GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 537, 6 September 1881, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

On Thursday in the Legislative Council. !he Ruigiora High School Bill was read a second time by 12 votes to 8. The Alwroa, High School Bill was thrown out by 12 to 10.

Tho Council adjourned ait 5 p.m. The House of Representatives has been sitting in "committee continuously since 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, when the Speaker left the chair, declining to allow the •• stonewall " motions for adjournment'to bo put. During the night between Wednesday and Thursday Mr Reeves was speaking and reading long quotations, and two-thirds of those present wore sound aslocp, when at 2.23 two smart shocks of earthquake occurred. Tho effect was magical. The sleeping members jumped to their feet, and, headed by Mr Reeves, rushed frantically to the door, where they remained a few minutes peering up at the lantern dome to see if any harm was done. All being safe, they returned to their places, and

Mr Reeves resumed .-peaking, saying the occurrence was no doubt a dispensation Bent in respect of the fro ward paths into which Parliament was straying. He therefore moved to report progress.— Ayes 4 ; noes, 22. Between four o'clock and six o'clock five similar divisions took place. The Obstructionists continued their tactics, and the following , are one or two examples of the idiotic kind of oratory (?) indulged in.

Mr Seddon then moved—"That the Chairman do leave the chair," observing that he could give good and sufficient reasons for the motion. He contended that it it came to fighting and bloodshed they had quite enough lighting power on the West Coaat to whop both Otago and Canterbury. Hβ then began to go over the Hokitika electoral roll name by name, to show how the property ■jiialification would affect each man.

Mr Totr.oana applauded the stand taken by the Nelson members. He proposed to sing a verso of a Maori song to illustrate his views on the point. This proposal acted as tlio proverbial "last straw," and the Premier protested against such a violation of propriety. Colonel Trimble, who was*Acting-Chair-man, said he did not think the lion member would be a bit more out of order in sinking than-all the other members had been for the last twelve hours. The whole proceedings had really become a farce. Holding the chair temporarily he did not wish to go against the rulings given, but he hold that the forms of the House were not intended to be used for purposes of obstruction. He quoted authorities in support of this. He held that it would be out of order to sing. The dreary and disgraceful scene continued till 5.30 p m. on Friday, when the usual dinner adiourntnent took place. On the House resuming at 7.30, matters were brought to a head by the Chairman of Committees (Mr Seymour) announcing that he considered that tUo limits of fair discussion' had been ovw.sU;ppeil. Tii? Committee hail iioen tnuru v ; f< :y f',r:v hours, and no h;ui ;>eei: mmjo I with the TViTity-ibrei' U!':r.-:;i?; ! to ri'port ]■>:■'.:'r.:v: ■ or tim; -.in: Ci.n'nunr,) j iu;;v>: ii,v clmli iuKi been ik;-;■; hv<;j. [V;r j liiu piwiu ho .should not permit, any Midi

motion to lie p/oposed. Members would have to con fin ; themselves to tho discussion of the Bill under consideration. Foreseeing that the stonewallers would be only too glad to discuss this ruling for a week or two, Mr S-ymour further announced that he would not allow it to be called in qne-tion. The Chairuuin spoke amid dead silence, and the excitement was strained to the breaking point. What followed is thus graphically described by the correspondent of the -Ly Helton Times .-—Various members spoke under tho greatest excitement. At last, after the feelings of tho spectators had been wrought up to a pitch little short of what must have been those of members themselves, Mr Gisborne brought down the full force of its fury upon himself. That he should have been the one to do so was unexpected. In calm and deliberate language, after having demanded that the matter should be referred to the whole House, and Mr Speaker, he moved that the Chairman do now report progress, in order ■that the unprecedented ruling of the Chairman of Committees be submitted to the consideration of the full House. Being warned that he must speak to the clause of the Bill and nothing else, arid persistently declining to. do so, the Chairman at last, after fully explaining the oonsequences to the lion W. Gisborne, left the chair to report to Mr Speaker the disordely conduct of the member for Totara. Cheers and counter cheers from Government and the Opposition benches were given, and there was considerable disorder when the ringing voice of Sir G. O'Rorke, and his command over the House, quelled all disturbance on the instant, livery body was tieut forward, every oar was strained, as Mr Seymour, amid breathless suspense, shortly recited the offensive conduct of the member for Totara. Mr Speaker then proceeded to warn Mr Gisborne, when. Sir G. Grey rising to order and considerable disturbance following, he declared in a voice of thunder that summary proceedings would be taken with any member who presumed to rise, while he (the Speaker) was on his legs. lie gave Mr Gisborne a last chance to apologise and submit, and t.ien ordered him to withdraw, while the House considered his enduct. The Premier, as leader of the House, was next called upon to move a resolution indicating the upholding the authority of the Chair. With evident distaste for the duty devolving upon him, Mr Hall moved that Mr Gisborne having been guilty of contempt and insubordination, be fined £20. Mr Speaker having emphasised tho fact that there must be no trifling with the supremo authority of the Chair refused to allow the resolution and penalty to be made separate matters. To Mr Hall's resolution Sir George Gray moved as an amendment, that Mr Gisborne rightly strove to bring before, the House a false ruling of the Chairman of Committees. Upon this a general discussion followed, the evident desire to uphold the dignity of the chair and the splendid qualities of Sir G. M. O'Rorke as Speaker being its prominent features. It was a scene of extraordinary interest, and one most creditafde for the straightforward and temper.tte manner in which it wan carried on. Nearly every member took part in it, and it would be very hard to single out the best speeches. At its < occlusion, a divi-ion was taken, Sir G. Grey's amendment being lost, and that of the Premier carried by 46 to 25. Mr Gisliorne was then called in again, and what was, perhnp- , , the most iiupiessivo act of the whole drama ensued. In his clear, manly voice, the Speaker reviewed the circumstances whHi had occurred, and sternly inculcatrd 'rospcurt ami implicit obedience to the chair. Turning to tlm lion W. Gi.sbonip. he expressed the uvt-p regret he had in informing him of tins resolution that had been come to by the Mouse. It xvos sad indeed when a member, so old in Parliamentary iil'e, and so inspected, called down upon his head the wrath of the House. He then instructed the Cork to withdraw to his office and await the payment of the fine inflicted upon Mr Gisborne. After declaring that his conscience acquitted lii.n in the matter, Mr Gisborne left the Chamber. It is

understood that he immediately' proceeded to the Clerk's room, paid the ammount of the fine, and took a stamped for it. He afterwards resumed his seat. Thus terminated a scene of unparalleled interest in the Parliamentary annals of tho Colony ; grave issues were nt stake, and in days to come those who witnessed it will recall with pride the fairness and upright conduct of thoseengaged. Though Mr Gieriorne, the Premier, and Sir George were heroes of the fight, to Mr Speaker must be awarded the highest praise !>y thoo>e who know the relations existing between himself and the member for Totara. The way he-bore his part in the trying position in which he was placed, displayed his conduct in the very highest degree.

Tho action of tho Speaker rand Chairman of Committees, having , thus cut the ground from under the feot of the stonowallers, the Bill was pushed through, though the obstructionists managed to keep the debate on the various clauses dragging on all through the m>l)t of Friday and well on into Saturday. J.he Government, however, were firm, and would not consent to an adjournment. The Bill was passed through committee, repoited with amendments, and re-com-mitted • when clause 8 (leasehold franchise) was struck out. On the motion for its third reading the debate was renewed, and finally, at 5 p.m. on Saumhy the House adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Monday, having sat since 2.30 |.>.m. on Wednesday.