NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 102, 3 May 1869, Page 2

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

[by an observer] On the whole, I rather like " politics." There is something so ennobling about them that no honest man can refrain from according to them his highest admiration. . You don't believe me ? Well now, think over all the candidates lor election to seats in any parliamentary body in . the world that you ever heard of — can you call to mind any one of them — and their name must be legion if you have attained to the same number of years as myself — can you, I say, remember any one of them who was not actuated by purely patriotic motives, and who did not, in Coming forward to serve his country, inflict a positive injury upon himself and hispros-pects iri life? Of course he did ; he has told you so scores of times, and you cannot, if you would, do aught but believe him; and therefore I say that politics are ennobling to mankind, and that on.tne whole -I ratbur-like them. After this preface, you will not be surprised tp hear that I was. in the Council Chamber on the day of the opening, that I have been there every day since, arid .that I. mean to be a regular attendant to the end of the Bession; and as,. l don't keep my eyes or my ears shut whilst there, of, course I see and « hear a great many things that do not make their appearance in. your dry matter-of-fact reports, which nobody reads if they can possibly help it, - an<f. I propose, if, you will not be jealous at my. ■ notes finding more readers than your reports, to giv6 you the result of my observations. (In Tuesday last, J ensconced myself in a snug little .corner in the gallery;^ and after -waiting ■ -tome, little .".tiqie I was -delighted to hear the gentleV Voice of the Speaker calling border." After Jie Japse. of a. few minutes, another voice wasjieard, announcing His Honor the Supipriri-' | tendeiit^' wluel'iV wasVfollo^'-ed .by- the entrance o*f ■' thar~*gentiemany accompanied by liis ICxiecutive, and, the' -latter being soiitcl, his Honor at once commenced- his address. The" first portion, [al'-y luding -to the Duk£f>f Edinburgh,; was>received i with gept]jre s s"x>i impatience^ as' fit was like tlie > , |^e*hi^*tpß glass "ofVch^pagnej -which, while it

will not allay your thirst, prevents your arriving at the liquid you are longing for; so with this first paragraph — members had come to hear all about the financial and political state of the province, and were in no humor to listen to the sayings of the Duke— but that was soon over, and now we got into finance with a vengeance. As the Superintendent approached this part of his address, it was curious to observe the attitude of his Executive. The Treasurer leaned back in his chair, with foldtd arms, and, with an air of supreme indifference to the opinions of those around him, seemed to say, "It matters not to me whether you relish this state of things or not, for, thank Heaven, you won't have me amongst you to bully." The Provincial Solicitor also appeared to be careless of what the Council thought of it all, but his indifference arose from quite another cause — he is perfectly hardened to all sorts of grumbling and growling; setting to work to abuse him would be very similar to the highly profitable and intellectual employment of pouring water on a duck's back — it runs off without even ruffling the feathers. The Provincial Secretary is cast in a different .mould, or rather he has not yet arrived at that stage of callousness which is only to be attained by constant exposure to abuse; and there was a nervousness visible in his countenance, as with half-closed eyes he watched the faces of his comembers and inwardly felt that his position would be far more enviable had there been a surplus instead of a deficit in the revenue. None of the Government officers who are to be affected by the proposed reduction of the staff were prescnt,'and consequently. no one seemed to take much interest in tbe portion of the address which alluded to that unfortunate class. But now we are approaching that very ticklish ground, the West Coast. All seemed interested in what his Honor had to say on this subject, and kept" their eyes fixed upon him as he tore to shreds the petition which was to cause the dismemberment of the province. I said all looked at him, but I was wrong. No sooner had he touched upon this debateable ground than such of the West Coast representatives as were present immediately became absorbed in contemplation of the ceiling of the noble hall in which they were sitting, and this study of architecture proved so fascinating, that it was only when the petition was done with that they became once more conscious of what was going on around them. A reference to the coal-mines caused Dr. Irvine to prick up his ears, and I have no doubt that we shall hear from him on this subject before Aye are summoned to hear his Honor's closing address. The, next paragraph alluded to the "Nelson, Cobden, and West Coast Railway." These few words had a decided effect upon Mr. Luckie, who had hitherto been very quiet and harmless, but now he fidgetted and wriggled in his seat in the most uncomfortable manner. Restlessly his eye roved over the room, gradually his expressive moustache assumed a defiant attitude, and — he could hear it no longer— at last he nervously clutched the weapon that lay nearest to him — fortunately it was a pcn — and forthwith commenced to manufacture thunderbolts to be hurled at the heads of the Superintendent and of his brother journalists on the fallowing Friday. But Mr. Luckie had proved so charming and attractive a study that iv watching him I nearly lost another little by-play that was created by the mention of the new Bill for reducing the number of members.. Mr Kelling, I don't think, approved of this Bill, but that is only a guess of mine, and he had nothing to do with the little scene to which I have alluded, in which only two actors took part, those two being Messrs. Gibbs and Sparrow. The former looked up at the latter, and the latter looked down upon the former, and each seemed to say to the other, " Poor fellow, since there is only to be one member for Golden Bay, I fear you may look upon this as your last session." I don't know what the inhabitants of Golden Bay will think of being reduced to one representative, but my own opinion is that it will be the best thing that could happen to them, for as their two present members usually make a point of voting on different sides, their district is virtually unrepresented. But the Address and its visible effects have occupied so much space that I must defer making any further notes to another oppor-. tunity.