THE LAST DAYS OF THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4112, 2 May 1876, Page 3

THE LAST DAYS OF THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT.

We quote from a Melbourne paper an account of one of the last scenes in the Victorian Assembly :—Before this, another scene had occurred, in which Mr Munro played a prominent part. The Opposition wished to report progress after the second reading of the Loan Bill, while the Government wished to go on with the clauses of the measure in committee. Seeing that there were some fifty members present, Mr Munro, with some impetuosity, intimated that he would use all the forms of the House to delay the passing of the Bill if the Ministry did not give way, and as he was gesticulating violently, the Chief Secretary jocosely queried, “ Why don’t you thump the table?” Mr Munro immediately flew into a rage, and said, “ I will thump the hon. member if he gives me any more of his impertinence. Why does he tell me to tlrnmp the table ? It is just his innate impudence.” After this, the scene became somewhat ludicrous. “ Such language would not be tolerated by the * Dodge * of Venice,” ejaculated Mr Curtain. The House was convulsed with laughter at this allusion to his colleague’s pronunciation of the word ‘ Doge,’ but Mr Munro could not see the fun of it at all, and he stood for some seconds glaring at hon. members on the Ministerial side of the House so intently that Mr M‘Phorson found it irresistible to call out, “ Take his portrait now.” “ I’m as gocd-looking as you,” snapped Mr Munro. “ Have some ice,” insinuatingly suggested Mr Curtain. “ You had better go to gaol,” retaliated Mr Munro. At this stage, Mr Gillies threw oil on the troubled waters, by reminding the bon. member that such language as he was using was not dignified, either to himself or to the House; and Mr Munro, after observing that when he found himself continually interrupted he was compelled to use whatever weapons he could find, got into a better temper.