THE SPEAKERS IN THE LATE DEBATE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 236, 16 October 1879, Page 4

THE SPEAKERS IN THE LATE DEBATE.

Tbe following it an extract from a letter from the Wellington correspondent of tbe Chrietchorch " Pr«BS " :— Next oanae the Minister for Mines (Mr Gisborne). He is not half so good a speaker as Mr Moss, bat everyone expects some fun of some kind when he gets up, so the henchea began to fill, and the membra were not disappointed. Alter a lot of very commonplace and rather hesitating remarks, tbe style suddenly changed into the most fluent and grandiloquent laoguage ; and it turned out that he had just entered upon a long and most elaborate eulogy of the Premier that might have been prepared by Dr. Johnson, and mast have astonished the Premier more than anyone else at tbe extent of his own virtues. The violent contrast between this peroration and the rest of the speech, added to tbe grotesque manner of tbe speaker, was too much for tbe so'etno-inioJed members, bat they hud to laugh as quietly us they could in the mMst of eucu pretentious language. btill adopting tbe principle of putting up good contrasts, the Opposition put up one of the simplest and most uaprtit^Ddiag, nod yet onu of the best ami most impressive speakers in tbe new House, aud answered the old Conservative who uow spou!B Greyiem, with the old Radical who scorns to talk bunkum* Mr Dick has grown ol.i aod whiteheaded in tbe advocacy of th^ most advanced liberal measure?. Ho is tb»--worm-hearter l, earii^r., sincere supporter of every proceeding lo teally eievatc the poorer claeaes, la every public proceediu^' of his life he has be?n guiJed by a desire to procure tho greatest good for the greatest number, and be knows that Grey's endeavor to make thtm seek wealth or competency in Acts of Parliament is the sure way to make them realiza neither. He speaks slowly, almoßt solemnly, in a fine mellow voice of great power, but his ability to protect and quietly expose pretension gives a spioe to all be says that makes him well listened to. Referring to tbe mere boy who had attacked him so rudely, he said " tbe honorable member for Auckland City East baa informed us that those of us who do not vote for Sir George Grey will soon be consigned to tbe shades of oblivion, Notwithstao Jing that information from so high an authority, I must still consult my own conscience aa to how I ought to vole in this House, and be prepared to meet my fate, however formidable. The honorable member's speech is so rich in w ;rda that they quite conceal bis argun, ins, or, at least I find it difficult to discover them." Mr Ireland next spoke, in the heated, atutfy house, with a tremendous white comforter round hia neck, tbe ends of which reached below his belt. In slightly defective English he made a speech which had tbe merit of being short, and gave expression to the fe. lings of many simple-minded men io tbe House an J out of i '. Ha tjoped that the •• great " liberal measures would be passed, and the " little ''shortcomings of ihe Government passed over. The Hon James Temple Fisher rest made the longest and the worst speech he has been knowa to make in the House. It must have been quite five mitiutes bog, am consisted eutirely of Very coarse (illusions to the private affairs of tbe leader of the Opposition, whom he chhrged with the enormous crime of getting rich and acquiring a large block of land. The speech »o"ulJ have been very discreditable to Firmer Fisher in n pot-house — . r roa the Hou James Temple Fisher, on the Government benches, it whb a humiliation to be reraemberei by thoee who heard it, Mr Murray came next, anJ spoke well to begin with. Bat when be got into Native affiirs, the House <:id no! think him quiliGdd to euli^hten th ni, and tbinaed out considerably. Like Mr Moss, the House u uot foni of hearing him, though it ia olten Lard to Bay why, except ih»t he theorises too much, tttii ia too fond of giviug ndvioe grrtis. JNext came Mr B.rron. Ho had deieaiei Mr Cutteo, an I evidently thinks it his duty to tuke the place of tbe tunny man or the House, which he Beema vtry fairly a.'apied for. '1 be bitterly pmtoutel Mr Masters came next. Hj is a nervous thiuekinoed man, terribly *traiJ o( doin^ wrong, ami ihe Miuiate.-iala hive tiken cruel n^vanla^e ot tiii--, tot only ju their *' whipping estHbihhuieu!," but also by me-.nj of tt constant r.ijy of telegrams from thj Wedi Coast coneepondeut at VVellicgton. Without appearing io iDtend it he gjve bia persecutoia a £ooJ retort in the Housn by telling them tbat he bad a c v,r yn misel to support any Govercmeut oiindfolded but be told the electois t.iiit wlieu he i got to Wellia^tou be wouli be übie to < judge for himflair. He ha] co-jh, lie had ssen, he hai j-i'L-c), nnd li»<l decided to votM ugHMisi them