FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1446, 4 October 1878, Page 2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1878.

During the last few days the public mind has had something unusually startling with which to amuse itself. The placid, if traditional dignity of the members of tbo Upper House now in Parliament assembled, lias been ruffled to an inordinate extent, and tlie glittering feathers of some of tbo leading birds of Paradise have scarcely yet recovered from the shock. Wo refer of course, to the case of tho Honorable W. Robinson, a gentleman singularly well-known in Canterbury, and whose position in tho Legislative Council is scarcely a mediocre one. Although the session may bo said to have reached its annual stage of soro and yellow leaf, there lias not yet been any Parliamentary work of importance placed before the Upper House for dissection. Year after year it has been noted that whenever idleness was engendered in the nominated Chamber through lack of legislative employment of any solidity, the tedium of the slowly passing days was sure to become relieved, sooner or later, by pleasurable episodes, tho birth of the moment and tho fanciful conception of devil-may-care brains. And during the last few weeks there is no doubt but that those well-meaning and highly useful patricians, who have so much weight when carrying to a successful issue tho fiual outcome of the legislative labours of tho country, must have felt their time hanging very heavily upon their hands. In the matter of (iescencvcnicut a similar rule applies oftentimes in the case of grown-up people as well as it does with children. They must find tho wherewith to fill up their time, to kill it in fact as tho expression is commonly used, and if it cauuot be done by semi-legitimate means, well it is done otherwise. And thus we fancy that it came to pass a few days ago, that a small majority of a somewhat thiu attendance of the Legislative Council resolved that, according to the old aud yet pleasingly fashionable custom handed down from past generations by musty constitutional practice, what is termed a "call” of tho Council should bo made, with a view of forcing all truants to rally under its unfolded banner. Several Bills of importance, such as tho Electoral Bill, the Laud Bill, and others, had—wo must admit—nearly received their final

polishing touches in the Lower House, and some people will thereupon wonder less at the sudden desire expressed by the Lords to whip up to the fold such valuable legislative adjuncts as the Hon. Mr. Robinson probably is. Bo it as it may however, duo notice of the “ call ” was trumpeted forth, and, and, notwithstanding the serious urgency of the appeal, Mr. Robinson, who was within roach of the lynx-eye of the acting-Speaker for the time, took upon himself to pay a flying visit to Canterbury. What followed within the unsullied precincts of the Lord’s Chamber is now pretty well known. A war of words ensued, wherein oral flagellations of a not altogether moderate character wore scathingly applied to Mr Robinson. Like a mountain torrent suddenly swollen by molting snows certain honorable members appear to have permitted their phraseology to overstep the usual bounds of grammatical refinement. Adjectives, we believe, flew about—aimed at the devoted head of the solo representative of “ County Cheviot ” like the hot sparks hissing from the anvil. Ho was charged by one of his Peers with being guilty of ‘‘most contemptuous contempt ” towards the dignity of the Council, while another of his friends is said to have exclaimed that this “ contemptuous contempt was most contemptible.” And then the storm went on gathering fresh force as it rushed headlong until the hour of adjournment arrived. When at last brought before the bar of his privileged brethren, the Hon. Mr. Robinson had a long tale to unfold as to his having had to buy a horse in Canterbury, which commission ho would have been glad to have handed over to one of his honorable friends who had been very loud in denouncing the turpitude of his contempt. The tale was neither very explicit in its “ horsey ” details, nor did it appear to have much eifect upon the culprit’s judges and accusers. The whole force of the ancient machinery wherewith Honorable Councillors can purge themselves under extraordinary circumstances was called forth, and Mr. Robinson was mulcted in the sum of £'so for his contempt. This is the first case of the kind on record in this colony, we believe, and although we are not prepared to say that some kind of safety valve was no i needed wherewith to allow the fermenting indignation of outraged members to escape, we fancy that the effect of this tempest in a teapot will scarcely be to the advantage of any one concerned. The public has had its laugh, the Council has not “ washed its dirty linen at home,” and certainly neither its dignity nor general usefulness has been enhanced by the enforcement of the summary process. True the Hon. W. Robinson, who has hitherto jeered in the “ horsey” way to which we have made reference, may yet benefit by the result of those strangely correct proceedings; but there is even a doubt in the matter. The fifty pounds worth of books which it is whispered the Legislative Council will hand over to him, as they do not wish to soil their fingers with his convictionmoney, may prove works by which the most cultivated mind may bo elevated if not chastened; but what of the old adage about taking a horse to water and not being able to make him drink ?