IN THE GALLERY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4091, 1 September 1884, Page 4

IN THE GALLERY.

We have had a lively week, and one which began by ono gentleman confessing his inability to"form a Ministry, and which ended in the defeat of a Ministry formed by perhaps the best general in tho House — Major Atkinson. lam not going to Aveary mv readers with any record of Avliat transpired in the Gallery further than the debate which resulted in "the turning out of the Administration. I have again to express a feeling that Stout, to my mind, is an overestimated man. His .-peach on Friday evening Avas disappointing in the extreme. It Avas but the poor speech of an advocate trying to impress a jury. The effort Avas a weak speech, aud did not at all rise to the occasion. He repeated himself in a melancholy manner, Avhich Avas scarcely Avhat I expected. His only charge against the Government Avas that it .should ha\o been a new team, Avith now ideas, and now administration. His one string Avas tuned till it became monotonous. Ho asked Avhat Avas the meaning of parliamentary government but that there should be a change iv administration, and then ho went on to talk of the time that Major Atkinson had sat on those benches. Wakefield did not speak so well as lie does Avhcn in Opposition. To my mind he feJt that if ho said much, or said it strongly, he Avould lay himself open to charges oi inconsistency. Wakefield is the greate-t nucher that has been seen on the Treasury benches for years. His get-up is something wonderful, and, as tho .showmen say, has" to be seen to bo realised. He, however, made some capital hits at tho expense of Mr Stout, and quoted a passage from a speech delivered by that gentleman when previously in office, whi'-h Avas diametrically opposed to Avhat bo bad given utterance to in the debate under notice, and he asked could they call such a speech anything but the deliverance of a special pleader. The House was asked to shoot Niagara, but what Avas after Niagara 'i Vogel speaks Avith difficulty, and is heard at a disadvantage, through Laving to occupy a sitting position. Ho is, however, clear-headed and" clear-sighted, but tho unholy alliance between ho and Stout is something Avhich it is difficult to comprehend and understand. He failed to see how tho price of wool and Avheat should be responsible for the depression, and therein most people will differ from him. Major Atkinson succeeded, and, hate tho Major as some people do, ho is head and shoulders above all our politicians, even including Vogel. As usual he said all virtue was with, the Opposition—l Avish tho Major would just change that foi once, it is effective, but monotonous. On a land tax he spoke aud ho freely admitted that a majority of the members returned AVe-ro against Ins former Ministry because thoy had dared to say that tho railway rates should be made supporting, and that native lands should be fairly dealt with. Mr Guinness followed and mov.;d .in a-.a<_-ridmoiit, th;.. the debate be adjourned till Tuesday. This is a capable new man who will make his mark, aud is apparently not likely to be drawn into intrigues iv the lobby. Mr W. 0. Backhaul"next caught the Speaker's eye, amid cries of "Divide." His grammar was greatly mixed, but he had the House with him Avhen he said that at least forty members were there to represent themselves, and avlio Avere thirsting for office. That, he declared, was the real question before the .House. The property tax lie believed iv because it taxed all. properly, while a land tax was a special tax on one class. He expressed his disgust with all the leaders. The member for Oamaru objected to any adjournment. Mr. Menteath then toed the mark and met Avith a good reception at the hands of the House, and for a maiden effort it Avas a capital speech well delivered. He declared himself an'advocate of political consistency, and _as such he Avould ever bo found in opposition to Mr. Stout. Mr. Garrick succeeded, and ho too had a wonderful reception, and Avas warmly applauded by tho House for a wonderfully logical speech. Politics to his mind was the science of expediency, but in following Mr. Stout I scarcely think he came to a logical conclusion, for expediency is no part of that gentleman's profession. The Maori members are going to be a nuisance to the House. Hakuenu had an innings. The first part of his was almost the first lesson of a Church of England service. The present Government had taken their land, and if the land tax Avas instituted it Avould press heavily on the laud that remained. Roars of laughter Avere elicited by tho statement that "most of the Opposition are elderly persons, and the Governmental, young men." That wonderful nativcorator WiPere folic wed. Hovelled, thumped, ami roared, his eyes Hashed, his body AV'Ji-ked, and the table sutfered. Ho spoke sometimes two or three minutes at a stretch, but the interpreter must luivo exercised' a Aviso discretion, for Avhat took minutes in Maori only occupied seconds in En "dish • l iv advocated a Government of young people. He had had an interview Vv-ith the Major that day, and his demeanor on that occasion was that of Friday, of whom avo read in Robinson Crusoe. He seemed like Friday did Avhen Crusoe began to shoot birds, ife caused much amusement by speaking from notes. One advantage of his oration Avas that members were "able to visit Bellamy's, Avhile poor press hacks smoked the pipe of peace. In the corner Hamlin was snoring, Avhile other members were trying to snatch forty winks. The East Coast member, Mr Locke, followed, and made a good short incisive speech, in which he thoroughly exposed Wi Pei-o is a big landlord, and who was interested in the biggest land company in New Zealand. Bevan followed, and it is quire evident that the West Coast is wonderfully well represented. The speaker has a dramatic manner, Avhich Avill always be against him, and is apt to get into heights which will cause laughter m tho House. He spoke upAvoll for thogoldfieldsindustry, but forget to add that the more you develop that crop the more you exhaust your supply. Gold is a different product to any other, and every colony has .suffered by trying special legislation iv its favor. 1 am aFraiil the gold of the colony must be [i declining export everywhere, aud no legislation will ever put it on the footing that it once was. I know that from bitter experience. "I Avonder how many calls I have paid, but my first dividend is yet to come. Another gohlliclds member followed, O'Conor, and though he is not eloquent he talks such u-uod common-sense, which is rare, that already he Ims t]l e ear of the House, and for my part I like him much. He objected altogether to a Coalition Government, as it Avould result in aAveak Opposition. His views on party government were very good. Another ucav member followed iv the person or Mr Maoarthur, who will also prove an acceptable addition to the House. Tho wit of the House, Mr Pyke, was for once serious, but ho spoke one way aud voted another. His view Avas that every member Avho attempted to form a Ministry and had not the faculty to do so should bo immediately hung. Mr Fergus made his first speech this session, and though brief it Avas a good one. Ho claimed that there wore three New Zealandors in the Government. Mr Hursthouse, Avho has hitherto been looked upon as a sort of political larrikin, though I never thought so made a capital speech, m which he tried to'be serious. Once only did he become funny, when ho said that there was an attempt to destroy the youthful hopes of four young and promising individuals. He made a wonderful hit when he said that that wretched thing provincialism prevented New Zealand receiving tho services other best men in consequence. Mr Stout replied vurv shortly, ami then the division ay.'is taken, iv the presence of a crowded Gallery at o o'clock in the morning, and tho Government Avere defeated by eight votes, and sleepily I left the Gallery.