TWO NEWCASTLE MEN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 29, 16 January 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

TWO NEWCASTLE MEN.

Wo (New Zealand AdvertiserJ copy the following, verbatim et literatim, from the Sutherland Times, Sept. 24th: —

“Newcastle Men at the Antipodes. —Dr. Featherstone and Mr. Fox, the two leaders of the opposition in New Zealand, and who, according to the last despatches from the Colony, had been invited by the Governor to form a Ministry, were both in business formerly in Newcastle. Dr. Featherstone practised as a surgeon in Newgate-street and is the son of Mr. Featherstone, Grecer, Col-lingwood-street, the predecessor of Mr. Reveley. Ho is well known in Sunderland. Mr. Fox was a partner in the old firm of Carr, Johling, & Fox, solicitors. He is brother to Miss Fox of this town and to the Rev. G. T. Fox, of Durham.—The following, sketch of a scene in the New Zealand Parliament is furnished by the Auckland correspondent of the New Zealand Examiner :— ‘ Mr. Fox spoke for upwards of two hours. He spoke well; but it was generally thought that it was not one of his happiest displays. While he was speaking the nouse presented an animated scone. Every foot of room not appropriated to members was occupied by gentlemen who had obtained Mr. Speaker’s order, and the public gallery was crammed to the ceiling. Once or twice during Mr. Fox’s speech there was such confusion and noise, owing to the eagerness of the crowd to obtain access to the gallery, that he had to stop and appeal to the Speaker. The gallery was well filled before the business of the evening commenced but it seems there were as many more outside anxious to get in. On a sudden they made a rush, and carried all the door by a coup de main. The debate, which commenced on Wednesday evening at five o’clock lasted troth about the same hour on Friday, when the

House divided, and the motion was carried by a majority of one. It is said that the majority of one would not have been obtained had the debate been prolonged another hour. A vessel was coming up the harbour having on board a newly elected member. Somehow or other it was ascertained that he was a voter for Government. Mr. Fox was speaking in reply. A slip of paper was put into his bauds with this significant hint, ‘Cut it short; has arrived and will be here directly.’ Accordingly he cut it short, and thereby gained his majority of one.’ ” The question arises whether that form of Government is the wisest and best that liable to have its policy maintained or reversed by the bare fact of a single member spinning out” or “ cutting short” his harangue at a luckymoment. The Sunderland Times ie evidently pleased to report the progress of Dr. Featherstone and Mr. Fox, who were both in business formerly in Newcastle.” Who knows that the paragraph, by going the rounds of the British press, may not prove a letter means of inducing numbers to emigrate to New Zealand with the hope of bettering their condition than the notable immigration scheme of those two F.’s. turned out to be ? We shall see.