SCENE IN THE VICTORIAN ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5847, 25 December 1879, Page 3

SCENE IN THE VICTORIAN ASSEMBLY.

(From the Argus, December 6.) The scene of the evening was, however, th< fight for Mr. Tytherleigb. The member foi Normanby is reported to have promised hb vote freely and voluntarily against the Bib Certainly, when he sat in the Chamber fib interjections were all against it, and he ftpplanded the hits against the measure. He waabsent from the House for some hours, bn* when the division bell rang he returned, in th< evident custody of a knot of Ministerial mem ber«. They put him down with his bach against the wall, and Messrs. Bowman and Mason sat by his side and pinioned him wit) their legs, while Mr. L. I<- Smith squatterdown in front. “Look there,” exclaimed ai> Opposition member, “ there’s a sight.” Mr. Gauuson was standing looking on, and whei he went 1 up to speak to Mr. Tytherleigb h' was pushed away by Major Smith. Mr. Gaunson seized the Minister of Education in return, and rushed him against the door, and instantly there was a rush to the Corner, and a dozen members were gesticulating and swaying to and fro r in it. Sir Bryan O'Logblei came upon the scene with a bound, and hiimpetus and his burly frame brought him t«. the centre at once, face to face with Mr Angus Mackay. Mr. Mackay was gesticulating in Gaelic or some unknown tongue ; Sir Bryan' O'Loghlen was equally excited ; he put up his hands in a fighting attitude, an* for a moment it seemed as if a general collision was inevitable. The scene was most painful. MB. BENT*S STATEMENT.

“ Mr. Tytherleigb voluntarily promised hivote to'the Opposition. He suggested himself a meeting of a few of the Corner members, and there he endeavored to other to vote against the Bill. , He was all right or Thursday evening up to the time we lost sigh' of him, and beard that he was kept a_prisone» in the Minister's room. They had him in foi about two hours, and would not permit anj communication to be made to him. One of hi friends .fished to send him a. letter, but itwastopped. Major Smith remained in charge o hira all the time. .He came out of the room Mr. Mason holding him on one side, and Mr Bowman on the other, the Attorney-Genera in front, and Major Smith following close!; behind him. I went up to speak to him, bu Mr. Bowman said, “Now, you go away ; hei in ouc charge,” As it was no use having * scuffle in the lobby, I called out to Mr Francis and said, “ Come here and see —here’ a pretty sight.” Mr. Francis was accidental!; in the lobby, and he was horrified. They go him into the House, and put him down on th* back benches.,, When I saw Gaunson attacked b; the Major I went up to them. Tytherleigi was surrounded .by other members, am the Minister of Railways pushed between bin and me. Woods said, “ Now you hold youi tongue, Bent.” I said, “ I only want to see i the man is free.” Woods said, “Ifyou say ; word to him I'll give you a smack in th mouth.” Gaunson and Major Smith were v altercation, and X interfered between them, T prevent a row we gave way. Throughout tb« eveniog Tytherleigb never made any secret oi his intention to vote with ua. He went anr told Harper so. Harper says he never say him more sober than h© was when he was talk ing to him. He went into the Opposition room and told half a dozen members there that h* was sick of the Government, and did no* believe their Bill would be supported by tbt country. He said he-would get Cope to votf with him also, , and he went and sat with; Cop* during the greater part of the evening, and he interjected remarks.adverse to the Bill. Ht wa* certainly all right when he went into tin Ministers' room. You could see foryourseh what condition he was in when he came out ol it.”