SCENES IN THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 711, 9 August 1870, Page 2

SCENES IN THE VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT.

The Australian Parliaments are often very unparliamentary in their proceedings, from time %o time reports finding their way into the papers of squabbling and quarrelling which would disgrace a pothouse. The Australasian of the 9th ult. mentions two very pretty little -" rows " — writing as follows :— A scene of almost unparalleled excitement took place in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday evening, upon the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to inquire into the Cope-cwm-Wilson affair. The re-: port of the committee wascontained in two resolutions. The first declared that " the charges made by Mr Wilson against Mr T. Cope are absolutely groundless, and without any foundation whatever;" the second reflected on Mr M'Kean for having permitted the statement made by Wilson to get iuto the hands of the represents- . tives of the press. Mr Rolfe having moved the first resolution, Mr M'Kean, in a very exciteed :manner, proceeded to; defend himself, accusing the committee of having commenced the inquiry with a foregone conclusion to injure him, and to drive the Macpherson Ministry from the Treasury benches by ousting him from office. He was several times called to order by the Speaker, and, although he apologised, he only seemed to grow the

more excited. There was a feeling against him, he said, because he stopped the little game by touting members ; he had prevented hon. members making a living at the Land Office by prostituting their position. " Bunkum, " exclaimed Mr Watkins. "Bunkum!" reiterated Mr M'Kean, turning fiercely round, and pointing at the, hon. member who had interrupted him; "there's a member who took L 5 for obtaining the transfer of a post office - from a poor man named Morrisqn^lo Powell and Flanagan/'^Cnesof^name," " Order," and " Chair" rose.in mixed and unintelligible confusion, in the midst of' which Mr M'Kean said he would stake his reputation thaf he' would prove^ttio accuracy of the charge he had maile, and half a dozen; similar ones. The Speaker vainly endeavored to restore priier. Mr G. P. Smith said the matter was bo serious a3 to demand immediate attention. Mr M'Kean replied that he. was ready to give the whole of the circumstances of the case to the clerk, so that they might be taken down. Mr Watkins, however, remained quiet, and the' Speaker, suggested it would be better to get rid of one case first. The debate then proceeded. Mr. Gillies contended that the evidence did not show that Wilson's statement was "absolutely groundless," and Mr Langton moved, and Mr Fellows seconded, an amendment to the effect that the evidence showed that Mr T. Cope had been guilty of no dishonorable conduct. This was negatived, and the original resolution carried. Mr Rolfe then said that, his purpose having been attained, he %d«ld postpone the consideration of the other part of the report, and. the , remaining orders of the day were immediately called on. Mr Longmore protested that such conduct was. a disgrace tov'iHie Assembly. " It's the act of an assassin," vociferated Mr M'Keari. " I move the House do now adjourn," said Mr M'Culloch, and a scene of indescribable confusion followed. The Speaker's voice commandingorder, which by no. possibility could be evolved out of such a din, was scarcely heard. Mr M'Kean insisted on speaking to the question of adjournment, and called Mr Rolfe " a pretended Christian," and " an old man with one foot in. the grave." The uproar was only stogpisd by several hon. members leaving' the chamber, and there being then no quorum the proceedings abruptly terminated.,. It is certainly hightime that thejsceseat session was brought to a close. Hon. members are becoming so attentive to each, other that it will soon be difficult, if not impossible, to place any limit upon the, mutual. interchange of civilities. *Mr B. G. Davies had on Tuesday night been apparently partaking of the cup that cheers, and having , thereby eminently fitted himself for the task, he proceeded to the Assembly, and, by. means of sundry ejaculations and suggestions, endeavored playfully to assist Mr M'Kean j whilst addressing the House. Mr M'Kean has no poetry in Mm, and instead of expressing his gratitude for the aid so kindly volunteered, boldly accused Mr Davies of being in a state which unfitted him for a seat in the Chamber. Mr Davie3 rejoined by calling Mr JML'Keau a' "big" cowardly beast." , It is impossible to say what other endearing epithets might not have been interchanged, had not Mr F.^L. Smyth, the Chairman of Committees, fixed his eye on the hon. culprits, lura gravely informed them that they were slightly transgressing Parliamentary etiquette.