A SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 169, 17 July 1880, Page 4

A SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

A little lowpr, and the !New Zealand Parlinment will have sunk to the level of the Victorian Assembly. In its "Essence of Parliament," fho Post of Thursdey reports a portion of the previous night'fi proceedings as follows : — Between 7.30 aud 10 p.m. the House amused itself by a free fight of a not over»credi*nblo character. It arose upon a motion by the Premier that. Mr. Hurst, of Auckland City West, should act for the evening as Chairman of Committee?. Mr Shrimski fired the first shot in (he skirmish which followed by accusing the Premier of inrulting older members by proposing Mr Hurst, nnd ho moved that Mr Thomson be appointed. Mr Andrews followed up the attack by stating that Mr Hurst was "the raoet objectionable man in the House,' 7 an expression for which he wes called to order. He then qualified it by adding the words "as Chairman of Committees." Mr Montgomery hoped Mr Hurst, would withdraw in favor of Mr Thomson. Mr Turnbull objected to Mr Hurst because he had deserted the Opposition ranks. The Premier stood firm, and declined, as some speakers had suggested, to withdraw his proposal. Mr Thomson declined to stand unless he could have the unanimous vote of the House vyiih him. Mr Reeres hinted that Mr Uuret should be classed as a rodent. Sir George Grey, and Messrs Macandrew, Diaher, and Seddon, fired a broadside at the unhappy member for City West, who received their shafts with the put hnt endurance of a stoic. Nor did be flinch when the City of Neleon fired her big gun afc hiua in order to shame him out of his position. Mr Shephard eaid Colonel Trimble (who had also been proposed in opposition to Mr Hurst) would not be co dead to delicacy as to desire to be thrust upon the House against its inclination, as was tbe case with Mr Burs 1 . Mr Stewart toott deliberate aim at the common butt of the Opposition, oad fiercely shot out the expression " Obnoxious " at the Auckland member. The Premier then wnxsd wrath, a ; id said the Government, would be unworthy o? the p^"'iion 'Uey occupied if they gare way lv the kind of speeches • they had heard, and if Mr Hurst gave way he would : c acquiescing in the hurtful remarks made about him. Mr Reeves indulged in a sarcastic sneer, and hoped Mr Hurst s tS self-respect, and higb-toned political principles 1 ' would induce him to retire and get the Government out of a mess. On the question being pu', » division was taken, and] resulted in Mi' Hurst being; elected by 37 to 'do votes. The result was received by hisses from several honorable gentlemen on the Opposition side. Tbe «r-nt!er was not yet nettled, however, for Mr B?ewnrfc was determined

not to let Mr Hurst enjoy the laurels so dearly boughf. He moved the previous qupstion, attacked the member for City West npain, and hinted t' at he dared not take the chair. Mr M'Lean then turned upon Mr Stewart, and said some very hard things of him. He commenced by stating he was " audacious and impertinent," in hie remarks, and on beine; colled upon to withdraw the word " impertinent," be er.id ho would endeavor to find some Parliamentnry expression of a stronger nature. He accused Mr Stewart of shifting from side to side in the House, and of " ratting "in n barefaced manner. He advised the Dunedin member not (o mnko nn exhibition ot himself if he had onv self reject or decency. Mr Reeves " went for " Mr M'Lean, Mr Moorhoufln for Mr Stowarf, and Mr Stewart for Mr M'Lfan, so that there was a regular Kilkenny oat-fight. Mr Stewart objected to pereoD&lities, and at once began to indulge in them himself by insinuating that Mr M'Lean was neither a gentleraan by birth, education, nor association, end he (Mr Stawart) could make Mr M'Lean feel very small if he liked to go out of his way. He might yot *md it a matter of duty to bring that gentleman before the bar of the House in a way ho did not expect. He oould make him "rat" in another direction if he — — , but he refrained from seyinsr what .tbe "if " was, Mr M'Lean listened, smiled placidly, and rose for another scratch at Mr Stewart, who, he stated, would not be backward in doing him (Mr M'Lean) an injury if he had the power ; and so the war waged fiercer aud more fierce till a division on " the previous question " settled the matter, and declared Mr Hurst and the Government victorious by four votes. Mr Hurst then in feeling terms, expreesed regret at having bis character assailed even by those who did not know him, for "going over" to the Government eide when he believed he was ri<:ht in so doing. He said he u ad not solicited the post, but; the Premier hod solicited him, and with the consent of the Government be would withdraw from the position. Mr Hall expressed concurrence in this course, aod said the action of Mr Hurst had ruised that hoc. gentleman very much in his respect. Mr Seymour was then asked to t&ke the chair, and calm onoe more reigned in the House.