PARLIAMENTARY PERSONALITIES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5414, 3 August 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY PERSONALITIES.

(FRO3I A STRANGER IN THE GALLERY.)

The movers of the address are always subject to criticism, understood if not expressed. A stranger submits the following ;—Mr. Seymour George, the new member for Hokitika, makes a favorable impression on a first meeting. A good presence, with a clear voice, go a long way to insure him a friendly reception in the House. A slight swagger, perhaps assumed to conceal nervousness, combined with a manner that implies a favorable estimate of his own appearance and abilities, are faults he might well amend. The nephew proposing an eulogium upon the uncle is hardly'in the best taste ‘ —presenting the appearance of a family arrangement. . His remarks on the address were not remarkably profound, although he appears deeply impressed with the genius of his patron. ■The seconder, Mr. Hobbs, made two good points in his maiden speech, one in regard to increasing the pay and the efficiency of the volunteer force, the other upon the necessity of instituting a Maori tribunal to decide all cases of Maori land law. In spite of some nervousness he displayed* a certain command of language that at a future time may stand him In good stead. Dr. Wallis’s criticism, that Mr. Hobbs appeared in. the habit of addressing saints rather than sinners, was to the point, though one cannot help wishing-he may be able to retain his exceeding veneration for the legislators of his country. Sketches of the older members after one sitting must be of the slightest, and are cor- , tainly rash—to a stranger. Dr. Wallis, in a deliberate and well*delivered speech, combined a pleasant wit with an agreeable style of criticism., An opponent would bo apt to find the weak places of his armor pierced by the doctor’s shafts. Somewhat discursive in-his style, his maid argument is sometimes Instsight of in its surroundings ; he would do well to avoid the style of a stjige orator striving for declamatory effect.

Ho man in New Zealand can claim to bo a stranger to the name of Mr. Eox. The natural impulse of most of us is to observe him closely to see how cold water can agree with him.' As a speaker it does appear to have cooled down the native fervor of an. ardent soul, but outwardly he has the . lien>conscrv6 appearance of a healthy man. A little pompous, perhaps, in his delivery, his point is kept, steadily in view, and is slowly evolved through carefully worded, wellrounded periods. His dignified rebuke to the previous speaker for levity in quoting from religious works was worth hearing ; though to most minds it would seem a waste of power to lift a sledge-hammer to crush a gnat.- His speech'on the address was amply Justified by the result; It was practically a demand for more exact information, which was shortly afterwards partially supplied by Mr. Sheehan.

• The intellectual treat offered to a critical ear by the polished sentences delivered in a .clear and manly voice by Mr. E. Wakefield is indeed rare. It is hard for an Englishman to bo a first-class elocutionist. The continental languages afford a far better. medium than our own ; but whoa:.-that inherent difficulty is ouce overcome, and the thoughts of the speaker are expressed in a clear and sonorous voice, the triumph is very great. With great diffidence do -we submit tlie criticism that so good a sword should not condescend to the use of such a poor defence as a hi. quoque argument. To an impartial inind such a course always savors of the attempt to make two blacks appear a white. Y.