NEW SOUTH WALES.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 63, 16 March 1868, Page 66

NEW SOUTH WALES.

. A PARLIAMENTARY scene.

Thebe has been a regular fight New. South Wales Parliament. It seems that Mr Parkeß was making a speech, relating to a dispute which had occurred’be tween his department and the dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church, when ,b e was interrupted, but on the Speaker ruling him in order, the member for Central Cumberland. Mr Macpherson rose as if for the purpose of disputing the Speaker’s ruling. This oaused a soene of great confusion to occur ,on the floor of the Chamber. Cries of “chair! chair!” and “ shame! shame!” were vehemently uttered by some of the Ministerial supporters, in the midst of which Mr Macpherson is reported to have said that he would not be deprived of his rights by “ the paltry hangers-on of a moribund Government.” This remark was responded to by.the term “blackguard,” upon which one of the members on Mr Maopherson’s side asked, “Who says ‘ blackguard P’ ” Immediately afterwards Mr Lee, the member for West Maitland, crossed from the Ministerial to the Opposition side, and, after a sharp interrogatory to Mr Macpherson, struck him a blow in tbe face with his clenched fist. The confusion now became generaL Mr Macpherson did not return the blow,.and other members interfered to prevent a repetition of it. It was maintained by some that Mr Lee ought. to he taken into custody, and by others that he should -be expelled the house. While this was going on Mr Macpherson had left the Chambers, avowing, as he passed through the library, his intention to procure a whip or a stick to punish bis assailant. Accordingly he returned with a heavy hunting-whip, and meeting Mr Lee in the library, succeeded in striking him one blow on the face or head with the whip. A scuffle immediately ensued. The antagonists rnshed. at each other, and were soon rolling on the carpet: while partizans on either side gathered round and joined in the melee —blows having been exchanged, it is between two of them also. The police, who had been sent for, were now coming up, but the disgraceful scene had terminated before their arrival; the members left the house, and thus closed the proceedings of the day. On the day followign, Thursday, shortly after the Assembly met, .tbe Premier, Mr Martin, entered into an explanation of his reasons for not interfering on the spot in his capacity of Attorney-General and head of the magistracy, and, after pointing out the various ways in which the oase might be dealt with, declared his readiness to act at once in his official capacity, if the Assembly would put him in motion by a formal vote. Dr. Laing immediately rose, and, after some remarks deprecatory of such scandalous scenes, moved that the Attorney General be instructed to prosecute both Mr Lee and Mr Macpherson. This resolution was ultimately agreed to.

DREADBUL storms and bloods.

Storms, floods, and shipwrecks form a great portion of the Sydney news this month. The colony has- been visited by very tempestuous weather, accompanied by some fatal disasters. The floods, however, although they rose to a great height in some places, subsided rapidly, without committing anything like the havoc that was committed on the former occasion. The Government were ready to give with promptitude any assistance that might be needed 5 and fortunately there was a balance in hand from tbe last public subscriptions available for tbe immediate relief of sufferers from the floods. THE EXODUS TO QUEENSLAND.

The Empire says—The news from the gold-fields is of a less exciting character than usual, as a partial suspension of operations has taken place in the principal gold-mining districts, through the extensive emigration that has set in to the Queensland gold-diggings, and which has given rise to general depression in the trade of the interior, not only by the withdrawal of a large amount' of labor whioh has been very profitably employed in developing an important resource of tbe country, but draining the district of. a large amount of accumulated savings, the principal portion of which may be sunk in a fruitless wooing of Dame Fortune in the adjoining colony. • Excluding the cabin passengers that have left for . Queensland, about 500 persons, who may nearly all be taken to be miners, have left in the steerage of steamers for Queensland ports during the present month, and an increase is setting in.