SCENE IN THE NEW SOUTH WALES ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1141, 14 March 1884, Page 4

SCENE IN THE NEW SOUTH WALES ASSEMBLY.

There was again an exciting hut discreditable scene in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales on the afternoon of February 29. Mr O’Connor had moved the adjournment for the purpose of enabling him to contra dictthe statement made bv Mr John .Vl’Elhone, at recent public meetings, that Mr O’Connor hud pl-alged the Catholic vote at the coming election East ‘Sydney to theCovernment • landidare, in consideration of his (Mr O'Connor’s) brother being jwd by ihe Government LIOOO for aorae property in excess of what it was worth. Jan speech of a.i hour’s duration, Mr O’Connor attacked Mr M’Elhone in the most violent manner, denouncing him as a vile maligner of the living and the dead, and as one who should be ignominiouslv expelled from public life ; who possessed tue inherent carrishness of the coward ; who had sunk to the depths of damnable malignity ; who had an utter disregard for the truth ; and who indulged in fiendish attempts to vilify private Me and degrade public dignity. In concluding an address of an hour's length Mr O’Connor said, m referring to Mr M’Klhone, “lain indifferent to the mannderings of an illiterate mountebank. lam independent of the sordidness of a commercial Shylock. I challenge the malignly of an unscrupulous vulture, and from the bottom of my soul I abhor a political Quilp.” Mr O’Connor was several times interrupted Speaker for his attacks upon a member of the House and was compelled +o get out of the difficulty by inferentially referring to Mr M’Elhone, in-toad of directly naming him. Mr’ M‘Elhone replied, and leiterated the charges which he made against Mr t <J’Comior, and asserted his readiness to stand the brunt of a ■•supreme Court action. The House was very much excited during this personal debate, and the terms “ liar’ snd “ blackguard” were several times exchanged between Mr M'Elhone and Mr O'Connor and one or two other members. Ihe de.bate took place under cover of a motion for adjournment. Mr O'Connor has issued a Supreme Court writ against Mr M'Elhone to recovevL; 0,000 damages for slander.