SKETCHES OF PARLIAMENTARY MEN.

Evening Star, Issue 3000, 30 September 1872, Page 2

SKETCHES OF PARLIAMENTARY MEN.

The John White and Eugene Joseph O’Conor, of Hokitika and the Buller respectively, who have made themselves notorious in connection with their vote on the late want of confidence motion, are men whom many in Dunedin will remember in the days gone by. Mr White, who goes by the familiar name of “ Captain John ” off the West Coast, was formerly connected with tho Intercolonial Shipping Company as purser on board one of their steamers, and subsequently acted as agent for the company at Hokitika. He is a man of short stature, wears rather a scrubby beard, and no whiskers after Yankee fashion. He is a good songster, either in the comic or sentimental line, and being altogether of a genial temperament, is the life and soul of those styled “The Metropolitans” after the house in which they dwell, and of which Mr Osgood is mine host. His Te Deums on the fall of the late Ministry are warble^,forth to his particular cronies up Captain John is naturally-avery sensitive and excitable genius, and when on the Assembly floor often waxes warm—so much so that he is frequently called to order by Mr Speaker, and more particularly so when anyone has been making allusions which don't please him, his old Cockney experiences and his /(aspirates come out racy and fresh. When Mr Harrison, the member for Grey mouth, has been pitching into him, he becoipes frantic, and an extraordinary habit he has acquired of moving the skin of his face and forehead up up and down, reminding one of a cockatoos crest when in anger, come? out into full electric play on such occasions. Mr Harri-

son is a bit of a wag, and apparently delights in ruffling John’s feathers. Captain John plumes himself, that he has not sold bis constituents in the vote he gave; they, however, seem to think otherwise, hence the burning in effigy of onr hero, with his con fere Mr O’Conor, It is said, moreover, that both will be tarred and feathered on their arrival at their respective localities, hut Captain John is a man of no fear; although but a mite of a man, he has a mighty esteem of bis own powers, and says that the charm of his voice will soon sot things on the square. May it be so, for it would be a sorrowful flay for the metropolitans should anything befall their excitable friend. His strong partisanship which he, however, carries too far to be fair, is a little blot on his eschutcheon. His attempt to prove that the conduct of the late Government was corrupt, by the exercise of patronage in the advertising given to newspapers, and his abuse of the Press Association, did not rebound much to his credit, our friend being rather shewn up upon the occasion. Mr O’Conor, the member for the Puller, a tall thin Irishman, of about 6 feet in height, fair and wall-eyed, as would be said of a horse. He is also a member for the Provincial Council of Nelson, and has made himself rather conspicuous upon two occasions during this session of the Assembly. The first was an explanation he made of drawing the whole of the honorarium for last session, although absent, a portion of it; the second was his connection with some laud purchases in Westland, for which he was condemned by the Provincial Council of Nelson, but which, upon petition to the Assembly, he managed to got disposed of to his satisfaction. These are only two episodes of his Parliamentary life. It appears he managed to get elected on the late Ministerial card, and pledged to support them ; but it also appears the soft influences and S remises 0 f Messrs Stafford and Collins have one their work. These must not be looked into too narrowly ; his position is, however, not an enviable one, but his abundant cl eek will no doubt carry him through. Moreover, like hi» new chief, he prides himseT not a little on his genealogy and family tree in wild Irish times, and occasionally reminds one of the fact, that this family’s armorial bearings have been quartered with some Other great dons. He will be remembered by the Dunedin people, as some few years ago honorably plying his way, cah-.in-haud, between there and the Water of Leith, Mr O’Gonor seems to have had a fair education, in France it is said, and on the whole is in his manner, not to be compared with his confrere however, except when roused, then I fancy he would proye a very devil with shillelagh in hand. It is said he contests the Superintendency for Nelson, in room of Mr Curtis, and asseiti he is the coming man.