LIVELY PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 146, 31 August 1880, Page 2

LIVELY PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

A ROW IN THE HOUSE. MR. PYKE “ NOT IN A FIT STATE ” AND ORDERED OUT OF THE CHAMBER. (By Telegraph from, our own Correspon dent.) Wellington, Aug. 28. The House sat all night and till 8.30 this morning. About 5 a.m. a lively scene occurred, in which Mr Pyke was able to appear as the leading figure. Sir George Grey had proposed to report progress, and a division had taken place, but Mr Seddon was sound asleep on the bench and had not voted. Mr Pyke called the attention of Mr Kelly (who was in the chair) to the omission. Mr Seddon was roughly shaken up. Not feeling in the best of humors, when called on to declare on which side he wished to vote he said — “ Against Pyke : against the member for Dunstan.” Mr Kelly was unwise enough to take this answer, and record Mr Seddon’s vote with the “ Noes.” Mr Pyke is never in a very manageable state after about te at night, and he immediately insis’ ed upon declaring that the honorable mem. . tor Hokitika mid not voted. “ I call your attention, sir (lie said), to the fact that the lion, member for Hokitika was in the House and has not voted.” This ho insisted on repeating, in spite of orders to sit down, and at last ho said, “ I won’t sit down.” Members roared out “ Order,” and flew about in great excitement, until Mr Kelly was obliged to resume the House, to seek the assistance of the Speaker. Mr O’Rorke appears to ha. e been in bed, and could not be found, so Mr Seymour had to try his far inferior powers on Mr Fyke, but could get no retractation or apology from him, and had to order him to withdraw. Mr Pyke was next seen in the reporters’ gallery, enjoying all the discussion on his own conduct, and Mr Seymour had to send the new Ser-geant-at-Arms—who looks a strong, stout man—to get him out of that. Mr Fyke would not go, and had to be actually dragged downstairs. After this, the right Speaker turned up in his full robe, and never appeared to greater advantage. He asserted his authority with wonderful effect, and when asked under what Standing Order or by what authority Mr. Pyke had been forcibly removed from the reporters’ gallery, replied, “By the authority of of the Speaker of this House. Mr. Pyke was again brought in and requested lo apologise, but only kept on repeating, “ Tue honorable n ember for Hokitika has not voted, and I’m only doing my duty in calling the Chairman’s attention to the fact.” He was then committed to the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms, to be brought up to the bar of the House at 7.30 this evening. Nearly the whole night had been wasted. The Supplementary Estimates are not yet through, so that business cannot be finished this week, though a majority of the members will leave to-night.

Wellington, Aug. 30.

Mr. Pyke came up before a crowded House and galleries on Saturday night, preceded by the Scrgeant-at-Arms, and looking very seedy. He made something between an apology and an excuse, and was dismissed with a caution.

The few members who are now keeping a House are all being sadly imposed upon, as Sir George has taken to stonewalling to the last, and after putting off the sailing of the Arawata for twelve hours, it is very doubtful if the members will be able to leave before Wednesday. If a quorum is not kept together to pass the Appropriation Bill, it would necessitate calling the House together again. The more Sir G. Grey’s tricks cost the country, the more he seems to enjoy them. At present the Opposition are stonewalling the railway Construction Bill introduced to divert the Waikato line from the Thames to Cambridge, as recommended by the Railway Commissioners. Mr. Seddon is fortunately away, but Mr. Speight has kindly provided a twelve hours’ speech. It is another of Mr. Oliver’s blunders, which Government and their supporters are reluctantly voting for, driven by the wildness of the Opposition.