THE FIGHT IN THE SYDNEY PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 67, 18 February 1884, Page 2

THE FIGHT IN THE SYDNEY PARLIAMENT.

The , Argus contains the following description of the jfracaa at Sydney on tUe Ist, February between two members of Parliament : — The ante-room of. the Legislative Assembly, which is sjtuated immediately behind the Speaker's chair, was this afternoon the scene of an extraordinary a and disgraceful occurrence. During. , the progress pi a discussion m the .'Chamber upon .the subject of a letter written by ,tlie Minister of Public Instruction, and read to the House, m the course of which discussion a considerable amount of feeling was exhibited j Mr Wisdom and Mr Buchanan referred to each other m terms, the reverse of complimentary, though not apparently to an extent beyond what has been -noticeable .on previous occasions. The .result; however* /was a meeting iv the ante room, accidental on the, part of one of the two members, insuring epithets, blows, ah unseemly scuffle, a »d a IUS^ ; of hon members from the Chamber to' put a stop to the fight, ' ■

The ill-feeling between the two gentlemen, as far as it lvlated to the proceeding of to-day, is understood to havo begun by a remark from Mr Wisdom with reference to Mr Buchanan, while Sir John Robertson was addressing the House. Sir John referred to Mr Buchanan as «My hon. and learned colleague, Mr Buchanan," to which Mr Wisdom interjected, "Honourable, but not learned." Mr Buchanan was heard to say, « I'll give it to him m reply » and at the conclusion of EiTspiecfi he walked out of the : Cha-mbei- from the Ministerial backbenches, by way of the door near theentTancetotlieMinTslers' room, and strolled into the ante-cham-ber, where the only persons present were the Ministers for Mines. Mr J Abbott, and Mr Melville, who were" engaged talking and writing at the table.. Mr Buchanan 'walked' round the table n ear where Mr Abbott -and Mr MelviUo wore silling. At the same moment Mr Wisdom, who had left the Chamber immediately after Mr Bucl.anan had done so, entered the anteroom by the door nearest the Oppositionsideofthe House,. and, confronting Mr Buchanan, said tohinij "You are a d d liar. y ou are ad- -d : ™ ol *? c }™ 1 " Mr.Buchanan, who standing;with hLs hands behind him, made some reply, the exacfc niature jvliiub was not caught, but which «oimdod 'like "You re another." Then before anything further could be said, Mr Wisdom struck out at Mr Buchanan* and hit; him severely under Hie-left eyeV and also,it is- said, AuYderthfi 'right! eye- -Th« two membeig then o lrse3, and for an instant or two,' and until they - fell, struggled fiercely together. Immediately after, receiving ,Mr Wisdom's blow, and while m the' ric^of Closing, Mr Buchanan, it is v said, .raised his hands, caught Mr Wisdom W the head and shoulders, and by an effort of strength, or by the help of circumstances, managed to throw the member forMorpeth to the floor. Mr Buchanan appeared to fall also, breaking a chair as nedid so. The two men weie quickly separated. The noise'of the sc-ifiJo'nad an instanlaneousiffectiupon the House, andm less tinieUhan it takes -U-ibite the fact honourable members were crowding into the anteroom and round its doors. . M,r, J. $„ Burus was addressing the House' at' the time, and hearing the noiso he suddenly left off speaking, and, like everybody else, rushed to ascertain the cause of the unusual sounds. .The ColoniaLSecretavy is said to have been one of the first to appear on the scene,. and to have pulled Mr Buchanan away, -. while Mr F. B. Sutter and one or Vwp honorable members with him assisted'Mr Wisdom to vise. There was a. good deal of excitement apparent among : the,qrpwd of members, and -the -friends of Mr Wisdom and those, of Mr. Buchanan instantly took measures to prevent any further scene. Mr Wisdom was induced to leaveftiie ante-room, and was accompanied, irito the Opposition room, whileMfr'Buc'liiroan proceeded ; to do what he could to prevent any ill-effects arising from the blows he had received; '■ ; >'• Later on m the evening, Mr Buchanan appeared again m the House, and, though 'consideraly swollen* ! dbfou(P i&e eyes, he made a speech on the subiect of the Medical Bill.-. ; - Mr WLsclom % did fT iioty return:- Vo'-^e Chamber after what occurred m the ante-rooai. ■'" ; : ; :^___2^: '''•" '■'■ ■-••• y> - g ' v-- •,'