ECCENTRICITIES FROM HANSARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 250, 22 October 1877, Page 4

ECCENTRICITIES FROM HANSARD.

(Canterbury Press.) . i ■ .■- --, ..GAPTAIW FRASER INDIGNANT. The Hon. Captain Fraser (speaking ofthe Deceased Wife's Sister Bill)— This deceased wife's sister is an impudent hussy, and I hope that we shall never see her face again in the Council. MR CH&MBERLIN INSINUATING!. The Hon Mr Chamberlin (speaking to the second reading of the same Bill) —It was evident that hon. members were. afraid of their wives, and of what was called "Mrs Grundy." COMPLIMENTARY TO THE SEX. The Hod, Mr Chamberlin— -Every man, as a matter of course, if he had the opportunity of finding a fit and proper woman for a second wife, or even for a third wife if he were so uufortuaate as to lose his BecornJ, would marry again. UNCOMPLIMENTARY. The Hon. Mr Mantell— As to the objection raised that if this Bill were passed ladies married here would no longer be looked upon as honorable when they went elsewhere he would point out that that would put tbe ladies in exactly the same position as Legislative Councillors. When the latter left New Zsaland they lost their title of "honorable." , MR TRAVERS's ODIC FORCE. Mr Swansea — One would think from the tone of the hon gentleman's oration that he had nothing to do but hold up his finger or throw his handkerchief at a deceased wife's sister, or any other woman and she would be glad to avail herself of the offer. All he could say was that, if this was so, the hon, member's experience was different to that of other people. MR MANTELL 'METAPHORICAL. The Hon. Mr Mantell— His hon. friend the Colouial Secretary objected to the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill from a patriotic point of view, as he thought it would not be welcomed in the "green Isle." He (Mr Mantell) rather thought that ia the geen Isle it would be found to add another leaf to the shamrock, and would be found to be like the fourleaved shamrock that leaves not a tear nor an aehiDg heart in the world, COLONEL V. CAPTAIN—ON MOTHERS. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore — I am afraid this cheap education which is proposed to give will not be very much valued; and as to the religious education which was originally proposed in ihia Bill, the reading of a chapter from the Bible and the Lord's P layer, tbat is perfect mockery. The elements of religion in us all are implanted there by our mothers. The Hou. Colonel Brett — Hear, hear. The Hon. Captain Fraser — No, no. MR BONAR ON STEPMOTHERS. The Hon. Mr Bonar.— While the deceased wife's sister might be the natural guardian as long as she simply remained the deceased wife's sister, yet if she got married to ber brotber-in law, and had a family of her own, she then ceased to be the guardian of her sister's children, and simply took the position of step-mother; and honourable gentlemen knew what that was. A CLEVER BOY. Dr Wallis — The justification of the Government (regarding the printing of the " Waka Maori") has as much relevancy to the charges as aa answer v school-boy onco gave to me had to a question I put to him. I was examining a echool-boy iv reading aud spelling. He said his lessons, and, glancing at the book, I asked him a question iv spelling. "I said, my good boy, spell Thursday." He spelt it in every possible way that was wrong — Thirsday, Thorsday, and in every way but the right. Well, I spelt it over to the little fellow, and told him it was " Thursday." He looked up, and said "Oh, I beg your pardon, l thought it was Friday you meant ull the time." NOT FRIENDS OF THE SEX. The Hon. Mr Chamberlin — He was sorry to find that, for various reasons best known to hon. gentlemen themselves, this measure had but few friends in the Council. What did they think oue hon. gentleman said that, moruing about the Bill ? Why, he said, "Kick her out. Kick the deceased wife's sister out." Another gentleman, a member of this Parliament — he would not say of this Council — the other day actually said a great deal worse than that, a great deal worse. He said, "Damn the deceased wifu's sister." An hon. Member— He meant the Bill. Mf Chamberlin — No ; he said the deceased wife's sister. If he meant the Bill, it was much the Bame thing. It showed that he was not a friend (o the female sex, or he would never damn a woman as he did wheu he damned the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Biil. He presumed the word meant consigning to perdition. Did any hon, gentleman wish to do tbat. WORSHIPPING THE " BOBBY." | The Hon. Dr. Grace (speaking of secular education) — There is no doubt that the youth of the colony of Victoria are growing up very wild, untameable, and vicious. As to the youth of San Francisco, I will tell you wbat I know myself; but I trust the reporters will be good enough not to record these observations. . . . , An Hon. Member — Bad police. The Hod. Dr. Grace—My friead says it ia a case of bad police; but does he not know that no police in the world can control large masses of people bent

oa evil? It ia a most foolish idea for people who have been accustomed to submit to law and order, and to bow down before thß " bobby," to expect that he can as easily control folk who have no respect whatever for law and order. It is unreasonable, and bo polioe can do it. THE GREY COAT. Df. Wallis— l will not say the members of tbe Government turn their coats, for they have become rags and tatters, and there are no coats lo turn. Instead of turning their coats, they beg, borrow, or steal the coats of others. At the beginning of the session they begged the Native Land Court Bill coat ofthe hon, member for Rangitiket, and put it on. Then they borrowed the Incidence of Taxation coat belonging to the hon. member for Grey Valley; and again and again they have been borrowing patches of the coat of the hon. member of the Thames. The have borrowed so much iVom the latter hon. gentleman that, as he is not present, I may be allowed to say that I sometimes suspect he has not got a coat left. I myself borrowed a coat from him some seven or eight months ago. It was the Separation coat. I have it still. It is too large a coat for so small a man as I am, aod I shall be very happy to restore it to the hon. member for the Thames, who, I have no doubt, will be wearing it before the end of the session arrives. *» in ~ • i — ' i 'HI