SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 216, 11 September 1880, Page 4

SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

Prom " Sketahes' in Parliament" in the " Otaga Daily Time's," We take thefollowing: — t :.; r Mb. header wood. Only, one of these condottieri remains in the fie;ld----Mr Reader Wood — and the erratic conduct of this distinguished free lance is alternately disquieting and hopeful to both sides. He wields the weapon of .genuine eloquence, of unfettered fluency, and of trenchant entire. Perhaps there is only one member who more nearly deserves the title of orator, and no one who is able more effectually to adapt himself to the varying moods of the House, nnd, in defence or opposition, impress the of his convictions upon it. The escutcheon of Mr Wood's political shield hss'not been altogether free from Btsin, and last season it was certainly palmula non bene rilicla, but his bearing is now dauntless and defiant. Assisted only by very slight, but always very graceful gesture, a clear and full voice, and with a rare gift of inflection, there is n power in the melodious rice and fall of his sentenoes whioh attracts instant, attention. He is one of the few members who, without exertion to himself, can make his voioe distinctly heard in the furthest corners of the House, and silence tbat uncomplimentary buzz of conversation which must be the essence of irritation to the ungifted speaker. Well acquainted with the social and political history of the colony, an old warhorse in debate, and careful never to allow his extraordinery fluency to oarry him iuto regions not marching with bis subject, Mr Wood, in his present attitude of the independent member, can prove either a valuable friend or a dangerous foe ; and neither party knows for two dayß together under whioh guise he will show himself.

SIB GEOEGE GREY.

.As he enters the House, very plainly lind , even shabbily dressed, with an antique tall hat, at least two sizes too large forhim, engulping the whole of bis head, the casual observer would hardly give him more than a passing notice. The once erect figure retains no sign of a soldier except in the close shaven chin and military moustache ; the shoulders are bowed with the weight of age and disappointed aspirations, and the faoe wears on air of weariness and resignation. But a wonderful change comes over the old warrior as he rises to speak. The hat which is so misplaced on his head becomes the instrument of well-applied jesture, and discloses a high end intellectual forehead ; the deadness of the face is brightened up with the light of battle, and the first sound of his voice is sufficient to convince, you that no ordinary speaker is addressing the House. The voice is deep, mellow, and resonant, with a strange echo of melancholy querulousneßß in its tones ; the language pure English ; tbe delivery fluent but regulated ; the argument, if not seldom illogical , forcible and connected, and tbe emphasis as- superiority placed to Mr Wood's as the inflection is inferiorly. At the same time the oratorial talents of Sir George Grey are not those of a debater. His is the sort of eloquence to entrance a meeting or to win a mob ; to enrich a panegyrio or embitter an impeachment. It is not adapted to the humdrum atmosphere of ordinary Parliamentary business. There is a •' far-awayness "-—to coin a word — about it which makes it strangely attractive at the moment, but which ren-

:dere its effects as transitory in debate as a pleasing echo. It may be of Sir George Grey, as it •was said of Smother great speaker, that "everyone felfc compelled to listen to him, but bone felfc hound to pay attention to him." In Parliamentary and party wiles, however, Sir George Grey has no equal. No one now denies that adroit flattery, a well-feigned interest in people whoße vote he cares for as much as he cares little for themselves, and an inexhaustible facility for " soffcsawdering," were the unstable foundations of his temporary pre-eminence, and the ruling passion is strong even in the fallen. Ifc is one of the most amusing sights of the House to witness Sir George GreyV demeanour. Is ifc an unrecognised genius on the Government j benches who Bpeaks ? He assumes an attitude of bored resignation, an expression of listless and superb contempt. Is ifc an unappreciated and dispieed member of the Opposition ? Sir George Grey is all vivacious interest and painful attention. I was intensely amused the other night as an incident of this kind. Mr Andrews, one of the members for Christchurch, who sits on the Opposition side of the House, was addressing tbe House in his own choice farrago of the Queen's English and Mrs Malaprop's. Mr Andrews, by-the-by, has a most extraordinary facial angle, and might; readily be taken for Sitting Bull or some other eminent Choctaw; he is certainly more like a chief of fche Apaches or Comanches than Major Te Wheoro is like a chief of the Maoris. He is the eldest of the working men, and, with some slight ability of his own, is the most horrible murderer of Lindley Murray that ever scampered into Parliament, and is treated with equally irritating neglect by both sides of the House. Mr. Andrews was engaged in " respectively" asking the Treasurer for an answer to some pertinacious question about the Estimates, and was waxing wroth (with most disastrous effects to our language) at the Major's utter ignoring of him. The House was smiling contemptously all over both sides of its face, when Sir George, who had been wandering about hafc on head, near the cross-benches, walked solemnly up to the extreme top of the House, where Mr. Andrews sits, and seating himself directly beneath him, tilted his hat back on his forehead, leant his cheek on his hand, and, assuming an air of the very deepest interest and attention, absolutely hung on the lips of a speaker whose every word must have grated cruelty on his fine instincts, of language, and whose every expression must; have made him laugh to scorn in his sleeve. The House was even more amused at the attitude of the hon. member for the Thames than at the linguistic vagaries of fche hon. member for Christchurch ; but Sir. George never moved a muscle, and still listened with such rapt attention, that poor Mr. Andrews grew actually nervous, and with one great stab to the heart of the Word "incomprehensible," subsided. Sir George rose with a sigh of admiration, which was echoed by one of sincere relief from the rest of the House, and walked back to his own seat with an air ot having imbibed deep draughts of State policy from the pure well of English, very much defiled by the hon member.