SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 23 August 1862, Page 9

SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

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ment, which thalt day for the first time “presented” in the House, had important information from England to communicate, attracted, a very full attendance of members, and an overflowing gallery of strangers. A little incident took place just before the entrance of the Speaker, most amusing in itself but not easy to detail to those who do not know the places occupied by members in the House, and are not up with the political movements that have being going on for the last few days. The Government were minus an important limb, namely, a Treasurer. Their Attorney-General was avowedly only a temporary appointment. The manner in which the Postmastership had been filled up was anything but satisfactory to the House, for however agreeable Mr. Mantel! may bo in society, his best friends have never given him credit for much energy; and it was understood that one condition of his accepting office was that he should not be called upon to reside in Auckland; consequently a vigorous attempt had been made to persuade Mr. Wood, the late Treasurer, to join the Domett Ministry. This gentleman had been subjected to infinite importunities, hut had always firmly refused to join. The Domett party, however, most industriously circulated reports, sometimes that he would join, sometimes that he had joined; that in fact he was only doing “ the proper,” waiting a few days of mourning for the Ministry that had become defunct before making an alliance with the Government that had just been formed; that he was only desirous of being well off with the old true love, before he was on with the new. His supporters equally firmly declared that nothing would move him, and let rat ” who might, he was not the man to commit such an unpardonable political ojf'cnce. On the Tuesday, Wood took his scat in the body of the House under the gallery, abandoning the Ministerial benches for the quiet shade of that region remote from all official influences. Five minutes before the Speaker entered on Wednesday, Wood coolly and quietly, to the astonishment of many, took his seat in the old place he was accustomed to occupy as Treasurer. One member after another started at the sight as they entered the House. The blank despair pictured on the faces of the Wellington men and of the Auckland contingent, was amusing to behold; whilst, amidst it all, sat Header Wood alone on the Ministerial benches in his old place, cool and placid, and apparently unconscious of the surprise he created. The whole thing reached its climax when, at five, a minute before the entrance of the Speaker, who should walk in but Mr. Fox. He first went to the table to speak to the clerk, when turning round he faced his late Treasurer, sitting with the most perfect composure, in his old seat. Fox actually exclaimed, and it was not for a minute, at least, that ho discovered that Ministers had changed their seats to the opposite side of the House, and that Wood’s old sear was no longer a Ministerial bench. Fox was instantly relieved, and took his old place beside bis former colleague. Mr. Bell read the Duke of Newcastle’s Despatch, which has since become so famous, and Domett gave notice of certain Ministerial-relation resolutions of the new Government, when the business of the day began. Domett docs not shine as a premier, Bell will, in fact, conduct the business of the Mouse, and Domett will occupy the same position in his Government that Stafford did in his—nominally only its head, whilst the main business is done by another. Mantell sits uncomfortably, and seems as if he were always conscious of the question put by the Italian architect to the column and its reply.

“ What the deuce do you there > I neither know nor care.” Gillies has gone in only during the session, for the purpose of advancing the interests of Otago, possibly to the prejudice of those of Auckland. Tommy Russell sits as perky as a prig, as if he had done it at last. His friends will as surely congratulate him on the high position ho has achieved, as his opponents laugh a him for occuping a post which he is eminently unfitted to fill. The Suut/urn Cross, which seems to regard him as the greatest statesman ever born, will now be able to record,, in a dignified manner, to what distinction a man may attain by the eloquence of silence, even unto a non-official appointment in a scratch Ministry, with the barren dignity of the title “ honorable’’by courtesy. Thomas of Auckland will no doubt astonish the House, as Minister, with those briillianf flashes of silence which have earned for him as a debater, a position only inferior to that occupied by Curtis of Motueka. Mr. Robert Graham had the opening of the ball by moving a resolution touching the importation of game. This gave Fox a chance, and by one of the most amusing and telling speeches I ever heard, brought a brought a modest blush into Domett’s face, even colouring him to the very crown of his bald head. He described the birds that had been sent out, amongst others, said Fox, “ there were some great geese, whom many people took to be swans, for no other reason that he could discover than that they had been sent for;” Croat's of laughter,) “ as soon, however, as they opened their mouths, their admirers found out what kind of animals they were” (roars of laughter again) in allusion to the break down Domett had made the day before in reporting the result of his negotiations with reference to the formation of his Government. The whole thing was rich in the extreme. Fox, now that he is out of office, seems as if he had got rid of an oppressive incubus; at the head of his Government he spoke always as if under restraint; now, however, his ready wit, his biting sarcasm, and his eloquence have full play. Some few routine matters were got through; at one time it seemed as if the patience of the House would be wearied by a discussion about a small Provincial question touching a land claim; that, however, was got over, and Fitzgerald rose. He spoke fro n the table, and for an hour and fifty minutes. He delivered not only by far the finest speech that has ever yet been heard in the House of Representatives, not forgetting those of the session of 1854; but a speech which, for its large statesmanlike views, for its sustained eloquence and power, will take its place amongst the first speeches of modern times. The eloquence of Richmond compared with that of Fitzgerald, is but as the fluency of a parish, vestryman beside a Gladstone or a Brougham. He demolished all those low Richmond views that the Maoai was to all intents and purposes a foreigner and an alien, and that to keep him quiet he must be thrashed-views that have been applauded to the echo by Tommy Russell, and repealed vociferously by Mr. Firth. Ho drew a picture, well worthy of study, of the deep degradation and shame which would attach to the colonists of this country, if through them the Maori race were exterminated and destroyed. I will not attempt to describe it, it was a speech which inspired the audience with the enthusiasm of the orator—a speech which it was good to hear, and which will influence opinion, in the House and out of it, for all time. It is unnecessary to say that Fitzgerald, on resuming his seat, was greeted with rounds of applause from both sides of the House. He was followed by Dillon Bell,—versatile, unstable Dillon Bell—the incubus of office pressed heavily upon him. His task was hard, and he performed it ill; he had to square, somehow, the extreme views of Russell and Gillies with the equally extreme views of Mantcll; and under compulsion to say something, ho was perplexed to know what. Ho hammered and stammered; he got out about two words a minute, and sent out twice the number of members to Bellamy’s in the same time. Of those who remained, some chatted, some slept, some I fear sneered, while Bell tolled heavily and feebly Ding dong Bell Like a funeral knell, Or like the croak of a load From the depths of a well.

The unfortunate man did not know when to stop, for more than an hour and u half did he drone to a thin and inattentive House, and had not the tact to see that lie was wearisome and prosy. The following skit was picked up on the floor of the House, near that opposition bench which was so lately Ministerial: — In office now is Dillon Bell, What to say he cannot tell, lie spins a yarn both long and slow While fast asleep his hearers ro. The debate was continued the following day by Colcnso, who seemed to think that the one great cause of all Native difficulties arose from the Missionaries having failed to recognise the great civilizing influences of polygamy. Fox spoke a few words, Fitzherbert also and Weld, but there was nothing further of importance until the division. Fitzgerald replied, but at no great length. The two first resolutions were carried without a division; the third, which recognized the propriety of Natives having seats in the Legislative Council, and the necessity that existed for their representation in the House of Representatives, was lost by 20 to 17, upon which Fitzgerald adandoned the remainder. The Government, as I stated, have given notice of certain Minitcrial-relation resolutions which were moved by Mr. Domett, who took that opportunity of making what, I suppose, his supporters would call a Ministerial statement, but which really was a very dry speech with nothing in it, except that the new Government were going to adopt the policy of the old one, and borrow a million of money besides —a statement loudly cheered by the hon. Thomas Russell, who, I suppose, snifs his prey from afar. The debate upon these resolutions was postponed till the 19th, to give time for the thorough consideration of the Duke’s Despatch in connexion with the great questions of responsibility and liability which His Grace has raised. The result of this debate will test the stability of the Government, which certainly, so far as has been seen at present, lacks ability. Gillies, whom they will lose at the end of the session, is, without a doubt, their best man. Russell, whom they will retain, their worst,