortunately to deal largely 

 with retrenchment in the public expenditure, and increased taxation 

 to square the national balance-sheet. Hence it was by no means 

 popular. It had a stormy existence of eleven months, and after 

 staving off two or three adverse votes, it succumbed at length, and 

 on the 18th of January, 1893, Mr. J. B. Patterson was called upon 

 to preside over the destinies of the colony on the eve of the most 

 critical and dangerous period it had yet^known. 



