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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2293, 23 July 1880, Page 2

Few better exemplifications of the strange vicissitudes of public life could be cited than that which is afforded by the new Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Mr Peter Lalor, the gentleman referred to, is one of the heroes of the Ballarat riots of 1854 These riots arose through the determination of the miners on the Ballarat rush to resist the heavy monthly tax which the Government of the day imposed. They refused to take out miners’ rights, and for their security when pursued by the police, they erected a stockade within which they bade defiance to the authorities. Irritated at this, the Government of the clay, with the permission of the Governor, ordered the stockade to be stormed, and a collision between the armed forces of the Government and miners ensued, in which a number of lives were lost. It was in this affray that the present Speaker of the Victorian Assembly—one of the leaders of the rebellious miners—lost his arm. Subsequently a heavy reward was offered for his apprehension, but Mr Lalor, safe among his friends, was sought for in vain. Gradually public feeling became revolutionised, the action of the authorities was universally denounced, His Excellency was recalled, and died, disgraced and broken-hearted, and the Government of the day was supplanted by a new and Liberal Ministry, who conceded to the miners the rights for which they had been contending. Once more Mr Lalor emerged into publicity, demanded compensation for bis lost arm, and urged bis case so ably that be was awarded, if w r e recollect aright, VIOOO. From that time he has been almost constantly a member of the Assembly. Although a politician he has invariably taken a practical interest in mining alfairs. Several times he has been on the brink of insolvency through disastrous mining speculations, but like another ■well-known Victorian, Mr Coppin, he has invariably fought out his misfortunes. Few men have had wider and more varied experiences in the political arena. For years he was Chairman of Committees and he held a seat in the late Cabinet of which Mr Berry was Premier. As an orator of the Parliamentary type, .Mr Lalor has had few rivals, as an authority on Constitutional law and precedent, he has admittedly no equal in Victoria, and as an honest, good natured, genial, large hearted representative he cannot be excelled. The honor conferred on the new Victorian Speaker is but a fitting climax to a long and most useful public career.